Depression Counseling in La Mirada, CA.

Depression is a mood disorder that can cause a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest that can interfere with daily functioning. Reaching out for help is a step towards wellness. Symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, but it is a very treatable condition. Therapy for depression helps you overcome the feelings of hopelessness and despair and to gain control of your life.

Do you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders? Does the heaviness make it hard for you to get out of bed? Do you wish you could keep the covers over your head rather than face life right now? Are you sleeping too much or not at all? Are you having difficulty taking care of routine things like paying the bills or cleaning the house? All of these can be signs of depression and there is help. I know it’s hard to reach out when you feel so bad, but doing nothing will be harder in the long run. Please take the first step & give me a call at 714-751-0888. We will work together to release the grip that depression has on you and restore you back to the person you truly are.

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.

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 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 is about the past, and prevents people from recognizing that things can change postively as a result of their choices. In my work with Depression I use a variety of techniques and strategies, but the overarching focus is to empower my clients to realize their resources and abilities to effect positive changes. Sometimes this involves helping people overcome self limiting beliefs. Sometimes it involves recalling past successes and what is right about themselves. Sometimes I support a person in reconnecting with effective behaviors. Othertimes new behaviors and strategies are developed. Most often my clients use a variety of these in the service of reclaiming their lives.

Sometimes we find ourselves in the "dark night of the soul." It is a place so painful that we feel we might never find our way out. Our counseling relationship can help you find out why you feel so hopeless, and help you gain insight about how your environment and relationships (both past and present) might be contributing to your feelings. Once you figure this out, we can determine what steps you might need to make to find freedom and joy again.

I use a blend of cutting-edge therapeutic techniques such as sensorimotor psychotherapy, internal family systems, and object-relations psychotherapy to create a personalized healing journey. Focused on working with individuals who desire more permanent solutions to their emotional pain, my approach to depression therapy is as compassionate as it is transformative. By engaging with these specifically tailored methods, clients find themselves nurtured, understood, and empowered, unlocking new pathways to well-being and joy. This personalized care provides clients with a value-driven and life-enhancing experience that goes beyond traditional therapy.

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.

Sometimes "talk therapy" alone can relieve depression and most clients find it to be helpful. I do utilize cognitive therapy when dealing with depression because our thoughts have a great deal to do with our feelings and there is evidence that this treatment approach to depression can be quite effective. When necessary, I will provide a psychiatric referral for an evaluation to determine whether or not you are a candidate for medication.

Depression can express itself in a variety of forms. The symptoms of depression vary from person to person. While occasional depression might be considered normal, it is not normal for it to become a hinderance to enjoying and living life. If you are depressed, allow me to provide you with tools to manage the depression while we explore the roots of the depression to create a path out of it.

Are you living in a cloud, where everything seems foggy and dark? Depression can be a debilitating and hopeless experience. I understand that it can be incredibly difficult to reach out for help; remaining isolated is tempting for those struggling with depression -- whether it be from grief, trauma, loss, or "just because." I have experience working with depression and can help you not only develop more effective coping skills, but also identify the core reasons behind your depression in order to provide longer-term healing and change.

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.

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.

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.

Using the narrative therapy approach, clients will feel dignified by using their values as a compass. A lot of times self-worth is heavily influenced by the world around us and the expectations of it. Part of the work is learning to filter out the static from society and find your authentic self. I notice a lot of clients will come in with doubt as part of the depression but will later learn what feels true to them.