Depression Counseling in Leonia, NJ.

Is sadness and despair overwhelming your experience of yourself and the world? Do you feel as if a dark cloud is hovering over you? Do even the simplest things seem too difficult to accomplish? Do you wish you could just leave, even though you don’t even know where to go? Are feelings of helplessness overwhelming you? If you can identify with these descriptions, then you may be struggling with clinical depression. Depression can be temporary striking because of overwhelming life events or it can be more persistent. Regardless of its source, there is effective treatment for these symptoms. Let's work together to help you bring hope and joy back into your life.

Audrey believes deeply in approaching depression holistically. Using a "here and now" disposition, Audrey will focus more on the present as opposed to digging through your past. We will identify patterns in your thinking and actions that do not serve you and help to reframe and restructure the belief system them supports your unhealthy behaviors. This will be paired with consistent check-ins regarding your overall health such as food, sleep, sunlight, work life etc.... to maximize overall joy in your life.

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States. It is a serious mood disorder that causes severe symptoms that can affect the way an individual feels, thinks and handles daily activities such as sleeping, eating or working. To be diagnosed with depression, the symptoms must be present for at least two weeks. Speaking with one of our counselors can help your depression. We look forward to you calling our office today. Depression—even the most severe cases of depression—can be treated. The earlier that treatment begins, the more effective it is—and licensed professional counselors can help.

Depression is widespread and can also serve a function that allows one to move on in life. The catalyst such as PTSD or loss, when explored appropriately, can enliven a depressed individual. Although depressive feelings and thoughts are debilitating, the process of Working through these feelings can serve as a catalyst for personal growth.

We all feel sad or “down” occasionally, however, if someone feels sad all or most of the time, has a loss of interest in their favorite activities of life, feels worthless or guilty for no reason, feels life is empty and meaningless, he or she may be in the midst of a serious depression. A good rule of thumb is that, if someone feels this way every day for two weeks, it’s time to call a therapist. Together we can properly evaluate if you or your loved one is suffering from major depression or Low-Grade Depression (Dysthymia), whether the depression may be recurrent or may be part of a Bipolar Disorder, and how it can be helped by therapy and/or medication

My philosophy of therapy and change is that change comes from within. As a therapist, I ask a great deal in asking an individual to change, as change is an incredibly difficult task for everyone. The journey of change requires both the client and myself to work collaboratively throughout this journey. It is for this reason that the rapport between the client and myself is critical. I aim to provide all my clients with the space to explore their underlying feelings, thoughts, and behaviors so that they can engage in change.

If you have a pulse and a heart, you have been sad. Using the science of happiness rather than standard interventions for depression we focus on increasing positive emotion, engagement, and meaning rather than directly targeting depressive symptoms. In using these interventions with clients I have noted the effects of these interventions in a variety of settings. In informal and clinical settings these interventions have commonly been reported to me and referred to as “life-changing.”

Depression can range from being draining to being completely debilitating. Wherever you land on that spectrum, so much of depression involves negative thinking of oneself, others, and the world. Talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are research-backed successful tools in providing support for those experiencing depression. I use talk therapy to provide a space for clients to share their feelings and things that either lead to or are affected by their feelings of depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify and shift negative thinking patterns as well as behaviors, which ultimately creates a more positive cycle in ones life and decreases symptoms of depression.

I help my clients learn how to let go of their depression and replace it with acceptance and joy. Depression often occurs when we take situations and others' behavior personally. When we think they mean something about our self-worth. You can learn how to define your own self-worth and not allow anything outside yourself to determine your mood. I can help you learn how to take better care of yourself by learning to heal the deeper feelings underneath your depression like sadness, helplessness and loneliness.

Sometimes depression happens because you have experienced a loss: perhaps a loved one died, or a relationship has ended, or you have lost a job or an opportunity. When these and other events happen, you may feel depleted of energy as if there is no reason to go move on, you may lose sleep or sleep more, you may lose weight or gain more. I will help you understand what you are feeling, and together we will find ways to replenish your inner energy so that you are able to be a peace with what has happened and move forward in a direction that brings a sense of fulfillment in life.

Often depression is held in place by thoughts and beliefs that suck the hope out of one's life. Therapy is effective in finding the source of the problem and providing tools for intercepting and changing the problematic thought patterns. Medication may or may not be needed to get the process started. When one gains the ability to envision a rewarding life, it often ends the cycle of depression.

Depression robs you of the feeling of well-being, causing you to feel debilitated by depriving you of energy. To some people, it feels like falling down, trying to get up, and fall right back down. I want to take a look with you to understand what's keeping you stuck in the dreadful feeling of depression. We can team up to say "goodbye" to depression and "hello" to the feeling of well-being. I have helped many clients live lives dominated by a feeling of well-being.

Depression can range from sad to debilitating. It can come as a reaction to a trauma or painful event or creep up on you from a buildup of years of unhappiness. When given attention, depression can help you learn about what may be missing in your life, what you want to achieve, pain that needs healing, or how to become more empowered. Depression can be used for strength and positive. Experience how!

Depression comes in differant forms, sometimes people become depressed because of situations in thier lives, be that losses or traumatic life events. Situational depression is real and can be treated very effectively through psychotherapy. Chronic depression is a more organic condition that can be a long term condition, however, good psychodynamic psychotherapy can be extremely helpful. With either situational or chronic depression, psychotherapy is an important part of part of the path to recovery.

In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression, we address negative thought patterns and behaviors contributing to your feelings of sadness and hopelessness. Together, we identify distorted thinking and replace it with more realistic, balanced thoughts. Through structured exercises and homework assignments, you'll learn coping skills to manage symptoms and challenge depressive beliefs. We also focus on behavior activation, gradually reintroducing enjoyable activities and routines into your life. With CBT, you'll gain tools to break free from the cycle of depression, cultivate self-awareness, and develop healthier ways of thinking and behaving, leading to long-lasting relief.

My approach attacks depression by quickly focusing in on the primary cause of depression. I show people how their current beliefs about their adversities, past and present, are the primary cause of depression. I teach people how it is well within their power to adopt, without delay, alternative beliefs that help them cope with and prevail over these adversities. I also show my patient how to feel worthwhile and adequate even if she is depressed and performing poorly in life. Often self-downing goes with feelings of depression and makes for depression over being depressed. REBT tackles the rut of depression by attacking both the original and the secondary feelings of depression.

I will help you explore the roots of your depression, whether it stems from relationship issues, low self-esteem, biochemistry, or some combination of them. We will formulate an individualized plan of action to help you address the sources of your unhappiness so that you can shed what no longer works for you and begin living a more authentic and fulfilling life.

Social anxiety and shyness can easily lead to feelings of depression. If you feel depressed because you feel alone, isolated and have trouble making friends, you might be glad to know that there is a way to learn and practice the social skills you missed learning as a child. You can learn and practice new skills, meet new people, learn how to start conversations and create your own social circle. Life can change and it takes just one step to start the process rolling in the right drection.

I can help you recover from depression. We'll start with a thorough assessment to understand what level of depression you have and the treatment options you might consider. We'll look through a toolbox of depression-management strategies from mindfulness and exercise to cognitive-behavioral therapy that can unearth the negative and shame-producing beliefs you operate within. We'll work together to develop a customized depression reduction plan for you. Then comes the hard part--getting started and sustaining the things that work over time. I'll be with you every step of the way until you rebuild the joy and peace you deserve in life.