Depression Counseling in Redwood City, CA.

Has anyone ever implied you should just "snap out of" depression? Oh, boy, do they not understand! If depression is keeping you from living the life you want, I can help. I understand that depression is a complex emotional, physical, and psychological disease. Often historical, genetic and environmental factors contribute to depression. Together we can sort out those complex factors and address them one by one. Depression is not your fault, nor is it a moral failing. You can feel better. You can feel alive again. Studies show that even contacting a therapist can give you hope. Give it a try. I'm waiting to hear from you.

I believe depression is caused when we shut down our emotional expression. As in if we shut down one part of ourselves, such as our anger, or our desire, or our fear, or any other one part, we can't just shut down the one channel and we end up shutting them all down, leading to depression. The solution is to create the safety and trust needed for the person to finally be able to express and feel what they have been blocking and thus move past the depression into more aliveness.

In depression treatment with me, you will feel that you are deeply heard, that your symptoms are understood, and that your process is respected. Initially, I will teach you some valuable skills to help you take the edge off of your depression to make way for deeper healing. By experiencing compassion and receiving effective coaching in sessions, you will be able to begin to process your pain more effectively so that you can let it go and move toward more consistent happiness and satisfying relationships. Call me with any questions or to schedule an initial appointment.

I offer a holistic and client-centered experience designed to address the multifaceted nature of depression. I create a supportive and empathetic environment where clients feel safe to explore their feelings and experiences without judgment. By employing evidence-based therapies, such as Ketamine Therapy (KAP), IFS, and mindfulness practices, I work with clients to identify negative thought patterns, develop coping strategies, and build resilience. Additionally, I tailor interventions to each individual’s unique needs, incorporating their personal strengths and goals into the therapeutic process. This comprehensive approach empowers client to achieve a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Depression can set in when our emotions or negative thought patterns become overwhelming and too much to hold. Pain or hardship often is too much to hold alone. With my help, we can start to open to emotion, bring a wise awareness to thought patterns, and to find aliveness again. If we can make friends with our emotions, stop fighting them, and to recognize their purpose in regulating the nervous system or showing us what matters to us, tremendous resilience can be found on the other side.

Depression and chronic worry often go hand in hand and both leave us feeling helpless and alone. I work with people who are locked in cycles of repetitive, negative thinking to see that the wisdom of the body can be harnessed to help change the cycle. You can learn to listen to your body-mind's need for being accepted, encouraged, and loved, rather than harassed, put-down and pushed. Depression is the fear of doing things on the job, in relationship or in life less than perfectly. And yet perfection isn't possible. We can work together to release you from the bonds of skewed thinking. You can practice new skills, especially acceptance of yourself, other people and our human frailties.

I help men who are suffering from depression, regain a sense of meaning and vitality in their life. My experience includes more than a decade of work helping men who felt lost, turn their lives around. The benefit of having a therapist with explicit experience working with men, means that you are more likely to feel understood and helped in a way that is relevant to you. My approach is warm, straightforward, and research-based. The benefits of therapy can be far-reaching and life changing. You can read more about my work on my website. Also, I am happy to provide a free initial phone consultation, to talk with you about therapy, and to answer any questions you may have. Give me a call today.

TIRED OF FEELING DOWN ALL THE TIME? Are you struggling with insecurities, stress, and self-doubts? Are you stuck in some strange vicious cycles? I can help you go deep and identify the source of your unhappiness, take charge of your life and move on to happiness, empowerment and meaning... Counseling can help you overcome sadness, and destructive emotions. Call me for a free telephone consultation session.

I approach the therapeutic healing from depression with a lens of authenticity that begins by building a trusting relationship with the client. Heal from the darkness of depression with my compassionate integration of Internal Family Systems, mindfulness approaches, and other psychodynamic approaches. We will work on accessing your inner wisdom of "self" in combination with awareness of the power and science of the mind and body to help find your light.

Working with the experience of depression is much more than changing our thoughts to change our behavior. Our brains are wired to notice the negative; it's part of our survival. I support my clients in expanding what they notice, and help them discover what works for them by creating a tool kit through experiential relational interventions in session. When I see children, I utilize play therapy as the modality, including Child Centered Play Therapy, Filial Therapy, and Prescriptive Play Therapy. When working with adolescents and adults, I utilize expressive arts, DBT, CBT and Narrative Therapy.

My approach with treating depression is to assess for negative thought patterns as well as unresolved grief or trauma. Once I determine the source, I have a Holistic approach for depression that involves a program of self care and inner work. I offer somatic techniques such as breath work, guided visualizations, EFT (the tapping technique that releases anxiety or trauma). I also teach cutting edge Law of Attraction techniques that help you stay out of depression and build up your self esteem as well as create more love, happiness, and financial abundance in your life.

Depression is usually caused from helplessness in the face of overwhelming situations. This can be a learned response from unresolved traumas in your past. My approach to depression is multifaceted, beginning with getting to know you and understanding your life and its hardships. Very quickly, I like to move into using Somatic Experiencing to help resolve past trauma and retrain your nevous system to be able to re-regulate itself in the face of what used to be overwhelming circumstances. I have seen a lot of people rise up out of the hell of depression, with and without medication, to live the lives they were meant to live.

Alexandra is collaborative and integrates mindfulness, somatic therapy, family systems, solution-focused, behavioral therapy, and existential techniques. Alexandra is experienced in working with clients who are neurodivergent, and supporting with sexuality and gender identity, attachments, relationships, trauma, open and consensual non-monogamy, kink, trust and self-esteem, life transitions, depression, anxiety, and stress.