Depression Counseling in South Pasadena, CA.

Life can be very stressful these days. Cell phones, I Pads, smart phones, e mail, social networks all are fun and wonderful but they also bring with them higher expectations from work, family, friends and even ourselves. Our world keeps speeding up and the pressures can be great. Depression as an outgrowth of the stresses and pressures that surround us is becoming increasing common and a part of each of our lives. Most of us will experience depression at one or more points in our lives. Medication can help but is usually not the long term answer. We will work to identify the problems, find solutions, set goals and work toward minimizing the causes and find more peace and calm.

Depression is a mood disorder that can cause a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest that can interfere with daily functioning. Reaching out for help is a step towards wellness. Symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, but it is a very treatable condition. Therapy for depression helps you overcome the feelings of hopelessness and despair and to gain control of your life.

Depression is a particularly cruel and insidious companion, often working in tandem with other problems to try to silence us, to steal joy and passion, and to convince us of our uselessness. Depression may try to convince us that there is one truth - our own unworthiness - to the exclusion of all others. Together we will challenge depression's version of your story.

Depression can be a heavy and overwhelming burden to bear, but with my evidence-based approach and compassionate guidance, we can work together to lift that weight and shed light on a brighter future. My use of cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness techniques can help you understand and challenge negative thought patterns, leading to an improvement in mood and overall outlook on life. I will provide a safe and non-judgmental space for you to explore the root causes of your depression, and work towards building healthy coping skills to manage symptoms. You are not alone in this journey and I am here to support you every step of the way.

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.

Are you feeling helpless & hopeless? Is sadness interfering with your ability to work, eat, sleep, or have fun? If so, you may be struggling with depression. I’d like to show you some ways to overcome your sadness, so you can live the happy, productive life you deserve. There’s a lot we can do to change how you feel: We can explore the thoughts & behaviors that cause your sadness & change them to improve your mood. We can also identify the underlying causes of your sadness & develop a plan to eliminate their negative impact. I’ll create a comfortable, non-judgmental environment where you feel safe being open & honest, so you can tap into your personal strengths to achieve your goals.

Depression can be mild to severe and can impact every aspect of life - from sleep, to appetite, to relationships, to work, even to the will to live another day. Depression can feel so heavy, as if under too much weight that there's no way out. I work with people to help them find that the way out is possible and attainable. I teach skills in mindfulness and help to create a plan that does not feel too overwhelming. My aim is to help unfold the strength and confidence that gets lost to depression.

Depression is not something that exists "in" you. It is something you experience in a context. When we are out of connection with others we can become depressed. My approach to healing depression is not to simple help people get "over" their depression but by helping people move in and through it. That means, feeling into the pain and potential danger of feeling the feelings that are in you. When we are not alone in our feelings they can change.

I like to work collaboratively with my clients with a special emphasis on going at their own pace. When feelings of hopelessness, sadness, or lack of motivation is a primary concern, it is important to help clients find goals that they feel they are actually able to achieve. Providing a supportive, non-judgmental and peaceful atmosphere in therapy can help a client explore some of the more challenging struggles that has made him or her feel stuck, either in their personal goals or in important close relationships. Finding new strategies or coping skills to replace the ones that have stopped working becomes the new goal and transformations in outlook and relationships can begin.

All of us occasionally experience feelings of sadness. Most of the time, these painful interludes clear rapidly. Clinical depression, however, is an extremely painful state which is characterized by intense feelings of hopelessness and despair. When this mood state occurs, professional help is needed. My therapeutic process allows the here and now experience between therapist and client to reveal how present day thoughts, feelings, and beliefs formed in the past influence your current life and affect your mood. Bringing to light the cognitive processes that may be holding the depression in place help you gain the clarity and control needed to restore your health. Please feel free to call.

We all feel down sometimes. Real depression is when we can’t get back up. Or it’s when we do so only after great effort, and even then it’s not all the way back. If sadness, hopelessness, and helplessness get in your way, that’s depression. Even mild or periodic depression can interfere in your life. It can also increase conflicts at work and in your relationships. Therapy helps, even without medication. Some people may benefit from medication, but that’s on an individual basis, and research shows that medication works best when it’s combined with therapy. We’ll examine what causes the depression, what you’ve tried, and what else can be done. Depression doesn’t have to stop your living.

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.

Depression can be experienced at any age and comes in various degrees impacting how we feel about ourselves and others. It can change our mood, eating, sleeping, thinking, and involvement in activities. Many individuals suffer in silence but their mood and behavior reveal a deeper turmoil within themselves. Talking to a trusted person about those inner thoughts is helpful but many friends and family members may not have the knowledge and skills to help you. Seeking a professional counselor can reduce feelings of isolation and provide you with feelings of hope. “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed” Proverbs 15:22.