Depression Treatment

In Person and Online Therapy Available for Depression

Is Depression Taking the Joy Out of Your Life?

• Are you feeling hopeless or pessimistic about your future?
• Does it seem like the activities that you used to enjoy no longer interest you?
• Have you had changes in your eating or sleeping patterns?

We all feel a little down sometimes. It’s normal to temporarily have the blues such as when we experience a significant loss or change in our life. But depression is more than just going through a rough patch and feeling sad.

Depression usually includes feelings of sadness, but it’s not the same. When you’re feeling normal sadness due to a life event, you can continue to function, and you’ll feel better with time. However, if you’re clinically depressed, you can’t function as productively, and the sadness lasts much longer.

Depression can make it very hard to concentrate and cause you to have challenges with making decisions. You may have feelings of guilt or worthlessness, making you feel bad about yourself. When you’re depressed, it’s difficult to imagine a brighter future, which can lead to significant distress or even thoughts of death or suicide.*

Sleeping habits are often affected by depression. You may have trouble falling asleep or find yourself waking up in the middle of the night not being able to get back to sleep. Perhaps you find yourself feeling so exhausted or overwhelmed that you take naps during the day in order to try to feel better.

Depression can also decrease or increase your appetite. You may find yourself not feeling like eating and skipping meals. When you aren’t getting enough nutrition, this can cause you to feel even more fatigued and lead to unhealthy weight loss. On the other hand, you may find yourself overeating as a temporary distraction from your unhappiness. The guilt you feel afterwards for eating so much and the weight gain that goes along with it can make you feel even worse about yourself.

Whatever your symptoms of depression, they are likely causing you significant internal suffering. It may even feel as if you’ve fallen in a dark hole of despair and you can’t seem to find a way to climb your way out. If this sounds like you, wouldn’t you like to get back to enjoying your life once again?

You’re Not Alone

Depression is very common. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 17 million American adults (that’s one in seven) had at least one major depressive episode within the last year.

Depression is not a harmless part of life. It is a complex disorder with a variety of causes. It does not seem to be related to ethnicity, education, income, or marital status. But it does strike more women than men.

Researchers believe that depression occurs more often in people who have a history of being abused, economic deprivation, or are dependent on others. There seems to be a genetic link; depression is more common among parents, children, and siblings of people who are diagnosed with depression.

Depression is always troubling, and for some people it can be disabling. When you suffer from depression, it can affect every part of your life, including your physical body, behavior, thought processes, mood, ability to relate to others, and general lifestyle.

When you’re depressed, it’s hard to imagine that you can feel better, but fortunately you can. With the help of a good depression therapist you can find greater joy and meaning in your life.

Depression Treatment Can Help Foster Joy and Hope

The good news is that there are several methods therapists use that are proven to treat depression. Whatever the root cause of your depression, these therapeutic treatments can alleviate your physical and emotional symptoms.

When you first come in to see me for counseling, you’ll be greeted with warmth and compassion. There’s no one size fits all depression treatment, which is why I’ll first gain a better understanding of your specific needs and goals. Once we establish the changes you want to see happen, we’ll develop a customized treatment plan to help you get there.

In my counseling practice, I incorporate several therapy techniques that have been proven to help clients heal depression. These evidence-based treatments will help you to overcome negative thoughts, feelings and behavior and help you to feel happier so that you get back to enjoying your life again.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can be a highly successful form of treatment when trauma is found to be the underlying cause of depression. With EMDR, you’ll identify events from your past that are contributing to your depressed thoughts and feelings. Then you’ll be guided to think about traumatic memories in a different way so that they no longer negatively affect your present life. EMDR helps put the past behind you so that you can move on to have a brighter future.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps you to change negative thinking and behavior patterns that are associated with depression. This is well researched therapy that teaches you exactly how to recognize negative thoughts and how to change them to more positive thoughts. You’ll also learn skills to change behaviors that are contributing to your depressed feelings so that you can feel better, often quite quickly.

Hypnotherapy is approved by the American Medical Association and has been shown to be effective in treating mood disorders. With hypnotherapy, you’ll enter a relaxed, focused state of mind where your mind is more open to helpful suggestions. During the sessions, you’ll be aware of everything that is happening while you imagine a better, brighter future. Hypnotherapy can give you a renewed sense of hope, along with the motivation you need to move forward toward a more joy-filled life.

Solution-Focused Therapy is another effective treatment. When you’re feeling depressed, your mind is clouded with depressed thoughts, focusing too much on the negative aspects of your life. With solution-focused therapy, you’ll learn to focus more on the positive things in your life, even things you may not be aware of at the present time. Once you begin to recognize the many positives in your life, you’ll learn how to use them to help you attain your future goals.

As a therapist, I’ve been privileged to help hundreds of clients to overcome challenges and create a life of happiness. No matter what symptoms of depression you have, together we can get you on the path to healing so that you can start feeling better quickly.

Perhaps You Have Questions About Depression Treatment

How do I know if counseling can really help me?

It’s understandable to feel skeptical. With my years of experience, I can assure you that no matter how severe or how long you have been feeling depressed, healing is possible. As we will be developing a customized treatment plan based on your unique needs and goals, you can feel confident that you’ll be receiving the best treatment for your specific situation.

Should I take an anti-depressant?

Many clients find relief from their depression without needing any medication. In cases where I believe depression is caused by a chemical imbalance, I may recommend that you also see a doctor to discuss the possibility of starting a medication. If you are already taking a medication for your depression, adding counseling support can be very beneficial.

Is depression therapy worth the investment?

If you suffer from depression, you may be feeling bad about yourself and wonder if you are worthy of investing in depression treatment. Most clients tell me that investing in themselves was one of the best decisions they’ve ever made because of the lasting, positive changes in their life. What is it worth to feel happy day to day?

Should I wait to see if my depression goes away?

When you’re depressed, it’s hard to find the energy to reach out for help. You may not feel like it’s worth the effort to seek out treatment. But every day that you delay getting started in therapy is a day that you’ll never get back. The earlier you get started with depression treatment, the earlier you’ll get back to feeling like yourself again.

You Can Live Your Best Life

You don’t have to try to fight your way out of depression alone. If you are in the Phoenix, Scottsdale or Paradise Valley area and are ready to feel better, all you need to do to is take the next step by calling me for a complimentary phone consult at 602-992-4318. I’d love to be your guide to help you to get back to living a joyful life.

*If you are currently feeling suicidal call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255 today.

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*Sources:

Depression.  National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).  https://www.nami.org/  Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression.shtml