Depression Counseling in Fairwood, WA.

Depression isn't just a lack of happiness, for many, it can also be a debilitating condition that robs you of the ability to live your life to the fullest. With understanding, care, and non-judgement, I will teach you the skills you need to help you overcome your depression so you can live the life you want, with the strength and resiliency you deserve.

Depression feels like a hole you can't escape, no matter how hard you try. Together, we'll work on reconnecting with the sense of vitality, peace and joy within your body. We'll understand the roots of your depression and find ways to compassionately hold those feelings while still being able to live the happy, joyous life you desire. We'll listen to your body for any signals of unresolved trauma or relational wounding and work gently with the body to heal.

Depression is sometimes describes as sadness. While sadness is often a very real part of depression, there is often much more to it than that. Feelings of emptiness inside, hopelessness about the future, feelings of guilt, worries and anxieties about the future, and a feeling of being weighed down by life in a manner that becomes suffocating often accompany depression. It is a very real problem that we are finding has very real negative effects in the lives of individuals, communities, and places of work. Treating depression takes time and commitment, but the truth is there is hope that you will not always have to feel this way.

When depression hits, just getting though the day can feel like an enormous task. Depression is caused by many things and ranges widely in severity and length. Whether depression is mild or severe, there are proven ways to help get through it. I work with clients to help discover and treat the root issue that's causing the depression so they can be free to enjoy life once again.

Dealing with pain in life is one of the most challenging things we do. As a therapist, my job is to sit with you in your suffering and help give you tools to overcome the sources of pain in your life. Whether you have contemplated suicide, struggled fruitlessly to overcome your challenges, or are the family member of someone going through depression, I can help you find the hope that will help you hang on until the pain gets better.

The treatment of depression begins initially with the addressing the depression symptoms that are disrupting your life. Without attention to these symptoms first, it is difficult for individuals to begin to examine the reasons behind the depression without provoking more of it. Once these symptoms are looked into, we will start to examine the life situations you are in and the relationships, stories, family roles, events and unprocessed emotion that may be the root of the depression. With some time, consistency, openness and commitment to the process, individuals will find their symptoms eased and the enjoyment of every day returned.

There is a way to move beyond depression and make sense of suffering. We will work together to help you develop a new and different relationship with your painful thoughts, feelings, and behaviors so you can have greater life satisfaction. Struggling with your feelings pulls you away from the life experiences you want. By learning ways to let go of the painful struggle with difficult thoughts and feelings, you are free to connect with what is meaningful to you. I want to help you become more grounded in the present moment, gain clarity on what really matters to you, and commit to living a full, satisfying life.

You did not choose depression, and it is not something that can simply be “shaken off.” Depression is real, life-altering, and can convince you that happiness or peace will never return. Yet depression does not define you. Together, we can acknowledge its weight while also challenging the painful story it tells. My role is to walk with you through the heaviness, to hold space for the difficulty, and to help you discover that hope and healing are possible. You do not have to face this alone.

I work with many clients who are depressed and am generally very good at assessing which clients would benefit from medication in addition to talk therapy and which clients would benefit from therapy alone. I am very good at relating to depressed clients and try to help them regain connection to self and others as well as find meaning in their suffering.

Our work together will help uproot and eliminate the causes of depression in life and relationships. You learn to transform negative thought patterns to positive feelings. Discover the perspective to live a more meaningful and productive life. In so doing, you create a more positive environment for you and loved ones. You will feel lighter and happier. The process is available to anyone willing to invest time and energy.

You are not alone. Depression is not who you are and can be treated with psychotherapy and sometimes medication. The longer you wait, the more set in depressed ways of thinking and behavior can become which makes it more difficult, not impossible, to remove. We are naturally inclined to feel happy so when your mood is depressed it is simply telling you that something has gone wrong. The tendency to become depressed may have genetic, social and personal factors. Merrie Day, PhD 425-747-0155 and Ken Drummy, MSW 425-895-7295, of Day-Drummy Life Coaches, understand how depression works and can help free you to become happier in your life. There is a solution and we can help.

Depression hits all of us at some level at some time in our lives. At a low level, we may feel blah, or describe it as the blues. At a more extreme level, depression can be downright debilitating, causing us to lose our appetites or overeat, to gain weight or lose weight. If depression has taken a hold of you to the extent that you are sleeping all the time or conversely, losing sleep, you will want to see your physician and find out if anti-depressants are in order for you. Even if your depression is not to the point of your being unable to get out of bed in the morning, don't delay in getting help. Call me at 425 652-1413 for an appointment.

We all feel down sometimes. But what about when the blues just don't go away? Or what about when you feel so overwhelmed that you just feel paralyzed? Or when you have lost a sense of hope about yourself or the future...when nothing is fun anymore, and you feel down more days than not? That's a time to get some help to find your way out of the depths of despair. Our counselors at Mill Creek Family Services walk together with you through that darkness to a growing light on the other side of depression. With care and compassion, we assist you with proven strategies that help you start feeling better and living life again.