Depression Counseling in Castro Valley, CA.

Depression feels like walking through mud. We lose ourselves and wonder if we will ever be found again. Often depression is a result of unexpressed negative emotions (which we were never allowed to safely express in our family of origin - so we swallowed it instead). I am very comfortable with the shame and humility that the human condition sometimes hands us - and I can sit with my clients while they work through unexpressed sadnesses - and ultimately find joy in their lives.

Struggling to live life with overwhelming sadness and apathy is often miserable. Depression can take over and become all consuming - unless you get help. A safe place to talk can begin easing the emotional pain controlling your life. Through exploring issues and emotions we can begin to identify and work through possible underlying causes. We can then begin to identify strengths and resources to start the process of moving you forward and out of the depths of your darkness. You can attain a more satisfying and productive life - one in which getting out of bed is not the biggest challenge of your day. Make that life saving phone call today and I will walk through this with you.

Clients usually experience a progressive decline in mood, which can impact their emotions, the quality of their sleep, relationships (they may even begin to withdraw from others), and have persistent negative thoughts. Many clients prefer to explore viable holistic and integrative strategies before trying medication. In our collaboration, we will design a plan to explore possible options, strategies to strengthen effective coping mechanisms, and identify a plan to enhance the opportunity for recovery.

I use Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat depression. At the heart of CBT is an assumption that a person's mood is directly related to his or her patterns of thought. Negative, dysfunctional thinking affects a person's mood, sense of self, behavior, and even physical state. I use a combination of techniques and interventions to address and assist my client to learn to recognize negative patterns of thought, evaluate their validity, and replace them with healthier ways of thinking. I aim to help clients change patterns of behavior that come from dysfunctional thinking.

Depression can have many different sources: isolation, unresolved loss, unconscious anger turned against the self, feelings of shame, inadequacy and low self-esteem. It is sometimes experienced as a kind of deadness or emptiness, an absence of feeling. Therapy offers you the opportunity to get to the bottom of what is troubling you, to find your way to solutions. By talking through your issues and feelings you know what you need to do to change and you have support for taking the steps to make the change happen. Everyone needs to feel heard and understood, to feel empathy for their suffering, in order to do this. I offer this empathy, support and guidance to you.

Depression can appear a number of ways to the outside world depending on your age, gender identity and the culture you were brought up in. Sometimes depression looks like repetitive outbursts of anger and other times depression appears as chronic pain in the body or substance abuse and being socially withdrawn. However, you experience your depression I want to understand how you experiences it's impact on your life. By learning more about your type of depression we can create a treatment plan that is right for you and that supports your healing process so you can find relief from suffering.

When depression hits, it's like a ton of bricks weighing on you. It feels like there is no way out of the fog. It can be helpful to have a place to explore this and validate how difficult it can be to experience depression. Therapy is a safe place for you to understand what underlying issues might be making the depression more difficult to manage. I will provide that safe place for you to gain understanding about yourself and the depression you experience. I will also work with you to find tools that can help you move through it with more ease and confidence. I look forward to supporting you through this process.

Are you depressed? Depression is the most commonly experienced emotional disorder. Depression is a combination of both physical and mental symptoms. Fatigue, lack of energy, poor sleep, under or over eating, lack of interest in those you love and lack of interest in sex are some of the physical symptoms of depression. Thinking negatively, ruminating over problems, being irritable and angry are some of the mental symptoms of depression. If you know or believe that you are depressed, seeking out professional help can be a true life saver. I'd like to offer you help and hope, with practical suggestions and guidance in a safe environment to resolve your depression and find joy in living.

Depression (and anxiety) are normal responses to painful environments. Are finding it difficult to be motivated? Are you lower energy than you should be? Is it hard to get out of bed? Do you get irritable for no reason at times? If so, you may be suffering from depression. I attack depression from two angles. One strategy is using CBT strategies to help you manage some of your symptoms. I also use EMDR, attachment based psychotherapy, and body / nervous system informed strategies to help you transform some of the underlying brain mis-wiring that is there from your past. Don't find somebody that just stares at you and lets you continue to be depressed. Let's do something about this!

Depression can be so debilitating. Having a safe place to talk about what has happened, your hopes, your worries with someone who can come along side of you to share the difficulties can be really helpful. Sometimes we can get stuck in ways we think of ourselves and others and feel like there is no way out. Exploring these ideas with someone who can really be present for you can help. Sometimes we don't realize we have strengths and options for ourselves. Counseling can help uncover those resources and provide hope.

Depression can make it even more difficult to come into therapy. Feelings of hopelessness and despair can lead to isolation which often only makes the depression worse. Even though it's difficult to come in and talk, therapy really can help to increase awareness and lift your feelings of depression which will help you to feel more engaged with your life. Take the first step to feeling better and we will collaborate to work through your depression and work towards generating awareness, emotional and psychological movement, and motivation in your life.

Depression is a complex condition that ranges from mild to severe and affects adults and children. I establish a therapeutic climate where my clients come to trust our relationship as positive and supportive. I’m often able to identify subtle signs and symptoms of depression that interfere with my client’s ability to function successfully. I utilize elements of Cognitive Behavior Therapy to help them change negative patterns of thought and behavior and self-defeating responses. My goal is to help my clients understand and appreciate how their emotional experience affects their behavior. I aim to help them improve their interpersonal skills and the nature and quality of their relationships.

Symptoms of depression can leave one feeling lost and alone. Counseling can help you gain your bearings and find your way back to normalcy. Often our thoughts are a major contributor to these feelings of hopelessness and helplessness that accompany depression. Your thought patterns can provide a roadmap to understanding some of the causes that may have lead to these symptoms. Changing these negative thought patterns and learning new coping skills often lead to symptom relief. Sometimes post-traumatic-stress from traumatic events in childhood or adulthood cause you to feel stuck in a cycle of dispair. EMDR has proven effectve for desensitizing the trauma caused by these events.