Depression Counseling in Oak Hills, CA.

Are you feeling tired, sad or overwhelmed by life? Does it feel like there's a dark cloud over you and nothing will ever get better? You are not alone. So many people are struggling with sadness, but you can choose today to learn how to move through it and have the life you've longed for. I support you emotionally and spiritually to come to a place of peace. Let me help you bring light and joy back into your life.

I believe there are at least two kinds of depression. One is more biological or "hard-wired" and may need a biological-level intervention. Therefore, I may refer you to be evaluated by a doctor or psychiatrist for medication. The other kind of depression often arises from injured relationships or facing obstacles in life. Sometimes, depression can be a combination of both. If your depression results from a hurt relationship or failures in life, I can help you to rise above it. As a Family Therapist, I treat problems through a relationship-oriented perspective. Therefore, I may be able to address the kinds of relational issues that often worsen depression.

Depression can limit a person from thriving. These limitations can be be various and may include experiencing life as hard to get motivated or even wanting to stop existing. Thoughts of suicide are common, but not existing and not thriving can be overcome; depression can be managed. Therapy for depression will reveal the basis for your feelings of hopelessness and helplessness and help you to manage these feelings rather than be managed by them. You don't have to let depression control you. You can, with the help of therapy, manage depression so that you can thrive. Like waking up from a bad dream, you can experience a new life where you are not ruled by depression.

Grey Matters International, Inc. and the work of Kevin J. Fleming, Ph.D. handles depression and other emotional disorders in a very unique way. Most of therapy or counseling processes utilize validation, unconditional positive regard, and reframing as common techniques to get someone to heal from their depression. Though this can be helpful, it rarely fixes the core problem behind it and for tough cases we then refer them usually to a psychiatrist for medication which can have tons of side effects. Instead, why not try a natural and arguably more effective way to not just change your mind, but change the brain--where the depression is rooted. Contact us at kevin@kevinflemingphd.com.

In treating depression, I first want to make sure clients have investigated whether there may be particular medical conditions that are causing the depression. Then I will investigate with the client the possible circumstances or relationship issues that have led to the depression. Depending on the results of such investigation, we then take steps to resolve the issues or establish means of coping.

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.

Clients usually experience a progressive decline in mood, which can impact their emotions, the quality of their sleep, relationships (they may even begin to withdraw from others), and have persistent negative thoughts. Many clients prefer to explore viable holistic and integrative strategies before trying medication. In our collaboration, we will design a plan to explore possible options, strategies to strengthen effective coping mechanisms, and identify a plan to enhance the opportunity for recovery.

Andrea is certified in IPT for depression. This is an Interpersonal psychotherapy. It is a brief, attachment-focused psychotherapy that centers on resolving interpersonal problems and symptomatic recovery. It is an empirically supported treatment that follows a highly structured and time-limited approach and is intended to be completed within 12–16 weeks. IPT is based on the principle that relationships and life events impact mood and that the reverse is also true.