Depression Treatment In Toronto
Doctoral-level Psychological Care

Depression treatment at Laksman Doell Psychology is delivered by doctoral-level registered psychologists, both in person at our office in the Annex neighbourhood of Toronto and virtually across Ontario.

What Depression Looks Like

“The voice in your head can turn cruel, convincing you that this is just who
you are now. That last part is a symptom, not the truth. But depression is
very good at making it feel like the truth”

You used to enjoy things. Now you don’t, and you can’t quite remember when that shifted. Mornings are heavy. The things that used to lift you don’t anymore. The voice in your head is pessimistic and negative about almost everything, and a not so small part of you has started to believe what it is saying. These are the moments that most people reach out. This is when we need to take action.

We all have bad days. The flat ones. The heavy ones. The mornings where getting out of bed feels like an insurmountable chore. Sadness in response to something hard, or to a loss that we have suffered, is part of being alive, and most of the time it moves through us without taking over.

Depression is different.

It is an intensity of sadness, hopelessness, or numbness that settles in and doesn’t lift, often for weeks or months at a time. It changes how you sleep, eat, think, and connect with the people around you. The things that you used to enjoy start to feel pointless. Activities that once brought pleasure or meaning disappear. And the voice in your head can turn cruel, convincing you that this is just who you are now, and that you don’t deserve help.

You do not have to be certain that this is depression in order to reach out. If something has shifted and you haven’t been able to shift it back, that is enough reason to talk to someone.

IF YOU ARE READING THIS

You may not be sure what you need, but something brought you here…

You used to enjoy things. The activities, the people, the small pleasures of an ordinary week. Now they feel pointless, or numb, or like work. The flatness has settled in and won’t lift on its own.
The voice in your head has turned cruel. It rehearses every mistake. It tells you that this is just who you are now. It tells you that asking for help is pointless because no one can actually help. That voice is loud, and it is wrong, and you are starting to believe it anyway.
You don’t know if this is depression or just a hard chapter. You only know that something has changed, and that you haven’t been able to change it back. The things that you used to do when you felt low aren’t working. You are not certain enough to call it anything. But you are certain enough to be reading this.

This is what has brought you here. And you are in the right place.

Depression treatment in Toronto

The depression and low mood presentations that we treat:

At Laksman Doell Psychology, we treat a broad range of different presentations of depression and low mood. For some of us, depression looks obvious and debilitating, making it difficult to leave the house and to take care of even the most basic activities of daily living. For others, depression hides behind a cloak of competence and achievement, and can be difficult for others to notice because things look fine on the outside even when you’re crumbling on the inside. Sometimes, depression can also be a part of a more complicated clinical picture that also includes experience of mania, psychosis, or another comorbid condition.

Our doctoral-level psychologists treat a number of different depressive disorders, including:

Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder involves a distinct period, lasting more than two weeks, marked by significantly depressed mood and/or diminished interest or pleasure in activities. In addition, it involves some combination of changes in appetite and sleep, fatigue, changes in observable energy, difficulties with concentration and decision making, and feelings of worthlessness or guilt. Feelings of hopelessness and suicidal ideation may also be present, and are sometimes the clearest signs that lead people to reach out for help.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Persistent depressive disorder used to be known as dysthymia. It represents a more chronic, longer course of depression, with symptoms that have lasted for at least two years. Often individuals with persistent depressive disorder believe that this is “just who I am”, because they can’t remember what it was like to not be depressed.

Bipolar Disorders

The bipolar disorders (bipolar I, bipolar II and cyclothymia) are characterized by fluctuations in mood ranging from distinct periods of elevated, expansive or irritable mood (mania or hypomania) to depression. Periods of mania and hypomania are also often accompanied by inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, pressured speech, racing thoughts, distractibility, and an increase in activity. The depression is the crash that often follows.

Substance-Induced Depressive Disorder

Substance-induced depressive disorders involve a period of depressed mood or markedly diminished interest or pleasure in activities that develop in the context of substance intoxication or withdrawal. Understanding the relationship between substances and depressive symptoms can be a key factor in treatment.

Depression with Psychotic Features

Sometimes depression can also present with psychotic features that might include either unusual beliefs (delusions) or anomalous sensory experiences (hallucinations). If this is the case, then it is important to work with a clinician who understands psychosis and the evidence-based treatments that work, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp).

Our Approach

Treatment that starts with understanding you.

There is an extensive research literature that has shown us that depression responds to treatment. Not to willpower. Not to pushing through. But to clinical, structured, evidence-based work that helps you to understand the relationship between your thoughts, your feelings, and your behaviours, and that helps you to identify where the patterns keeping you stuck are living. At Laksman Doell Psychology, our doctoral-level psychologists are equipped to work with the full picture of your depression, and we move at the pace that your system can hold.

The first few sessions are about assessing and understanding both you and your depression: where it began, what is driving it, what it has cost you, and what you want your life to look like on the other side. The pace is collaborative. Some individuals see meaningful change in their depression in twelve sessions. Some need longer. We won’t pretend to know which one you are until we’ve sat across from each other.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most well-established psychological treatments for depression, and it is the foundation of how many of our psychologists approach this work. Utilizing CBT means that we are not just helping you to feel better in the room. We are helping you to understand what is driving the low mood, to build skills that change how you relate to your thoughts and to yourself, and to create a life that has room for meaning again. We also draw on Behavioural Activation, a structured approach for rebuilding contact with what matters to you when motivation is gone. The evidence shows that the gains from this kind of work tend to last, even after therapy ends.

Where it is appropriate, our psychologists will also speak with you about incorporating other evidence-based treatment modalities, for example Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), or Motivational Interviewing (MI). For individuals who are living with experience of psychosis as part of their depression, we have a team of psychologists who are experienced in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp).

OUR DIFFERENCE

Specialist training.
Private practice access.

Every clinician at Laksman Doell Psychology is a doctoral-level psychologist who is registered with, or working toward registration with, the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO). Our team has trained at sites including, but limited to, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto General, North York General, Cleveland Clinic Canada, and the University of Toronto. Several of our psychologists also have particular expertise in the depression that runs alongside chronic illness, after major life transitions, or in tandem with other complex presentations.

Sessions are available in person at 27 Prince Arthur Avenue in the Annex neighbourhood of Toronto, or virtually across Ontario via PHIPA-compliant video. All services are available virtually to any Ontario resident. No referral required.

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Life can be complicated, finding support shouldn’t be. At Laksman Doell, we take that seriously.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does CBT actually work for depression?

Yes. CBT has been shown to be highly effective in treating depression. It works by helping us to identify and to alter the negative and distorted patterns in our thinking and our behaviours that both contribute to our depression and that keep it going.

Does depression get better without treatment?

It depends. Some forms, particularly of mild depression, can and do resolve on their own, or with behavioural changes that an individual may make on their own. That said, moderate to severe depression often requires intervention, and seeking treatment can both improve recovery times and prevent future episodes.

Do I need medication if I am experiencing depression?

Again, it depends. Medication is the first-line treatment for many individuals who are experiencing severe depression, and can be particularly helpful if symptoms are making it hard to function. In Ontario, medication is prescribed by a psychiatrist or a physician. Psychologists work alongside psychiatry when medication is part of the picture. It is often helpful to think of psychotherapeutic treatment and medication as complementary, rather than as competing, treatment modalities. For mild to moderate depression, many individuals prefer to try evidence-based psychological interventions as their first-line of treatment.

What should I do if I’m having suicidal thoughts?

Not all suicidal thoughts are indicative of an immediate risk of suicide. In fact, it is relatively common for individuals to have suicidal thoughts at times when they feel trapped and hopeless. These thoughts are often a strong indicator that you are in need of help, because you don’t see a way out on your own, and they are what bring people in for treatment.
That said, if you are experiencing significant distress and feel that you are in need of immediate help or support, then please seek professional services. In case of an emergency, or if you feel at risk of acting on suicidal thoughts, you should go to the Emergency Department of your nearest hospital or call the national suicide crisis helpline at 9-8-8 (or a local crisis line in your area). There are crisis workers available to speak to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

How long does depression therapy take?

This varies. Many clients see meaningful change within six to twelve sessions of CBT. Others benefit from longer engagement, particularly when depression or low mood have been present for many years or they run alongside other concerns. You will have a clearer picture after the first few sessions.

Do I need a referral for depression treatment in Toronto?

No. You can contact us directly. No referral from a physician or psychiatrist is required.

Is depression treatment covered by OHIP?

Services are not covered by OHIP. Coverage may be available through extended health benefits, as many plans cover the services of a registered psychologist. We recommend confirming with your provider before commencing treatment.

Can I be seen virtually?

Yes. All services are available virtually via PHIPA-compliant video for any Ontario resident.

Life is complicated. We give you clarity.

The first step is a brief consultation to help understand what you are looking for. No referral required. Email us at [email protected] or complete our contact form online.