Depression Counseling in Hancock Park, CA.

Depression has a way of taking away our zest for life, our sense of vitality, and even sometimes our will to live. I begin my work in depression treatment with a thorough assessment of not just the number of symptoms of depression but as importantly the quality of the depression. Depression that stems from guilt has a different feel than that which stems from shame. I observe and interact with my clients and I provide my observations back to them for their assessment and collaboration in this very engaged and intimate process of identification. I make note of how my client is feeling during these conversations and I make my observations and senses my guides in treating depressive feelings.

When working with depression, I focus on creating a safe, supportive space where you don’t have to hide how heavy things feel. Together, we’ll explore the deeper meaning behind your depression, uncovering what it may be trying to tell you about unmet needs, past wounds, or current struggles. I will help you build awareness, self-compassion, and practical tools so you can move from feeling stuck toward healing, resilience, and a greater sense of possibility.

My therapeutic approach in treating depression is to assist my clients in gaining insight and awareness as to the origin and cause of their depressed mood and unhappiness. I conduct an evaluation to determine the severity of the depression and create a treatment plan for therapy. I assist clients in understanding the causes for their depression, help clients develop coping mechanisms and increase awareness of behaviors that perpetuate the client's depression. My work mainly consists of teaching emotional intelligence, mindfulness, DBT, and CBT skills to learn to manage and overcome the depression.

Depression is a particularly cruel and insidious companion, often working in tandem with other problems to try to silence us, to steal joy and passion, and to convince us of our uselessness. Depression may try to convince us that there is one truth - our own unworthiness - to the exclusion of all others. Together we will challenge depression's version of your story.

It can often seem like society expects us to be happy and positive at all times, that any admission of sadness or a loss of motivation, energy, or engagement with life is a personal failure. But Depression isn't a personal failure, and it is also more than just "feeling sad". If you find yourself down in the hole of disconnection, surrounded by a fog that is interfering with your life and relationships, you need a hand to help you climb out. A trained therapist understands the mechanics of depression and can help you understand it and find strategies to make your way up and out of it, and back into the light. Please contact me so we can begin to work on this process together.

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

The therapeutic process and, applying a psychodynamic foundation, will assist one through healing from difficult moods and behaviors with a treatment model especially tailored to fit your emotional needs. We will discuss moods and behaviors related to negative processing of information and positive processing. Depression can become overwhelming and is often related to memories of chilhood trauma. We will work together at healing and letting go of the painful responses of traumatic injuries.

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.

My aim is to help you find your own way through your personal recovery. My goal is to support you every step of the way, as you break free from depression and find your own voice. I will help you recognize and build upon your strengths so that you can overcome any obstacles you may be facing.I will offer you an effective and compassionate therapy plan which works towards your goals and, most importantly, at your own comfortable pace.

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.

Depression often results following some type of loss. However, often it is not the loss itself that causes the depression, but the person's assessment and thoughts about the loss that produces feelings of depression. Cognitive therapy, as practiced by Dr. Levine, can help reverse such clinical depression. It is normal to feel sadness following a loss or unexpected negative life event and cognitive therapy is frequently an excellent method for insuring that normal sadness does not morph into clinical depression. If medication or TMS might help in addition to therapy, Dr. Levine can help direct you to a competent psychopharmacologist to provide this additional assistance, if you choose.

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.

In treating mood problems, the most important piece in collaborating is to find rays of hope in your life. What did you love to do before that you no longer enjoy? What are/were your interests in life? Who are the people in your life you want to feel closer to? What are your strengths? How can we interupt habitual feelings of hopelessnes, by changing the way you think about triggers that lead you to depressed feelings? How can we challenge negative or unrealistic thinking? With sensitive, open communication in sessins, we can find answers to these questions that can curtail habitual depressive thought and feelings. Coping skills can be taught and mastered.

Depression is far more common than has been generally thought. Folks find themselves feeling hopeless, unable to concentrate, lacking initiative, having difficulty making decisions, trouble sleeping etc. Depression involves a slowing down of the entire human organism as well as lowered self-esteem. Often our dreams and images can lead us to discover the deeper meaning of the depression. Therefore sometimes depression can be a pathway to self-discovery. As we explore how you feel, I listen in a way that provides the client with clarity, offer guidance without imposing decisions, accept the client as they are, without making judgments, as they move forward in achieving

Studies show that talk therapy along with medication are the most effective for chronic depression. Although I cannot prescribe medication, I have a vast amount of experience practicing talk therapy with depressed clients. Depression can be debilitating and can interfere with every aspect of your life. Whether your depression is situational or hereditary, through psychotherapy we'll get to the root of it.

Depression is not something that exists "in" you. It is something you experience in a context. When we are out of connection with others we can become depressed. My approach to healing depression is not to simple help people get "over" their depression but by helping people move in and through it. That means, feeling into the pain and potential danger of feeling the feelings that are in you. When we are not alone in our feelings they can change.

Depression takes away your ability to feel joy in life. But with the right help you can overcome it. I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy to help you understand your emotions and take concrete actions to change how you feel. It's not easy, but it is an evidenced based therapy that can offer you a chance to feel joy. Understanding how you can change your mood in positive ways can help you find joy again. I can help you do that.

You can fight depression by exploring how your present emotions relate to past experiences. These insights, gained under the guidance of a caring professional, can deliver release, increase your understanding, build self-esteem and lead to healing. In parallel, you can learn ways to examine your thoughts regarding negativity, distortions etc. This helps you create more positive and realistic thoughts, moving away from having no control towards taking control. In addition, relaxation/meditation techniques can bring you a sense of balance and peace. If poor exercise, nutrition, sleep and social support contribute to your depression, I'll guide you to make changes and keep track of them

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.

Depression can rear it's ugly head when we least expect and without being fully aware that it is happening. Losing interest in activities that were once pleasurable, feeling overwhelmed and tired, sleeping in excess can all be signs of depression. Learn skills such as relaxation techniques, changing negative thought processes, and proactive ways of coping with stress to help you get back on the right track.

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.

I practice a type of therapy for depression called Team Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which research has shown to be especially effective with depressive disorders. It was developed by Dr David Burns. Using TEAM CBT, we work together to discover underlying beliefs (which we call cognitive distortions) that are causing or contributing to your depressive symptoms. Once identified, we then use a variety of techniques to help you correct those thinking patterns that are causing you difficulty. We measure progress constantly so that we can try new techniques if needed, to help you feel better.

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

Do you feel isolated, like no one would understand your depression and you'd do anything to feel better? You're not alone. I’m here to support you. Using a blend of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy, we’ll address negative thoughts, find healthy coping strategies, and explore the deeper causes of your depression. Let's work together to get you on the path to feeling better.

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.