Depression Counseling in Pearl River, NY.

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.

Sometimes depression is a chronic feeling of loss of energy, sadness, and inability to take action. At times, it can be triggered by certain situations in life. Depending on the specifics for an individual, help may consist of working with internal beliefs or may consist of working to improve a life situation, or a combination of these. I get to know the client, finding out how they experience the depression, what is going on in their life, what may have first started the depression, and what thoughts they experience. I can also work in conjunction with a psychiatrist where needed. Therapy interactions help the client see and embrace more positive and effective thoughts and energies.

I believe that depression is nature’s way of shutting us down when there is some element in our life or our past that overwhelms and burdens us. It is often something experienced that our usual ways of coping cannot remedy. A client experiencing depression is often ‘turning off’, ‘shutting down’ and going inward in response to something in their life or in their relationships that is just too much to bear. I help depressed clients discover what it is in their life that is overwhelming them and help them find the strength and power to directly face the matter that is causing the turn inward and the shutting down.

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.

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.

Depression can hold you back from living and enjoying life to its full potential. My goal is to provide you with skills, techniques, and an open environment for you to process your past and present, and create an improved platform for your future. As a postdoctoral psychology resident, I am highly trained, and strive to create a safe and supportive environment. I believe that each relationship is a unique interaction, and tailor my approach to each client’s needs, integrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Therapy, and a Humanistic approach.

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

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.

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.

Research shows that the most effective treatment for depression is psychotherapy. Depression can range from feeling down to major symptoms such as having trouble even getting out of bed or contemplating suicide (if you have suicidal thoughts or plans, call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255). Online counseling is effective for depression because it is easy to access: you can start treatment without even leaving the house.

Depression is a mood disorder where it is important to seek out a professional. Chris has treated many people with depression and other mood disorders. Millions of Americans are effected by Anxiety and Depression with various symptoms of low mood, irritability, loss of pleasure. As a veteran psychotherapist who has treated many clients with depression, proper assessment is essential that can include coordinating care with a physician. While not all individuals need medication, having a therapist who can identify symptoms and offer empathy and understanding to individuals who suffer from a mental health disorder is beneficial. Chris uses a cognitive behavior therapy approach to help clients.

Depression can take on many forms from person to person. During our time together we will spend intimate time identifying what depression looks like in your life and what supports need to be put into place to help you achieve a desired level of functioning. Tools and skills will be developed to help assist during difficult times that are occurring outside of the therapeutic setting and to help promote independence and self efficacy when encountering symptoms.

Clients struggling from feeling emotionally hurt, isolated, selfish, helpless, or hopeless can gain insight into symptoms and treatment of depression. Clients can learn emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal relationship skills and heal from past painful experiences that may influence current thoughts and belief systems in an unhealthy way.