Depression Counseling in Rolling Hills Estates, CA.

In our life journey we inevitably come across a period of darkness, depression or lack of motivation. Sometimes it is triggered by an event or failed relationship and sometimes we come to the realization that much of our lives has already been lived in this gloominess. Through the counseling process you can share what you've truly been experiencing and explore the depths of your depression in a private, safe environment all while coming to an understanding of what it means to be good to yourself. And in turn others.

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.

I have worked for many years with people who are suffering from depression. Depression can manifest in a number of ways- lack of interest in activities that previously made you happy, low energy, a decrease or increase in appetite, a sense of hopelessness, substance usage etc. When one experiences sadness which is pervasive it can be very troubling and frightening. One's outlook on life when depressed can seem very bleak and as thought it may never lift. However, talking about ones feelings about feeling depressed with a skilled caring professional is one way to help to start alleviate these feelings.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression has been shown to work time and again with decades of research supporting its efficacy. There is a light at the end of the tunnel! When you are depressed motivation and desire are hard to come by. I hope to help you create and put into action a plan that does not rely on motivation to enact change. You will begin to learn how to catch the thoughts and behaviors that keep you stuck and change them to healthier alternatives. My goal is to help provide you with the tools and skills you need to find joy and pleasure in things again and to be able to envision your life worth living.

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.

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 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.

Everyone experiences sadness at some point in their lives. How do we know if it is depression? You may be feeling sad, empty, anxious, hopeless, and/or irritable. You may feel sleepy or have difficulty in sleeping; changes in your appetite; a loss of interest in activities or trouble concentrating. Studies have shown that talk therapy can be as effective in treating mild to moderate depression as medications. In our therapy sessions together, I will help you explore and manage the feelings of defeat that you may have. In a gentle way, I will work with you to help understand some of the patterns you may have developed that are no longer serving you in a positive way.

Depression often results in a person believing that the only position to take is one of helplessness and hopelessness. Friends and family often cannot understand why their loved one cannot take action. However, to the person affected by depression, ruminating is the action they are taking which feels just as valid as any other type of action. Negative memories and negative interpretation of events dominante. It is difficult to accept the unknown and they under-estimate their ability to cope. Fatalistic beliefs, ambiguity and unfocused attention add to the overwhelming power of depression. In therapy, I help clients accept the unknown, focus attention, and transform the critical voice.

As a couple we bring an enhanced experience of support and collaboration in dealing with feelings of depression. If you are feeling lonely, hopeless or isolated from your partner, we strive to put you back in each other's care. When we are both in the room we bring safety to the exploration of obstacles and patterns that are keeping you from getting what you need. We make it easier to ask your partner for what you want and bring connectivity back to your life.

Discover the cause of depression and what to do about it. Many times people feel depressed because they feel that their life should look different than it does in the moment. Dr. Eris Huemer joins with her clients by helping them explore a preferred future for themselves. She takes her clients through a process that helps them change by constructing solutions rather than dwelling on problems. The emphasis here is on finding solutions to current problems and focusing on future wellness rather than past hurts. This is not to say that the past is ignored but the main emphasis is on teaching new skills and creating the life that you want and deserve.

The benefits of a successful treatment of depression include reductions in the severity and frequency of depressive episodes. The capacity to reframe depression as an experience of growth into wisdom, leads to recovery. This can include the return of the ability to enjoy life, greater clarity of thought, improved ability to relax, and greater social engagement. I practice a relational, psychodynamic therapy informed by psychoanalysis and Gestalt.

When treating depression, I employ cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) therapy which is empirically validated in research studies to help people with depression. By modifying routines and behavior and learning how to challenge dysfunctional thoughts, clients are helped to improve mood in a relatively short time. This approach is collaborative, active, and supportive. Clients are usually asked to keep records, complete worksheets, test new behaviors, run experiments, and report back on the outcome.