I am Ben Bigney, LCSW. As a therapist, I specialize in working with people with depression, grief and loss, and burnout. I help people experiencing symptoms including persistent sadness, poor sleep, lack of energy, low motivation, anxiety and irritability (as well as many others) work toward healing and wholeness.
I also specialize in integrating spirituality and therapy. I help people of various faith traditions find the ways that spirituality and therapy naturally support each other.
Depression is many things to many people. For some it is a persistent sadness that won’t go away. For others an ache in the body, an inability to get out of bed, or constant irritability. I specialize in working with people with depression, experiencing these symptoms and many others. Together we work to address your symptoms, to figure out where your depression comes from and what it is trying to tell you.
Grief and loss are at the heart of what it is to be a human. Unfortunately, grief and loss are often ignored, papered over or belittled. Be it the loss of a parent, partner, spouse, child, sibling, friend, animal companion or other beloved, each loss is unique. Other losses, equally painful and but spoken of less, include the of identity upon retirement or the many losses that come with aging. Therapy or grief counseling can help support you through these difficult times.
Burnout is physical, emotional or mental exhaustion resulting from a persistent stressful environment. Burnout can come from a work environment, extended caregiving for a loved one, or other situations. While not a diagnosis itself, burnout has many overlapping symptoms with depression and anxiety and can feel very much like grief. I specialize in supporting those who are most prone to burnout – nurses, home health workers, clergy, doctors and other therapists, as well as people with ongoing caregiving responsibilities at home.
As a therapist, I help my clients bring together their spirituality and therapy. My definition of spirituality is simple – that which is greater than ourselves which brings us meaning. Spirituality may be one or many things to you: the natural world, creative arts, vocational meaning, quiet meditation time, or participation in a religious tradition. My work integrating spirituality and therapy is rooted in the five years I served as a hospice chaplain, offering spiritual and emotional support to dying patients and their loved ones.
I offer a no-pressure, no-cost 30 minute consultation. It’s a chance for you to share your story, learn about me and begin to see if we are a good fit. To get started, click “Request Appointment” below to see my upcoming schedule. If you prefer, you can email me here or call/text my confidential number at (207) 745-2828.
I currently accept many common insurance plans including Aetna, Cigna, Community Health Options, MaineCare, Martin’s Point, UMR and UHC/UBH. My self-pay fee is $150 per hour.
My practice is entirely telehealth.
Please note that while I maintain HIPPA compliance, no electronic communication is completely secure. By sending information, you agree to hold Ben Bigney, LCSW harmless for unauthorized use, disclosure, or access of your protected health information sent via this electronic means. In your message please leave your contact information and I will reply promptly.
