Depression Counseling in Sacramento, CA.

Tired of feeling tired, sad and that nothing seems to work or make you feel better? I have personally experienced depression and truly understand how hard it is deal with depression. I want to help you become the person you want to be - to find joy in your life again - to smile and think about a future that you no longer dread but instead that you embrace! It starts with just a phone call - call now and find that light at the end of the tunnel.

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.

I believe that as we grow up we are shaped by our relationships; this starts from the time we are little and continues for the rest of our lives. Through these relationships we are also shaped by society. In being shaped we create various meaning from our experiences as well as receiving and giving instructions on how to live. When we form new relationships of any kind, this gets challenged; coming together and finding a path forward that celebrates all involved is the key to success. Sometimes this gets stalled through unspoken expectations and anticipated or unanticipated pressure related to sadness. Lets explore this!

Some established theories about what causes depression include “Anger turned inward”, “early Object Loss”, and “the inability to Grieve”. It think it is no coincidence that Depression and Anger are two of the stages of Grief which Kubler-Ross identified as a normal aspects of resolving significant loss. Normal Grief and Bereavement can become complicated by any kind of overwhelming or traumatic experience. I find that Somatic approaches such as Sensorimotor Psychotherpy are ideal for working with Depression, as it reconnects us with the deeper natural healing resources available to us when we pay attention to the wisdom of the body as it communicates on multiple levels.

I help people struggling with depression by helping them to explore the history/causes of their depression, normalize and validate their emotions, create solutions to real life problems when applicable, and to create and grow hope & optimism. When depression appears to be the result of a biological problem like thyroid issues or chemical imbalances I help clients to find doctors who can evaluate them and then work with them on issues related to their depression. Medication tends to help with the symptoms of depression but doesn't do much to address the underlying thoughts, feelings, and history that have caused or contributed to the depression.

It is important that we recognize the brain as an organ and that it sometimes becomes unbalanced. When we are experiencing depression, sometimes the chemicals in our brains have become unbalanced and we aren't sure why. Other times, we experienced a traumatic or upsetting event that led to depression. Whatever the cause, there is hope (even when it doesn't feel like it).

We all go through ups and downs in our moods. Sadness is a normal reaction to life's struggles, setbacks, and disappointments. Many people use the word "Depression" to explain these kind of feelings, but depression is much more than just sadness. Whatever the symptoms, depression is different from nornal sadness in that it engulfs your day-to-day life, interfering with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and have fun. Getting the support you need plays a big role in lifting the fog of depression and keeping in away. On your own, it can be difficult to maintain perspective and sustain the effort required to beat depression. Please contact me for help and support.

Sadness and depression have many causes, and therefore people respond differently to various treatment approaches. I can help you discover your own unique triggers for depression, and work with you to find the best treatment for you. Though medication has it's value in some circumstances, I view medication as a last resort after all other interventions have failed. Therapy has been proven to help people feel better faster. Let me help you begin the healing process.

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.

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.

In treating depression I use a holistic eclectic approach depending on what works for each individual. In therapy we may focus on the underlying root causes of depression perhaps stemming from childhood issues, trauma, and relationships with parents or caregivers. We may focus on cognitive behavorial techniques relating how thoughts can affect feelings and behavoir. We may focus on current interpersonal relationships and how they play a role in your depression. We may focus on other current life stressors and develop new coping strategies for dealing with stress. My goal is to support you and assist you as you climb out of depression's often times debilitating symptoms.

I assist clients with exploring how much their depression is based on unfulfilled desires or wishes, and how much it is based in a history of feeling neglected, unseen, unloved, etc. I use various techniques and processes, such as CBT therapy, hypnotherapy, EMDR, Byron Katie, and other techniques to help my clients release themselves from the grip of the depression as they are more able to access their wise, loving inner selves.