Depression

Depression is the symptom, but what is the cause? Often times it is a lack of clear meaning and purpose in one's life. Other times it's living according to others' expectations and never your own goals. And on occasion, its living in toxic situations where you are treated as less than human. Together, we'll get clear on YOUR values and aspirations in life, figure out how to re-claim your own freedom, and find the path that is personally fulfilling for you.

Does Squidward from Spongebob Squarepants speak to you? Eeyeore? Are you a "sad potato" who feels like you bring everyone else down? Depression is much more than just "being sad," and it takes more to recover from it than just "cheering up". If it were that easy, we wouldn't need therapists! I recognize how incredibly difficult it is to seek help when you're struggling with depression. If you're reading this, you've taken a powerful step toward feeling better. I can help.

For my clients, depression looks like this: sleeping too much/little, staying in bed all day “bed rotting”, not taking care of hygiene regularly, feeling down or “blah”, isolating, not engaging in activities they used to, eating too much/little, feeling irritable, and sometimes feeling suicidal or harming themselves. I use specific strategies (CBT & DBT) to help people feel like themselves again. I know it’s hard to imagine what it’s like to not feel this way anymore and I help folks get there.

We treat depression in all facets, whether it be Major Depressive Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder, grief and loss, or just a general feeling of low-mood stress.

Do you have difficulty asking for help and put off seeking treatment even though you've been depressed for several years? Are you not really sure where to start or what to talk about? Most people find it difficult to motivate themselves which can create guilt and shame. They struggle to find happiness and get "weighed down" by the world almost all the time. When this happens, people start to feel uncertain, afraid, and not able to trust their own judgement. This can lead to low self-esteem.

You may feel as if the pleasure and meaning of your life has faded away. I work closely with you to sound out the underlying aspects of your being that impact how you feel, behave, and see the world within and around you. With greater awareness and access to these parts of yourself comes greater agency, choice, and peace. You will find that you become less trapped in the invisible patterns of your life that leave you miserable and drained, and more able to bear life’s inevitable ups and downs.

I understand and empathy with clients suffering from depression, anxiety, and related mood disorder. Depression is a chronic condition but people can live well with it to have a good quality of life and relationships. My theoretical orientation is an integration of psychodynamic, multi-systemic, and solution-focused interventions. I also was trained in mindfulness and ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) that combined into my treatment with clients. I value the compassion of self.

Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide. As a dedicated therapist, my main objective is to provide the necessary support and guidance to individuals struggling with depression, helping them effectively manage their condition. Through therapy, individuals can gain valuable coping skills, learn to recognize and challenge negative thought patterns, and build resilience to navigate the challenges of life with greater ease.

Feeling depressed can be soul crushing and leave you feeling hopeless about your life. Our work can help you understand why you have been struggling so deeply, and help you start feeling hopeful and more alive.

Depression isn’t just feeling sad or having a down day; it's a serious mental health issue that causes persistent sadness and a loss of interest in things that used to bring joy and pleasure. Together we will explore treatment options such as medication and therapy to help you manage symptoms and gain control of your life again. I have extensive experience evaluating and managing symptoms of depression in adolescents, and adults.

One of the worst things about depression (and there are many bad things) is the way that it pushes you to suffer alone. "I don't want to bring people down" or "I shouldn't feel this way, everything is fine" are the types of thoughts that push you to isolate, where depression can really get its hooks in. I will help to dispel this sense of guilt and shame. Depression doesn't define who you are, there is hope.

If you're feeling down and having difficulty functioning, I will explore the roots of these depressive feelings and see if we can co-create a new and different story from this point forward. We all have good days and bad days, but if the bad days are far outnumbering the good, this might be the clue that beginning therapy could be beneficial.

Are you feeling sad, empty, hopeless, and isolated? Do you have troubles eating, sleeping, focusing? Are you having medically unexplained physical pains or sexual desire/performance? Are you feeling tired and unmotivated, unable to take care of responsibilities at school, work, or home? Do you manage to get it done but feel blah? If so, you may be struggling with depression. With my experience, I am confident I can help you not only overcome depression but live a happier and more fulfilling life

I have extensive personal and professional experience with depression and have been working with it since internship. This includes self harm and suicidal thoughts.

Solutions- Focused Motivational Interviewing Emotional Focused Therapy

Depression is deeply personal and unique to each individual. We'll discuss coping techniques and try to dig into sources of depression. We'll look into identity, self-esteem, and past traumas. We will determine while you're feeling stuck, unmotivated, tired, and irritable. We will make sure that you're putting yourself first and engaging in self-care, setting boundaries, and not engaging in people-pleasing tendencies.

When you feel down, unmotivated, or too drained to face day-to-day challenges you know that something is not right. Everything seems like an uphill battle. Things that you used to do with confidence seem now like big obstacles that leave you exhausted. Therapy offers the opportunity to understand, at an emotional level, the enduring patterns in which you relate to yourself and others, thereby promoting deeper insight and greater self-awareness. This process can over time be healing.