Depression Counseling in Quinton, NJ.

Over my thirty years of practice I’ve seen hundreds of depressed children, teenagers, and young adults. In some kids it shows up as sadness, in others as a chronic irritability or anger. Some kids just sleep a lot, or lose themselves in video games. We can blame technology, social media, the pressure kids feel to get into a “good” college, the disconnect they feel with their parents and other adults, but we can’t deny the fact that many children, teens, and young adults are unhappy. I have a long history of helping these kids work their way out of their depression—sometimes counseling them individually, sometime with their parents—and would welcome the opportunity to help yours.

Depression is often a symptom that your life has gotten out of balance. whther your depression issues are biological or situation, longstanding or recent, psychotherapy has been shown to be useful to get back to a life of vibrance, meaning, and peace. My employment of cognitive behavioral therapy techniques (CBT) may help you get back on track toward a life worth living.

If you’re struggling with depressive symptoms, therapy is a critical part of relief. The first step is being heard & then assessed. Is this a new experience or a familiar one? Has it been triggered by a specific situation? The next, is identifying & replacing negative coping strategies & thoughts with positive alternatives. In addition to identify negative thought patterns, it’s vital to understand where these beliefs came from & work to reframe unhealthy views of the self & others. Know that I’m not someone who immediately suggests medication to everyone. A certain level of discomfort prompts us to change. However, when medication is needed, I'll work closely with your PCP or psychiatrist.

Clinical depression is likely the most unappreciated, disrespected illness in existence. For those who have never experienced it, they can't possibly understand what it feels like. As a fellow sufferer, I know how debilitating depression can be, and I even understand how destructive it can be. Depression, if untreated, can destroy your life. Having healthy relationships with others becomes impossible, and one day, you may not be able to drag yourself out of bed to get to work, even in the face of certain termination. Depression can be caused by chemical imbalances in the nervous system, or by runaway, skewed thoughts that dance around our head. It can be treated, but you must ask for help.

There is a wide continuum that constitutes depression. We all have "bad days" or an occasional case of the "blues," but if you rarely experience any joy in life, if more often than not, it is shear drudgery to get up and face the day, or if your situation feels hopeless, then you may well be suffering from clinical depression. I'll help you identify the source of the depression, and we'll work together to resolve it. If medication seems appropriate (rarely my first choice), I can refer you for medication evaluation.

I work with clients to understand how depression affects thoughts, emotions, and daily behaviors. Together, we identify unhelpful patterns and develop practical strategies to lift mood, increase motivation, and rebuild engagement in meaningful activities. I guide clients in challenging negative thinking, setting achievable goals, and cultivating self-compassion. My goal is to help clients regain a sense of control, find hope, and build skills to navigate life’s challenges with greater resilience and balance.

Dr. Marty has developed his own approach to handling depression he calls Focused Short Term Therapy (FSTT)* It combines new cutting edge therapies in the field of energy psychology as well as short term focusing on the depression. When appropriate Dr. Marty uses hypnosis and self hypnosis as well. To learn more about this approach you can go to: http://drmartytashman.com/focused-short-term-therapy-fstt-2/

Our approach to depression counseling is centered on creating a safe, empathetic space where you can explore and address the underlying causes of your depression. Utilizing evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), we help you develop effective coping strategies and positive thought patterns. Our compassionate therapists work with you to build resilience, enhance self-awareness, and foster a sense of hope and empowerment, guiding you towards a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Depression is more than just feeling sad. Dealing with depression means acknowledging that we may need to adjust our expectations for ourselves since depression affects mood, energy level, sleep, appetite, interest in and enjoyment of activities, our relationships, and more. My approach to helping people with depression begins with finding small, manageable tasks to help you take more control of your life. We also examine thoughts or beliefs that may be affecting your mood, and find positive activities to help you find more joy and start to feel better.

Depression is a mood disorder that can cause a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest that can interfere with daily functioning. Reaching out for help is a step towards wellness. Symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, but it is a very treatable condition. Therapy for depression helps you overcome the feelings of hopelessness and despair and to gain control of your life.

We all do our best to have an abundance of hope in our lives. Sometimes circumstances, emotional wreckage and frustration prevent our reaching our goals and expectations. By identifying the emotional toll charged by an endless cycle of frustration, a personal plan of growth will be put in place. This approach short-circuits frustration and provides hope now and into tomorrow. Dr. Eljay has 20 years of counseling experience in lessening this burden.

Do you feel frustrated, irritable or hopeless? These are signs of depression. We will work together to identify and analyze specific aspects of your life that may be causing you to be depressed. Once these areas are identified, we work together to build coping skills to manage your symptoms. Most of the time, we have these skills with in ourselves, and we simply need a skilled therapist to point them out and help activate them.

We are social beings. If our interactions with others are difficult or conflicted, depression can result. We may feel hopeless, isolated, sad, irritated, even worthless. In a safe, empathetic environment, I help clients to identify relationship patterns which fuel their depressive symptoms, and to change problematic ways of relating to others as well as to themselves. When our relationships are going well, we feel better about ourselves, we engage in activities, we increase our mood. We enjoy living!