Depression Counseling in Los Alamitos, CA.

Wouldn't it be great if we could take a pill to fix all our problems? While medication can be an important tool in fighting depression, psychotherapy and medication is normally the "gold standard." Forming a relationship with a therapist in a confidential and safe environment is an essential step on the road to recovery. Your therapist may end up knowing you better than anyone else in your life. Finding a "good fit" is vital. I seek to provide such an environment to facilitate self-discovery and to make change for the better.

Depression is a debilitating condition hallmarked by feelings of hopelessness and futility. Although you may want to isolate when feeling depressed the best thing you can do is to begin to talk about the feelings we have and create a caring support system for yourself. In your treatment you will begin to understand your feelings and find ways of regaining balance and mastery. I can help you to turn depressive feelings around so that you can feel stronger and live a richer and fuller life.

When treating depression, I employ cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) therapy which is empirically validated in research studies to help people with depression. By modifying routines and behavior and learning how to challenge dysfunctional thoughts, clients are helped to improve mood in a relatively short time. This approach is collaborative, active, and supportive. Clients are usually asked to keep records, complete worksheets, test new behaviors, run experiments, and report back on the outcome.

Depression can be debilitating and sometimes just getting out of bed is a monumental effort. Sufferers just want to feel better and less overwhelmed by life and that's where I come in. I have extensive experience in this area and I think part of the reason my clients have shown improvements with their depressive symptoms is because we take small steps and tackle things one at a time. Negative thoughts and limiting beliefs can often contribute to depression and my approach is to explore where they come from and then replace them with healthier beliefs and patterns. Clients will be able to see the connections between their beliefs and behaviors and then be given tools on how to make changes.

Phoenix Rising provides individualized treatment plans and therapy for Depression. Our clinicians are highly experienced and will provide you with a customized treatment plan for your unique situation. You do not have to experience this struggle alone, we have compassionate team members who are waiting to help. We invite you to call for a free confidential telephone assessment and schedule an appointment today.

“Stinkin’ thinkin’” isn’t what causes depression. It’s just one manifistation of this bewildering, joy-sucking, often recurring illness. The good news is that depressive illness does not last forever, even though it can feel like it. The not-so-good news is that for many people, depression is a recurrent illness that hides in the shadows and may strike without cause or warning. MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy) is an 8-week program that’s been scientifically-shown to prevent—or at least, decrease the likelihood of— recurrence in people who have suffered from 3 or more episodes of depression. It is a skill-based program that reduces the body’s vulnerability to depressive illness.

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.

When a loved one dies many people experience depression along with their other symptoms of grief. As a bereavement therapist I understand that grief takes a long time and that it is very difficult to learn to live without your loved one. Through grief counseling we can together help you regain your sense of balance and begin to lift the depressive feelings that can be overwhelming.

Depression is one of the most common problems people seek out therapy services. Because I am trained in a variety of therapeutic approaches, I am able to offer you a holistic approach to depression treatment. Sometimes depression is habitual, other times it is caused by your cicumstances, and still other times we need to work through the root causes of depression. These may be childhood abuse, traumatic events, bereavement or problems in your relationships or lack there of! I am highly trained and skilled at treating all types of depressions and can help you work through the feelings to resolve even long term depression. Call me! I can help!

Tired of seeing the world through a grey sky? Feeling so overwhelmed that the thought of getting out of bed is too much? It sounds like depression has shown up at your door, and it is not welcome. You are not your sadness. Together we will find ways that work for you to lift the weight of depression of your shoulders and bring joy into your life once more. I utilize mindfulness, solution-focused, Narrative and Cognitive-Behavioral techniques to help relieve some of the burden of being down dragged down by depression. Don't allow depression to keep you in isolation, let me lead you through the darkness, onto a brighter day.

Depression may be caused by many factors and I look into a persons history to find the key to the beginning of the depression, many times in early childhood. As mentioned before I use Trauma methods to approach the trauma and to find the "keystone" event that may have started the trauma leading to depression. Sometimes there is a biological reason for this depression causing these triggers to go off. I can also then refer to a specialist MD.

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.

My philosophical work on the nature of hope and despair is particularly well suited for working with clients suffering from depression. While my explicit aim is cultivating and creating a space of genuine hope, I also believe it is essential to recognize the reasons for despair and to diligently work through those circumstances. Compassionate understanding and patience facilitate hope.