Depression Counseling in Glendale, CA.

Depression has many different faces. It can be triggered by sad events, like the loss of a loved one, or by seemingly happy events, like the birth of a child. Sometimes it can even be caused by influences we don’t really understand. Helping individuals identify the causes of their depression, and explore new ways to cope are at the heart of my work in this area. Often clients who begin therapy because of depression discover that what they are feeling is to past trauma, issues related to their family history or upbringing, negative thinking or limiting beliefs. With the opportunity to work through past issues in a safe, non-judgmental setting often helps people find relief from their overwhelming emotions and lift the fog of depression that has been weighing them down.

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.

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.

CBT is a particularly effective treatment for depression, both as a combined approach with medication and as a stand alone treatment. Participating in CBT therapy for depression can help you restructure negative thought patterns and get out of negative cycles of thinking. Changing the way you think can help you interpret your environment and interactions with others in a more effective and positive way, improving the way you feel about yourself and helping improve your relationships with others. It may also help you recognize things that may be contributing to the depression and help you start doing things that lead to a reduction of symptoms and feelings of meaningful happiness.

Grey Matters International, Inc. and the work of Kevin J. Fleming, Ph.D. handles depression and other emotional disorders in a very unique way. Most of therapy or counseling processes utilize validation, unconditional positive regard, and reframing as common techniques to get someone to heal from their depression. Though this can be helpful, it rarely fixes the core problem behind it and for tough cases we then refer them usually to a psychiatrist for medication which can have tons of side effects. Instead, why not try a natural and arguably more effective way to not just change your mind, but change the brain--where the depression is rooted. Contact us at kevin@kevinflemingphd.com.

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.

There are several signs of depression. feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping irritability, restlessness loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex overeating or appetite loss persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, call for an appointment to get help. I charge $150.00 per session . If you have insurance, I will give you a bill to submit

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 can make even the smallest tasks feel overwhelming—and it can leave you feeling disconnected from yourself and those around you. I take a compassionate, strengths-based approach using both Solution-Focused Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients gain traction, shift unhelpful thought patterns, and reconnect with hope. We’ll work together to identify what’s getting in the way, build small but meaningful goals, and create daily tools that foster motivation, emotional regulation, and lasting change. You don’t have to do this alone.