★★★★★ 5.0/5 · 37 Reviews · Lumino Health
You deserve to feel like yourself again.
Depression therapy for when you look capable on the outside, but feel exhausted, disconnected, and self-critical underneath.
Depression Therapy in Surrey, BC and Ontario
Online therapy across Ontario & BC
Aïda Retta
(she/her)
Registered Psychotherapist &
Registered Clinical Counsellor
RCC, RP
You may be carrying more pain than anyone realizes.
From the outside, your life may look okay. You go to work, care for other people, get things done, and keep going.
But inside, life feels heavier. Things that used to feel easy now take a lot of effort. Instead of thinking, “Maybe I have been carrying too much,” you may think, “What is wrong with me?”
With all this going on, you might feel pretty isolated and alone in your day to day life.
Depression can make you blame yourself for struggling.
Depression is more than feeling sad. Over time, it can make you see yourself in a harsher, more critical way. A hard day can feel like proof that you are failing. Needing help can feel weak. Feeling tired can make you think you are lazy.
You stop asking for help
You may tell yourself that other people have it worse. You may hide your pain because you do not want to worry anyone.
You stop trusting yourself
Your inner critic gets louder. Even when you do something well, it may not feel like enough.
Your life gets smaller
You may still do what you need to do, but stop reaching for joy, rest, fun, or closeness with other people.
You do not have to prove that your pain is serious enough.
Hi, I’m Aïda 👋 You do not need to know exactly what to say. We can start with what feels hardest right now, and go from there.
✓ Phone or video ✓ Current openings available ✓ Evening and weekend options
Therapy can help you understand yourself with more kindness.
Depression can make you think you would feel better if you were more confident, harder-working, less sensitive, or more grateful.
In therapy, we usually uncover a deeper way to understand things: Your pain often has a story. Your feelings usually make sense. The ways you learned to deal with yourself, your feelings, and your needs might have helped you get through hard times, but also might be hurting you now.
The goal is not to make you less caring or thoughtful. It is to help you care about yourself, too.
In therapy, you don’t have to take care of anyone else.
I work with people who care deeply about others but often feel that their own needs are too much.
You may be used to watching other people's moods closely, trying to say the right thing, and making sure everyone else is okay.
In therapy, you do not need to act like you are doing better than you are. Over time, therapy becomes a place where you get to share your true feelings, needs, and wants without worrying about anyone else's.
You can disagree with me, ask questions, or tell me when something does not feel right. These moments do not make you difficult. They can help us understand you better.
We notice the pattern, understand where it came from, and help you respond differently.
We will not rush to fix you or tell you to think more positively. We will slow things down, understand what is happening, and help you try something new.
Notice the pattern
We notice the moments when hurt, anger, sadness, or need quickly turns into self-blame.
Understand why it started
We look at how taking the blame, hiding your needs, or blaming yourself instead of others may have helped you feel safer or stay close to people.
Try something different
We practise sharing your feelings, letting yourself receive care, and staying close to others without giving yourself up.
We will move at a pace that feels manageable while making room for the feelings and needs you may have learned to carry alone.
Getting started is a simple process:
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Book a free 30-minute Intro Call
Choose a phone or video time that works for you. Ongoing therapy sessions are $160 for 60 minutes.
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Tell me a little about what has been hard
You do not need the right words or a full explanation.
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See how it feels to talk with me
We can decide together whether therapy feels like the right next step.
Phone or video · Current openings available
Common questions about depression therapy.
How much does therapy cost?
My rate is $160 per 60-minute session. If you have an extended benefits plan/insurance plan with your employer that covers treatment with a Registered Clinical Counsellor or Registered Psychotherapy, you may be able to get reimbursed for cost of your sessions. I provide receipts with all required information for reimbursement and able able to direct bill, in certain cases.
What if I am not sure I am depressed enough for therapy?
You do not need to prove that your pain is serious enough. If you feel weighed down, far from yourself, or stuck in self-criticism, we can talk about what has been happening.
What if other people think I am doing fine?
Many people keep working, caring for others, and getting things done while struggling inside. Looking okay does not mean you are not hurting.
What if talking about myself feels selfish?
We can talk about that feeling too. Therapy can help you have needs without feeling guilty or like you're a burden.
Will you just tell me to think more positively?
No. I will not tell you to ignore your pain or try to get you to force yourself to feel better. We will try to understand what you are going through and what may help.
What if I do not know what to say?
You do not need to lead every conversation. I can ask questions, help us slow down, and guide you when words are hard to find.
Do you offer online depression therapy?
Yes. I offer in-person depression therapy in Surrey, BC, and online therapy across British Columbia and Ontario.
You do not have to keep carrying this alone.
Therapy can help you understand your pain without using it as proof that you are failing. You can learn to treat yourself with the same care you give to other people.
Book a Free 30-Minute Intro CallIn-person depression therapy in Surrey, BC. Online therapy across Ontario and British Columbia.