Depression Counseling in Marina del Rey, CA.

Depression can be mild to severe and can impact every aspect of life - from sleep, to appetite, to relationships, to work, even to the will to live another day. Depression can feel so heavy, as if under too much weight that there's no way out. I work with people to help them find that the way out is possible and attainable. I teach skills in mindfulness and help to create a plan that does not feel too overwhelming. My aim is to help unfold the strength and confidence that gets lost to depression.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Depression is often a state of confusion resulting from the lack of permission or guidance in processing difficult situations. An opportunity to work through past trauma can help lift depression so there is a greater emotional freedom to move forward and make choices in life. This support to process needs to be kind and understanding while providing a bit of a "push" to find the courage to face whatever scary feelings might be hidden away.

People who have depression have problems thinking, acting, behaving, and even getting through the day. Sometimes, depression can feel as though one is living in a black hole, like an ever-present sense of impending doom looming over them. Some adolescents and adults who have depression don’t feel sadness at all – they may feel empty, angry, and apathetic about their world. I offer life-altering care for adolescents and adults struggling with depression and other challenges in a safe, serene, and confidential environment. I understand that depression treatment is never a one-size-fits-all approach, so I spend the necessary time evaluating and getting to know each adolescent and adult I meet in order to develop a plan of care that meets all their needs. I...(view profile to read more)

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 can be a heavy and overwhelming burden to bear, but with my evidence-based approach and compassionate guidance, we can work together to lift that weight and shed light on a brighter future. My use of cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness techniques can help you understand and challenge negative thought patterns, leading to an improvement in mood and overall outlook on life. I will provide a safe and non-judgmental space for you to explore the root causes of your depression, and work towards building healthy coping skills to manage symptoms. You are not alone in this journey and I am here to support you every step of the way.

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.

Persistent depression can steal your passion for life and make everyday feel hopeless and pointless. Sometimes it can feel as though nothing will ever change. At VOBH, our psychologists strive to help you identify the roots of your depression so that you once again be optimistic and hopeful about your life. We strive to collaborate with you on ways to alleviate you depression and manage sadness through research-proven therapeutic techniques.

Depression presents itself uniquely in each individual. Further, in working with children and young adults, they can too often be misdiagnoses as their behavioral presentation is labeled as disruptive and oppositional. Having a clear understanding of depression impacts the behavioral outlook of the individual is pivotal on developing an effective plan in addressing these concerns. By working with my clients and families in understanding the depression we are often able to shape the environment in which the depression exists. Joining this with cognitive behavioral and evidenced based interventions, we are then able to more effectively address these symptoms in our pursuit of long term goals.

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.