Depression Counseling in Northridge, CA.

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!

A need for emotional connection is wired into our DNA as a survival mechanism. But in response to childhood experiences, you may have developed patterns of relating to people that interfere with that essential attachment, so you feel chronically disconnected and depressed. At one time, these patterns protected you from a less than nurturing environment. But now they’re doing more harm than good. Like a self-fulfilling prophecy, your expectations about how others will treat you can lead you to behave in ways that elicit the very responses you fear. EFT can help you heal your relationships and mood. Research shows EFT can be as effective as medication in relieving the symptoms of depression.

Clients that come in with depression can be in a very difficult time and phase in their lives. With therapy, you will be able to identify what is making you depressed and how to decrease it significantly by using every day tools that can be learned. You will be in a safe environment and able to share your feelings that are related to feelings of depression and sadness.

Are you tired of living a life without joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment? Do you feel lonely and isolated? I specialize is helping you to build your self-confidence and motivation so that you can live a life that feels more satisfying and joyful. Through our relationship you will develop insight and motivation to finally move out into the world so that you can live the life you have always wanted to live.

If the people in your life haven't ever experienced depression (which is different than being depressed), they can't understand why you can't get over it, move on with your life, or do the things that you used to do. Some people even get into "cheerleading" (c'mon-- you can do it!). That's why I work to understand your depression and help you to manage the feelings of helplessness, despair, and frustration related to depression--little by little, day by day, you might start to get better under my care as I would do my best to understand what you're going through.

Becoming and being depressed can be devastating and as significant as dealing with a serious physical illness. Depression can involve a constellation of symptoms and behavior manifestations that can be incapacitating. Therapy for depression can include a multitude of approaches including diet, exercise, and when appropriate, medications. Often, it is a combination of some or all of these, that helps the client get better. Depression for children could be precipitated by an event or trauma, a family situation or trauma, or for no apparent reason at all. It is important that it is recognized, assessed and treated.

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.

One of the most common reasons that people enter counseling is the experience of depression. Depression is much more common than what people know. I will help you understand the nature of your depression, what the possible causes are, and a variety of approaches that my clients have found helpful over the years. Whether your depression is recent or persistent, there are specific treatment methods that work for many people. I am also more than happy to work with other healthcare providers to make sure that you benefit from a comprehensive approach. Working with me or with a team can help to maximize your ability to get symptom relief and help you lead a happier and fulfilling life.

Many clients who come to therapy are suffering from depression at some level. Often, "talk therapy" is sufficient to help them overcome negative thinking and get back on track. Sometimes, the feelings of sadness or hopelessness are the result of a recent (or distant) life event. Other clients report having always experienced life in this way. Depending on the circumstances and the severity of the symptoms, a referral to a physician for a consultation about medication is necessary. Even in those cases, having a trusted, experienced counselor to talk to on a regular basis (in conjunction with the use of medications), can be invaluable.

Research shows that the most effective treatment for depression is psychotherapy. Depression can range from feeling down to major symptoms such as having trouble even getting out of bed or contemplating suicide (if you have suicidal thoughts or plans, call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255). Online counseling is effective for depression because it is easy to access: you can start treatment without even leaving the house.

I believe that there is a purpose to the symptoms that you are suffering. I work from a psychodynamic perspective and what that means is that I will make a space for you to explore all of your feelings and help you become aware of unconscious thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and patterns that may be causing your depression. I also help patients become more aware of inner strengths and resources that they may be equally unconscious of. Discovering these strengths gives one the ability to confront unresolved issues that have caused suffering. The increase in awareness leads to a decrease in depression---resulting ultimately in an increase in life-satisfaction.

Depression is very common, and often is a symptom of other problems that are going on. When I work with depression, I assess how long it has been present, what the root causes are if they are known, and what solutions have been attempted so far. Usually I will ask for a thorough evaluation by your doctor, because there are many underlying physical conditions that can cause feelings of depression. This does not mean that you necessarily need an antidepressant medication. Some people find them very helpful, and others don't want to add a medication to their systems. Your preference is important, and we will work with it. Depression sucks the joy out of life, and therapy can help!

Depression, fear and anxiety are some of the most common and uncomfortable emotions that we can experience at some point in our lives. Therapy can help you to talk things out, cope with feelings, problem solve and change behavior patterns that may contribute to your symptoms. Through our work together in therapy, I am able to help you recover motivation, perspective, and joy that you once had so that you can live your best life.