Depression Therapy

Are You Struggling With Your Sense Of Self Worth?

No matter how hard you work or what you accomplish, maybe you still feel unfulfilled in life.

Or maybe you have lost interest in the hobbies that once brought you great happiness.

You may feel as if you never measure up to others or your own expectations.

Perhaps you have noticed changes in your mood. Maybe you have been feeling more irritable lately. Or, perhaps, an overwhelming sadness prevents you from wanting to do anything at all. You may also be noticing changes in your appetite, such as eating too much or not enough.

At one time, you may have relied heavily on social time with family or friends for emotion. Now, it probably seems as if you want nothing more than to be left alone. Before, you made sure that you kept up with the lives of those around you, but now you have no interest in maintaining your relationships.

Even fortunate people get depressed

As a successful professional, you may feel obligated to take care of family members who are less fortunate than you. And while you take pride in having the means to do this, the sense of responsibility of caring for everyone else is weighing heavily on you lately.

Alternatively, the success you have had in your life may not seem as if it is enough. Does it feel like you are in constant competition with yourself and the world around you? You may feel as if you can never measure up to your peers, colleagues, or friends. Feeling like you are in a race against everything and everyone likely leaves you exhausted and perhaps even doubtful of your self-worth.

It may seem as if you can’t recall a time when you were ever happy. Conversely, maybe a difficult or traumatic experience has interrupted your sense of happiness and peace. Or perhaps you can’t pinpoint the exact moment when everything felt like it flipped upside down on you, you just know that these painful feelings aren’t going away.

What most people don’t realize is that there are many signs of depression. Depression is more than just sadness. It’s the spurts of anger that overtake you for no reason. It’s the feeling of never feeling good enough, despite trying your best. And it’s the frustration of feeling powerless to snap out of it and move on with life.

If you are struggling with overcoming depression but you don’t know how to win this battle, our compassionate therapists can help guide you toward greater peace and confidence.

Depression Is More Common Than You Think

We live in a society that still views mental health topics as taboo. Society implies that it is easier to keep our problems to ourselves than receive therapy for disorders, such as depression and anxiety.

Our culture is also a highly competitive one. While some competition can be healthy, it seems as if our professional lives are always in question. Am I climbing the corporate ladder quick enough? Am I accomplishing enough? How can I keep up with the expectations society has for where I need to be in life?

Unfortunately, society emphasizes the importance of pursuing success and keeping up with the “Jones’s” over that of self-care. Worsening the issue is social media where the lives of others are constantly on display. Despite knowing that only the best parts of a person’s life ever make it to social media, it can still be tempting to make comparisons.

It’s normal to feel discontent occasionally

At some point, we will all inevitably question our own lives. It’s also normal to question career choices, especially when our career does not provide financial security. With the cost of living going up, many people are struggling to stay afloat, even those who went to a university.

It is hard not to blame yourself when the world feels as if it is crashing down on you. From losing a job to just trying to keep up with bills and daily life, most people will inevitably feel overwhelmed and lost.

Symptoms of depression can present differently to a variety of people. For many people, depression can feel like a loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, tearfulness out of the blue, loss of concentration, lack of motivation, issues with over or under eating and the list goes on.

Many factors can contribute to symptoms of depression in modern society. Maybe we’re overwhelmed by work and life demands and are struggling with finding meaning in our everyday routines. For some, the challenge of parenting and holding space for meaningful relationships is a struggle. Maybe we’re still healing from trauma and pain in our past that continues to follow us differently in other areas of life.

We all strive to make decisions to the best of our ability but sometimes our plans don’t necessarily lead us to the desired outcome. Sometimes, what we wanted in our past doesn’t necessarily reflect who we grew or evolved into today and we’re feeling stuck with our past commitments. “Feeling stuck” or hopeless is a symptom of depression.

Admitting that you may need therapy for depression is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of self-awareness. By going to therapy, you are taking the first steps to learn how to deal with depression and live a successful and fulfilling life.

Depression Therapy Gives You A Safe Place To Talk

Opening up to the people we love about depression can be a daunting task. We don’t want to burden our loved ones with our problems, so it can seem easier to withdraw from everyone. Participating in therapy gives you a safe place to talk about your battle with depression without having to hide any part of yourself.

There are no off-limits conversations or thoughts. Therapy is dedicated to helping you process and work through any events that have contributed to your symptoms of depression.

What to expect in your first session

The first session involves an intake process where you can talk about yourself and your background. We will discuss your family history, relationships, trauma, symptoms, and current problems. We will also work to determine the impact that social media, culture, and work is having on you—all of which can contribute to difficulty coping with depression.

My approach to therapy

I like to make the process as easy, natural, and comfortable as possible for my clients. I approach therapy through a solution-focused orientation where the client has complete control over the direction they want their sessions to go.

I am a culturally competent therapist. I fully understand how people’s unique cultures and experiences shape their identity and views of the world. The impact of culture and society on mental health is something that I take very seriously.

I prefer to confront issues head-on to help identify the coping mechanisms that are no longer serving you. Collaboratively, I will help you replace the negative thoughts and behaviors with healthier ways to deal with your issues.

I use a variety of modalities for my approach to therapy. To help with the treatment of depression, I will often use what is known as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT.) CBT is a psychotherapeutic intervention that showcases the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and feelings. It is highly effective in therapy for depression because it helps you counteract the dark, negative thoughts that overwhelm your mind. Through CBT, your emotions can become more steady, which will help you to begin living a fuller life.

I will also use attachment theory to help understand how your childhood and relationships growing up have contributed to the symptoms of depression you are experiencing today. Attachment theory is useful in depression therapy because it will help you better understand how your history has contributed to your emotional state.

Counseling for depression helps you talk through your problems

I prefer to use the collaborative approach of walking with you through your problems rather than talking at you about them. In this way, you will be able to process and better understand your issues and patterns that are contributing to the issues. Doing this not only challenges you to change your mindset in a healthy way, but it also enables you to make positive behavioral changes.

Many people come into therapy with a list of symptoms that they are experiencing and state that they “no longer want to feel this way.” My goal in therapy is to stop treating the symptoms of depression and help clients understand the “disease” that is underneath the long list of symptoms.

My therapy approach is direct and seeks to understand the client’s internal “process.” The “processes” are the conditioned rules that we’ve learned through our upbringings, cultural and social norms, core beliefs that shape our decisions and thoughts, and personal attributes that make us unique individuals.

Through the process of therapy, we can evaluate and challenge our internal “process” in a way that is not judgmental and decide whether certain parts of our internal process are no longer working for us or causing us more harm than good.

I have been working as a therapist since 2010. Through compassionate therapy, my clients find that they are better equipped to handle depression and the symptoms associated with it. With help and support, you may find that it is easier to rediscover the motivation you once had before you began experiencing depression. You can feel empowered in your life to make confident decisions, and find true healing and personal growth.

You May Still Have Questions About Depression Therapy...

How long will it take until I feel better?

There is no “quick fix” in therapy. I wish I had a “magic wand” to make everything better for you immediately. However, therapy is a commitment that you make to yourself. As long as you put in the work, you will begin to feel better.

How do I know if counseling is helping me?

In the beginning, you may notice very subtle changes in your thought patterns and behaviors. You’ll also begin to notice that you feel less sad, more fulfilled, and find an interest in life again. We all want to see immediate results, but don’t discredit the small ways your life changes.

What if going to therapy for depression reveals more issues than I thought I had?

Therapy is a process of exploration and self-discovery that can sometimes result in identifying wounds or painful experiences that were previously unacknowledged. But therapy gives you a skilled and compassionate ally who can help you feel safe and contained regardless of what comes up. And the more you learn about yourself the more comprehensive your healing experience can be.

Depression Therapy Can Help You Rediscover Your Worth

If you are having trouble overcoming depression, I understand how hard it can be to reach out for help. If you are still hesitant, I would like to invite you to schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation to answer any questions you may have. I am available for you to call or contact through my website and I will get back to you within 24 hours.