Depression Counseling in Goleta, CA.

Most people will be faced with an episode of depression at least once in their lives. When you first come in we explore whether the depressive feelings are based in the past or the result of current events. Sometimes people who present with depression seem to have unresolved child hood issues. Together we find ways of bringing closure to these unexplored and unexpressed 'childhood wounds'. Clients often report a new sense of joy and more vitality after feelings of sadness, grief or anger have been expressed. Also relationships with parents and or other loved ones usually greatly improve. If the depression is based in current affairs we often use behavioral therapy to increase your coping.

Working with the experience of depression is much more than changing our thoughts to change our behavior. Our brains are wired to notice the negative; it's part of our survival. I support my clients in expanding what they notice, and help them discover what works for them by creating a tool kit through experiential relational interventions in session. When I see children, I utilize play therapy as the modality, including Child Centered Play Therapy, Filial Therapy, and Prescriptive Play Therapy. When working with adolescents and adults, I utilize expressive arts, DBT, CBT and Narrative Therapy.

Free 30 minute zoom call - Depression often really just means "repression". It is usually a sign that the human system is overwhelmed with thoughts & emotions that have become unmanageable. People with depression are often stuck & unmotivated. A shift in circumstances is usually needed for people suffering from depression AND expressing emotions through a variety of outlets is extremely helpful.

I believe that as we grow up we are shaped by our relationships; this starts from the time we are little and continues for the rest of our lives. Through these relationships we are also shaped by society. In being shaped we create various meaning from our experiences as well as receiving and giving instructions on how to live. When we form new relationships of any kind, this gets challenged; coming together and finding a path forward that celebrates all involved is the key to success. Sometimes this gets stalled through unspoken expectations and anticipated or unanticipated pressure related to sadness. Lets explore this!

TIRED OF FEELING DOWN ALL THE TIME? Are you struggling with insecurities, stress, and self-doubts? Are you stuck in some strange vicious cycles? I can help you go deep and identify the source of your unhappiness, take charge of your life and move on to happiness, empowerment and meaning... Counseling can help you overcome sadness, and destructive emotions. Call me for a free telephone consultation session.

It can often seem like society expects us to be happy and positive at all times, that any admission of sadness or a loss of motivation, energy, or engagement with life is a personal failure. But Depression isn't a personal failure, and it is also more than just "feeling sad". If you find yourself down in the hole of disconnection, surrounded by a fog that is interfering with your life and relationships, you need a hand to help you climb out. A trained therapist understands the mechanics of depression and can help you understand it and find strategies to make your way up and out of it, and back into the light. Please contact me so we can begin to work on this process together.

Depression can be debilitating and lonely. I understand the complexities of depression and have found that my psychodynamic, psychoanalytically-minded technique is very successful in treating depression. I have found psychotherapy to be very effective in helping individuals find a way to overcome their struggles and reclaim energy and purpose in their lives.

When you’re depressed it makes life feel like you’re walking through mud, everything is more difficult and tiring and you feel less motivated to do anything. This can make depression incredibly difficult to deal with because it requires taking action to overcome. I have personal and professional experience in recovery from this unpleasant disorder, which gives me an edge and helping people to heal from depression.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by life? Has the joy been taken out of things you used to enjoy? Common symptoms of depression in adults and children are feelings of sadness, lack of energy, changes in eating or sleeping, and being self-critical. Gently, we can approach these feelings and begin to understand them. Through connecting and understanding them, they can begin to transform them. Some techinques that I have found helpful are mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), EMDR, somatic awareness, and expressive therapies like drawing, sand tray, or collage. Depression can feel heavy and isolating, and you don't need to handle it alone.

When you’re depressed, it can feel like you’ll never get out from under its shadow. However, depression is a treatable problem. If your depression is keeping you from living the life you want to, don’t hesitate to contact me. Learning about your depression treatment options will help you decide what approach is right for you. From therapy to medication to healthy lifestyle changes, there are many effective treatments that can help you overcome depression and reclaim your life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has shown in studies to have the best results for depression because it is a practical, hands-on method for challenging automatic negative thoughts.

For clients experiencing depression, I help them explore both external and internal circumstances that are impacting their mental health and look for relationships in their lives that are impeding the healing process. Then we do relational work together to move out of a place of hopelessness and helplessness into a place of strength and empowerment.

Depression can hit all of us at times. If you have depression either clinically or circumstantially because of something that's happened to you I can help you to work through it and get back to a better feeling place about your life. I felt literally hundreds of people work through their depression and learn skills to deal with symptoms of lack of motivation, problems with her sleep, extended anxiety that leads to frustration and feelings of defeat. Having a better life takes action and change. If you have depression give me a call and let's work on this together to make the changes you need to live the life you want.

Grey Matters International, Inc. and the work of Kevin J. Fleming, Ph.D. handles depression and other emotional disorders in a very unique way. Most of therapy or counseling processes utilize validation, unconditional positive regard, and reframing as common techniques to get someone to heal from their depression. Though this can be helpful, it rarely fixes the core problem behind it and for tough cases we then refer them usually to a psychiatrist for medication which can have tons of side effects. Instead, why not try a natural and arguably more effective way to not just change your mind, but change the brain--where the depression is rooted. Contact us at kevin@kevinflemingphd.com.