Depression Counseling in Altadena, CA.

If you or your child / adolescent are suffering with symptoms of depression such as, loss of interest in activities, low self-worth, and mood changes then I would like to help. Untreated depression can negatively impact relationships, productivity, physical and mental well-being. Whether you understand the root cause of your depression or are unsure of why you are struggling, therapy can be the start you need to move towards healing.

Are you feeling helpless & hopeless? Is sadness interfering with your ability to work, eat, sleep, or have fun? If so, you may be struggling with depression. I’d like to show you some ways to overcome your sadness, so you can live the happy, productive life you deserve. There’s a lot we can do to change how you feel: We can explore the thoughts & behaviors that cause your sadness & change them to improve your mood. We can also identify the underlying causes of your sadness & develop a plan to eliminate their negative impact. I’ll create a comfortable, non-judgmental environment where you feel safe being open & honest, so you can tap into your personal strengths to achieve your goals.

Depression presents itself uniquely in each individual. Further, in working with children and young adults, they can too often be misdiagnoses as their behavioral presentation is labeled as disruptive and oppositional. Having a clear understanding of depression impacts the behavioral outlook of the individual is pivotal on developing an effective plan in addressing these concerns. By working with my clients and families in understanding the depression we are often able to shape the environment in which the depression exists. Joining this with cognitive behavioral and evidenced based interventions, we are then able to more effectively address these symptoms in our pursuit of long term goals.

All of us feel sad from time to time. But when sadness lasts for awhile and it affects our lives in a negative way, it is time to do something about it. Depression can be caused by various factors, such as, divroce, death, loss of job, abuse, and/or negative traumatic memories. Sometimes we may not be able to pinpoint the cause of our sadness. That's where counseling can prove beneficial. Therapy can help you figure out the source of your depression, give you tools to deal with it and set goals for a happier and brighter future.

Sadness vs. Depression? Which is it? Treatable YES! Everyone feels sad or 'blue' on occassion. People tend to grieve over a loss, but usually, the feelings of grief tend to lessen over time. Depression occurs when feelings of extreme sadness or despair last for at least 2 weeks or longer and tend to interfere with activities of everyday living. Deperessed feelings include helplessness, hopelessness and even thoughts of death and possibly suicide. People with these feelings may feel overwhelmed. Causes may be from body chemistry which influence mood and thought. Chronic illness can accompany depression. Start feeling better. Give me a call and make an appointment now. Dr. Sobo

For clients experiencing depression, I help them explore both external and internal circumstances that are impacting their mental health and look for relationships in their lives that are impeding the healing process. Then we do relational work together to move out of a place of hopelessness and helplessness into a place of strength and empowerment.

Working with the experience of depression is much more than changing our thoughts to change our behavior. Our brains are wired to notice the negative; it's part of our survival. I support my clients in expanding what they notice, and help them discover what works for them by creating a tool kit through experiential relational interventions in session. When I see children, I utilize play therapy as the modality, including Child Centered Play Therapy, Filial Therapy, and Prescriptive Play Therapy. When working with adolescents and adults, I utilize expressive arts, DBT, CBT and Narrative Therapy.

Depression is a condition that can be insidious in that the symptoms are frequently physically and emotionally debilitating. Friends and relatives often suggest as a cure to merely "take a walk" or "think positively" in order to combat those symptoms which usually only increase feelings of shame and encourage patients to further isolate. I don't offer such simple suggestions but construct a treatment plan that includes supportive psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral techniques and integrating an evaluation for medication if indicated and desired by the patient.

First, it's important to me to understand what my clients mean by "depression" because how one client experiences depression can be very different than another client. This is necessary so I can customize the strategies I use for each specific client based on their unique experience of depression. Ultimately, my clients can expect to discover real-world steps they can take to feel not just "less depressed" but better about their life - and more positive and hopeful.

Depression can develop from early attachment deficits as well as from traumatic events, losses in the form of break ups, death and divorce. How and why a person suffers from symptoms of depression can be very difficult to assess and is important, however, attending to the debilitating symptoms of depression are of the utmost importance. When depressive symptoms arise, finding and securing a safe, supportive and empathic therapeutic relationship can be very helpful, let alone life saving.

Among the most common events leading to depression are; experiencing changes in our daily functioning & feeling a loss of control in our lives, such as in our relationships, health, careers, family, divorce, death, history of abuse, finances, sex lives, or even moving. In dealing with depression, I utilize a holistic, strengths based approach. We will explore how these changes are impacting you physically, personally and socially. Together, we will draw on the positive aspects of your existing supports & routines that remain intact, reinforce or rebuild these, & work toward helping you maneuver through the depression you are experiencing.

There are many types of depression. If you believe that you, or someone you care about, is struggling with this common disorder, please reach out for help with us or another qualified mental health professional. Treatments vary, depending upon the type, severity, and duration of the problem. Please know that depression is treatable and that there is hope.

Therapy can provide you with a warm and safe environment that nurtures you back into hope. Though the darkness and heaviness of depression can be overwhelming for teens and college students, Dr. Parke can provide you with tools and walk alongside you in this journey so that you know you're not fighting this battle alone. There is hope for depression, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and the courageous first step is reaching out for help. Schedule a free consultation today.