Depression Counseling in Westmont, IL.

Making sure that if the depression is chemical in nature is very important to get a medical/psychiatric evaluation. Many of symptoms of depression stem from unresolved self esteem issues and early childhood issues. Changing the way we self talk and how we view self and who we operate in the world can change our mood state. Being more aware of the cognitive nature of ones perceptions allow the individual make significant changes in how they feel.

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.

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.

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.

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 be paralyzing and make it challenging to have the motivation to take care of daily life activities. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can provide insight to your emotions and help with identify values that you want to live by. We can work together to not allow depressive symptoms to determine how you live your life. We will identify commitments that will build positive experiences and decrease depressive symptoms. The first step and often the most difficult is making an appointment and coming in for your first session, and you will begin feeling better once you do!

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.

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 use traditional cognitive behavioral (CBT) approaches and third-wave mindfulness based CBT approaches in the treatment of Depression. These are considered evidence-based treatments. Importantly, I conduct a thorough assessment of depression symptoms as part of my intake procedures to determine the best course of treatment. I then collaborate closely with my clients to develop their treatment plan.

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.

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.

Are you struggling with depression? Do you find it hard to get out of bed in the morning? Have you lost interest in things you have liked to do in the past? Are you feeling down most of the time? Research shows that talk therapy can help get you back to living your life again. Together, we can work to come up with a plan to help you get back on the right track. For more information, please don't hesitate to contact me.

My approach will vary depending on the severity of the depression. The first importance is stability of well being. From there I will work on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors working towards short terms goals. Goals will include small behavior changes that will help to be building blocks and also cognitive work on realistic truths. Often things like sleep, nutrition, and exercise are also evaluated and improved in the process as ways to counter depression.