Depression Counseling in La Habra, CA.

Working through depression is difficult. Finding what led to your depression can also be hard to recognize. Together we will find out why you're feeling sad and look for ways to overcome the depression with tools you'll learn in the therapy sessions. Through practice, you'll be able to use the newly learned tools to conquer your depression as easily as brushing your teeth.

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.

Most clients suffer from some form of depression, due to work, marriage, family, or addiction problems. First if the symptoms are sever we recommend a consultation from a medical doctor. If the client suffers from insomnia, difficulty concentrating, anhedonia, or dramatic weight changes , we strongly suggest the client meet with their medical doctor. Also many people will call because they are struggling with depression, and sometimes it is due to an underlying medical condition, such as anemia, vitamin D deficiency, mono, thyroid condition etc. So we ask clients to request blood test be ordered by their doctor. After the vegetative symptoms are assessed and treated, then we proceed .

When you’re depressed it makes life feel like you’re walking through mud, everything is more difficult and tiring and you feel less motivated to do anything. This can make depression incredibly difficult to deal with because it requires taking action to overcome. I have personal and professional experience in recovery from this unpleasant disorder, which gives me an edge and helping people to heal from depression.

The root of depression is complex. There is probably a genetic predisposition and may often accompany anxiety and trauma. Some difficult triggers can include the death of a loved one, divorce, illness, or having a challenging relationship with alcohol and other substances. It is not uncommon for life transitions that on the surface appear positive (weddings, pregnancy, children going to college, retirement) to trigger feelings of depression. You can find relief and healing through psychotherapy. Together, we can identify the triggers to get to the source of the suffering, identify short and long term solutions to bring about a sense of relief, and explore different avenues to help.