Depression Counseling in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

My belief is that depression is born from unexplored feelings intersecting with past and present life events. I gently guide clients to deeply explore core belliefs and emotions that are impacting how they view themselves and the world around them. As we challenge the myth and mystery of these feelings and beliefs, a new way of moving through the world begins to unfold and recovery can begin.

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.

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.

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.

Depression has a way of taking away our zest for life, our sense of vitality, and even sometimes our will to live. I begin my work in depression treatment with a thorough assessment of not just the number of symptoms of depression but as importantly the quality of the depression. Depression that stems from guilt has a different feel than that which stems from shame. I observe and interact with my clients and I provide my observations back to them for their assessment and collaboration in this very engaged and intimate process of identification. I make note of how my client is feeling during these conversations and I make my observations and senses my guides in treating depressive feelings.

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 might help in addition to therapy, Dr. Levine will help direct you to a competent psychopharmacologist to provide this additional assistance, if you choose.

Depression is a crippling experience that often goes unidentified by ourselves or those in our lives for way too long. It is self-sustaining, as it causes us to withdraw from our lives and from possible support. Mild to moderate depression may be treated with traditional "talk" psychotherapy, although severe depression may require pharmaceutical intervention. I work with you both to make sense of your depression and take steps to challenge it and move through it, into a better quality of life. We will talk. We will work somatically, with your breath and your body, to move stuck emotions and energy and remove the blocks to getting back into your life. Depression IS treatable. Seek out help.

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 feels terrible! You may not be sleeping. You may be more irritable than usual. You may be have tears coming out of your eyes unexpectedly. The great news, is that of all the illnesses you could be experiencing, depression is one of the most treatable. You don't have to feel like this forever. You are not your depression. Using CBT, solution focused brief therapy, and positive psychology we are going to work to get you on the road to feeling better! Call me today for a complimentary confidential phone consultation and let's get started right away! You are cordially invited to view my blog at: www.blogger.com/profile/05583261728767907328

Young adults across the country are struggling, and often their parents often don’t understand why, or how to best help them. By waiting until emotional problems with your child have escalated, the issue becomes more complicated to solve. Seeking my services as a Young Adult Life Coach offers the opportunity to address and remedy these problems. I provide a safe, non-judgmental space for your child to express their feelings and overcome their challenges. I invite you to take advantage of my FREE Initial Parent Consultation.

Depression leaves people feeling powerless and helpless. The world becomes a dark and threatening place where the things that once were joyful and now dreadful. When in a state of depression, it can be hard to find the motivation to reach out and ask for help. That's because depression replaces feelings of vibrancy with an experience of deadness. Sharing one's experience from this state can be shameful and might feel that no one understands. I listen closely to all the details of this experience which helps to make the experience less lonely and less shameful. Ultimately this allows us to look at the underlying causes for the depression and start on a course of change.

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.