Depression Counseling in Lake Arbor, MD.

Are you feeling bad about yourself, feeling isolated, or finding that you just don’t enjoy the things you used to? Sometimes when we feel stuck, the situation can seem hopeless. But no matter what you’re facing, you can feel better. Our time together will help you recognize your worth as an individual and appreciate the things that make you uniquely you. Together, we will use evidence-based techniques to help you cope with challenges, overcome negative thoughts about yourself, and start enjoying life again.

Everyone experiences sadness, but depression is a heavier and more stagnant emotion that can isolate a person from life. Talk therapy is often not enough, and I use imagery, brainspotting and biofield tuning to help move the heaviness out of the body. There are ogifts in depression, and an essential part of the work is to discover those gifts.

There are many varieties of depression, from the nearly universal experience of “blues” to soul-crushing, “can’t lift my head out of bed” depression. We help sort out the source of depression, which can include being emotionally “underfed”, to un-grieved losses, trauma experiences, biological disorders, family emotional inheritance, and a lack of connection with your inner source of guidance. After exploring the experience of depression, and the context of a client’s life, we collaboratively shape a plan of treatment, and carefully monitor progress. We coordinate with other care providers, such as physicians.

Depression is a very general term and to define it without clarity is a not a good thing. Like everything, we have to find the trigger points; when and how it generates the "sliding down the hill", so to speak. As commonly noted, depression is believing a string of lies, mixed in with some reality and truth. These must be separated for us to resolve each experience. WOW, I see so many lives changed, as I just listen and see what is going on.

I have a great deal of experience helping clients who are going through feelings and symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. I use a variety of ways to guide clients to feel more content and happy. I use cognitive therapy with clients who tend to be perfectionists and/or are self-critical. I use gestalt therapy with clients who need to more fully express their feelings. I use hypnosis with clients who need to get in better touch with their inner strengths. Everyone deserves to feel good inside.

There are many forms of depression. Some people have a major depression needing both counseling and perhaps medication. Other people come in with low level depression or situational form following a loss or perhaps a trauma. Some people need to process their situation and see it from a different perspective along with exercise, connecting with other people, joining support groups, focusing on moments when they felt strong and competent. I will design, along with you, strategies to help manage the depression and bring hope back into your life.

Depression can vary from a vague sense of unhappiness and disquiet to crippling experiences of hopelessness that feel as though they will swallow you completely. Regardless of how your depression is manifesting, you cannot work through it alone. I would be honored to help you grow and heal such that you experience hope, joy and peace again (or perhaps for the first time). You do not have to be stuck in the darkness of depression--our brains are built with the ability to heal, and I would love to help you experience that.

Life can present you with difficult situations which are hard to process and move past. These challenges are not on your timeline and affect everything. Having worked in many healthcare settings, I am familiar navigating life-changing events and grief. I understand the territory of encountering loss, coping with trauma, the complexity of the medical system and living with illness. These issues can have ripple effects on your relationships, sense of self and perceptions of the world. I know how complex things can get, and I will support you during this process.

Are you feeling down? Do you have difficulty getting a good night sleep? Do you lack the energy or interest to do the things you once found interesting? Depression is a state of being that can impact us physically, psychologically, and spiritually. Depression can be overcome or greatly managed, but it does take work. Psychologically, the work requires you to become increasingly mindful of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Once we are able to see, we have the option to change.

Robyn E. Brickel, M.A., LMFT, LLC treats depression and all mood disorders in her practice. By applying complementary therapy approaches and techniques, we will unearth long-standing behavior patterns or negative perceptions that may be holding you back from experiencing a more fulfilling and meaningful life. Robyn provides a supportive environment, as well as a safe place in the clients' life to facilitate changes.

There may be a time in your life when you feel lonely, sad, and uninterested in things that you once considered fun to do. For some of us depression is situational and improves with the situation improves. For others, depression may run in the family and your mood may go up and down. I will help you to understand how you can manage your symptoms and move forward to meet treatment and personal goals. Interventions will be based on each client's needs.

Depression can be a difficult topic to admit to, much less come to therapy for, but the courage it takes to make that call is your first step out of the darkness. Depression would like you to believe that no one can help you and that you're all alone, but it's not true - feeling that way is actually a symptom of depression itself! That's one reason why depression can be particularly insidious - it can make you feel like something is wrong with you at your core, and so make it hard for you to reach out for help. The truth is that depression is a condition that responds to proper therapy treatment, not a character flaw. Believe that and reach out for the help you deserve.

Depression is a signal that your life is not in balance; it is also an opportunity and call to action for a better life. I provide a holistic and educational approach to help you: • Examine triggers of depression; • Identify and transform thoughts, behaviors and feeling tendencies that lead to depression; • Promote physical wellness; • Learn skills to resolve conflicts and improve relationships; • Adapt mindfulness skills for calmness, acceptance and compassion; • Enhance the body-mind connection; • Define values, create a life-vision plan, and pursue a life that is worth living. My approach is based upon a belief in everyone's lovability and personal worth.