Depression Counseling in Mill Valley, CA.

Depression is undoubtedly one of the most tragic conditions a person can be in. The feelings of isolation, the lack of joy and pleasure, and the way that life seems to lack anything worthwhile can be crushing. The most important element of getting through depression is to not be alone. That is the first thing I can help with. I've certainly been there and worked with many others who have as well. I know that depression often comes with feeling hopeless, but don't stay there. Give me a call and we can start finding a way through together.

Our understanding of depression and its origins has deepened in recent years, especially with the much more nuanced knowledge we now have about the influences of both our early lives and neurobiology in shaping how we experience and respond to stress and adversity. If you are depresses, it is important to understand whether it is a response to situational, and possibly temporary circumstances, a biological tendency, a response to long-term trauma or a combination of triggers. If you wish to explore how I could help with your particular situation, please call me at 415-533-9724.

Depression can manifest itself in different ways. It's most well-known manifestation is tearfulness, isolation, low self-esteem, hopelessness, and negative self-talk. Depression can also show up as irritability, patterns of avoidance, aggression, and anxiety. Because of 1) the more popular face of depression and 2) the stigma attached to it, people encounter difficulty in reaching out for and receiving help. It can be a really frustrating, hopeless place to feel stuck. I will help you to come to a place of understanding your depression and give you tools to understand and manage the symptoms.

I have specialized in treating depression for many years. Rather than viewing this as a 'pathology,' I see depressed moods as a form of dispiritedness- i.e. a loss or breakage of our inner spirit. This condition is a signal that some aspect of our life and/or self needs attention and healing. Often, we can sense the dispirited self through posture, life-stances, behavioral patterns, lack of energy and drive, and an inner sense of resignation or defeatism. When we allow the body freedom to experience, express and move, then its energy comes alive and leads us to discover how the spirit was broken. I show us ways that we can recover the wounded self, restore spirit and rejuvenate life energy.

Psychotherapy can be used to treat a depression. Therapy can help lift the depression, sometimes forever, sometimes for a period of time. Therapy works by addressing some of the causes of depression. Those things that seem to be related to depression include: difficult relationships in the past and present, traumatic experiences from the recent and distant past, emotions that are unexpressed in healthy ways, and ways of thinking that were learned from those around you, from both childhood and adulthood. The problem here is that if you are depressed, you may not feel like you deserve treatment. Your depression may have increased a sense of hopelessness, and low self-esteem. I