Depression Counseling in Darien, IL.

Depression can be debilitating. Dealing with loss of energy, difficulty concentrating, hopelessness, feeling worthless, low mood, and overall difficulty dealing with the day to day can be a symptom of depression. Through counseling I can help provide you relief from depression. I will help you identify ways your thinking is impacting your mood and offer your tools to help correct your thinking. I will also teach you new ideas/concepts that will help you make changes to your thinking and mood.

I think that my most important technique is to assist individuals in recognizing that depression is a condition and is not a form of laziness; many individuals have expressed a sense of relief as others have encouraged them to "just get over it". I utilize a combination of support and encouragement, including discussions of successes and challenges. I strongly discourage the use of the word "should" and any judgmental language. In addition, I believe that there is no specific time table for recovery, and that each individual is unique in their recovery.

I approach depression with empathy and curiosity, recognizing it not as weakness, but as a signal that something deep within is asking for care. Depression can feel like disconnection—from yourself, others, and the life you once knew. In our work together, we’ll gently explore what lies beneath the heaviness, honoring your pace and your pain. Healing begins when you feel safe enough to be seen. You don’t have to carry the weight alone anymore.

Depression has been called "anger turned inwards" and it seems that when a person talks about their depression, they may have hurt and anger underneath it. It's typically not easy to get to these complex feelings and subjects alone. With counseling, the layers are peeled away, the emotions find relief and the person begins to feel better. Depression is treatable.

Depression can happen to anyone. Often times, it happens to very strong people. I am here to support you in exploring your emotions, what depression feels like for you, and learning how to cope with it. We will identify your strengths and qualities so that we can use those to help you with your challenges. We will also work on self-compassion and creating kindness towards yourself.

Depression is an intruder. It gets in the way of personal happiness and pursuits. Depression also interferes in interpersonal relationships. So how do you deal with this intruder? Either you manage depression or it manages you. I assist my clients in developing coping strategies to manage depression so that it is less intrusive. Using modified thinking and acting strategies, individuals report improved mood and energy. I often hear my clients report, "I feel like myself again!"

Sometimes people feel depresed and can atribute it to stressful events that have occured, other times people can't quite put their finger on why they feel depressed, they just know they're not happy, feel unmotivated, and in some cases hopeless and helpless. What we now know about neuroscience helps us understand how and why depression occurs. I will help you determine whether your depression can be improved through talk therapy combined with some changes to your daily routine or whether a clinical depression has set in that may respond well to medication too. I have a wonderful, caring Doctor I work with who will assess clinical depression and offer recommendaitons if necessary.

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.

Depressive symptoms can stem from a variety of sources in an individual’s life usually reflecting a sense of loss. While medications can be helpful, it’s the behavioral symptoms associated with depression that can leave a lingering impact even after the depressive symptoms have stated to improve. Being pulled into depressive experiences over and over reflects both habits that can be difficult to break and/or subconscious issues that have yet to be addressed. Through processes such as hypnotherapy that address the whole person, we are able to capture a wider range of challenges and help the individual to regain the ground lost to he depressive illness.

Depression can leave you feeling physically and emotionally exhausted. It can be hard to complete simple tasks, go to work or care for ourselves; being overloaded with thoughts has zapped your energy. But, there's hope for a way out through therapy. I utilize Cognitive and dialectical behavior therapies, Acceptance and Commitment therapy, and person centered therapy to help you overcome the internal battle that keeps you from getting better.

When working with depression, I take a steady, supportive approach that combines understanding with practical tools. We’ll look at how your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions are connected, and work together to reduce feelings of hopelessness, increase motivation, and rebuild a sense of purpose. You won’t be rushed or judged—just met where you are, with a focus on small, manageable steps toward feeling better.

People who struggle with depression often report feeling overwhelmed with life or less interested in activities. They struggle with maintaining focus and have difficulty in interpersonal relationships. While there are many types of therapy for the treatment of depression, today, most people with depression can be treated successfully with antidepressant medications, “talk” therapy (psychotherapy), or a combination of the two. Talk therapy is effective because it helps you to understand and work through the root of depression, helping you to identify patterns of thinking and behaving that underlie personal difficulties. With therapy, you will be able to live in accordance with your values.

Depression is frequently referred to as the common cold of mental health issues. Everyone experiences difficulties in life from time to time but when normal grief, stress,work, family issues or other stressors become overwhelming depression can set in causing individuals very serious symptoms and struggles including, decreased energy/motivation, alienation from relationships, feelings of hopelessness, fatigue, poor concentration and at worst no longer wanting to go on with life. The good news is there is help available. When dealing with depression it is important to be able to talk about the struggle but we will also give you strategies and tools to relieve your distress.