Depression Counseling in South Pasadena, CA.

Wouldn't it be great if we could take a pill to fix all our problems? While medication can be an important tool in fighting depression, psychotherapy and medication is normally the "gold standard." Forming a relationship with a therapist in a confidential and safe environment is an essential step on the road to recovery. Your therapist may end up knowing you better than anyone else in your life. Finding a "good fit" is vital. I seek to provide such an environment to facilitate self-discovery and to make change for the better.

It can often seem like society expects us to be happy and positive at all times, that any admission of sadness or a loss of motivation, energy, or engagement with life is a personal failure. But Depression isn't a personal failure, and it is also more than just "feeling sad". If you find yourself down in the hole of disconnection, surrounded by a fog that is interfering with your life and relationships, you need a hand to help you climb out. A trained therapist understands the mechanics of depression and can help you understand it and find strategies to make your way up and out of it, and back into the light. Please contact me so we can begin to work on this process together.

Working through depression is difficult. Finding what led to your depression can also be hard to recognize. Together we will find out why you're feeling sad and look for ways to overcome the depression with tools you'll learn in the therapy sessions. Through practice, you'll be able to use the newly learned tools to conquer your depression as easily as brushing your teeth.

CBT is a particularly effective treatment for depression, both as a combined approach with medication and as a stand alone treatment. Participating in CBT therapy for depression can help you restructure negative thought patterns and get out of negative cycles of thinking. Changing the way you think can help you interpret your environment and interactions with others in a more effective and positive way, improving the way you feel about yourself and helping improve your relationships with others. It may also help you recognize things that may be contributing to the depression and help you start doing things that lead to a reduction of symptoms and feelings of meaningful happiness.

If depression is weighing you down, you don't have to go through it alone. In our sessions, we'll create a safe space to explore the roots of your depression and develop strategies to manage negative thoughts and feelings. This might involve uncovering underlying issues, building healthy coping mechanisms, or learning skills to manage daily routines. We'll work together to create a personalized plan to help you rediscover joy, motivation, and a sense of purpose in your life.

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!

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.

Depression can rear it's ugly head when we least expect and without being fully aware that it is happening. Losing interest in activities that were once pleasurable, feeling overwhelmed and tired, sleeping in excess can all be signs of depression. Learn skills such as relaxation techniques, changing negative thought processes, and proactive ways of coping with stress to help you get back on the right track.

Sometimes we find ourselves in the "dark night of the soul." It is a place so painful that we feel we might never find our way out. Our counseling relationship can help you find out why you feel so hopeless, and help you gain insight about how your environment and relationships (both past and present) might be contributing to your feelings. Once you figure this out, we can determine what steps you might need to make to find freedom and joy again.

Deep sadness is not the only symptom of depression. People experiencing depression may also feel physically fatigued, disconnected from activities they used to enjoy, struggle with sleep issues, or struggle with body weight and appetite. Other people's attempts to help or soothe can sometimes cause further distress, as there isn't always an identifiable "reason" for feeling this way. The way I work with clients experiencing depression balances validation and recognition of the immense pain they feel with exploring lifestyle factors and coping skills they can implement to increase overall wellness and satisfaction with life.

Depression takes away your ability to feel joy in life. But with the right help you can overcome it. I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy to help you understand your emotions and take concrete actions to change how you feel. It's not easy, but it is an evidenced based therapy that can offer you a chance to feel joy. Understanding how you can change your mood in positive ways can help you find joy again. I can help you do that.

If you or your child / adolescent are suffering with symptoms of depression such as, loss of interest in activities, low self-worth, and mood changes then I would like to help. Untreated depression can negatively impact relationships, productivity, physical and mental well-being. Whether you understand the root cause of your depression or are unsure of why you are struggling, therapy can be the start you need to move towards healing.

Depression is often a state of confusion resulting from the lack of permission or guidance in processing difficult situations. An opportunity to work through past trauma can help lift depression so there is a greater emotional freedom to move forward and make choices in life. This support to process needs to be kind and understanding while providing a bit of a "push" to find the courage to face whatever scary feelings might be hidden away.