Depression Counseling in Silver Lake, CA.

Among the most common events leading to depression are; experiencing changes in our daily functioning & feeling a loss of control in our lives, such as in our relationships, health, careers, family, divorce, death, history of abuse, finances, sex lives, or even moving. In dealing with depression, I utilize a holistic, strengths based approach. We will explore how these changes are impacting you physically, personally and socially. Together, we will draw on the positive aspects of your existing supports & routines that remain intact, reinforce or rebuild these, & work toward helping you maneuver through the depression you are experiencing.

Depression is a common mental health disorder, affecting all age groups, that causes intense & persistent feelings of hopelessness, sadness and personal emptiness. Depression affects how you feel, think, behave and could lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems, left untreated. If you are struggling with depression you don't have to be alone, seeking help is the first step to improving your symptoms. Psychotherapy has shown to improve the symptoms of depression. Together will develop a comprehensive treatment plan specific to your concerns, needs and symptoms to improve the quality of your life.

You can fight depression by exploring how your present emotions relate to past experiences. These insights, gained under the guidance of a caring professional, can deliver release, increase your understanding, build self-esteem and lead to healing. In parallel, you can learn ways to examine your thoughts regarding negativity, distortions etc. This helps you create more positive and realistic thoughts, moving away from having no control towards taking control. In addition, relaxation/meditation techniques can bring you a sense of balance and peace. If poor exercise, nutrition, sleep and social support contribute to your depression, I'll guide you to make changes and keep track of them

I like to work collaboratively with my clients with a special emphasis on going at their own pace. When feelings of hopelessness, sadness, or lack of motivation is a primary concern, it is important to help clients find goals that they feel they are actually able to achieve. Providing a supportive, non-judgmental and peaceful atmosphere in therapy can help a client explore some of the more challenging struggles that has made him or her feel stuck, either in their personal goals or in important close relationships. Finding new strategies or coping skills to replace the ones that have stopped working becomes the new goal and transformations in outlook and relationships can begin.

Depression is an overused word, and therefore misunderstood. I will work with you to help you understand if you are truly depressed, caught in grief, or going through a rocky life-transition. How we respond to our life is as, or even more important than the facts of our life. Our reactions to our circumstances will guide our emotional path in either a positive or negative way. Let me help you embrace the parts of yourself that are unknown, even to you. Bringing your darkness to light, will help you to see yourself in a much more empathetic way.

Do you feel isolated, like no one would understand your depression and you'd do anything to feel better? You're not alone. I’m here to support you. Using a blend of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy, we’ll address negative thoughts, find healthy coping strategies, and explore the deeper causes of your depression. Let's work together to get you on the path to feeling better.

Depression has many different faces. It can be triggered by sad events, like the loss of a loved one, or by seemingly happy events, like the birth of a child. Sometimes it can even be caused by influences we don’t really understand. Helping individuals identify the causes of their depression, and explore new ways to cope are at the heart of my work in this area. Often clients who begin therapy because of depression discover that what they are feeling is to past trauma, issues related to their family history or upbringing, negative thinking or limiting beliefs. With the opportunity to work through past issues in a safe, non-judgmental setting often helps people find relief from their overwhelming emotions and lift the fog of depression that has been weighing them down.

Depression can express itself in a variety of forms. The symptoms of depression vary from person to person. While occasional depression might be considered normal, it is not normal for it to become a hinderance to enjoying and living life. If you are depressed, allow me to provide you with tools to manage the depression while we explore the roots of the depression to create a path out of it.

Depression presents itself uniquely in each individual. Further, in working with children and young adults, they can too often be misdiagnoses as their behavioral presentation is labeled as disruptive and oppositional. Having a clear understanding of depression impacts the behavioral outlook of the individual is pivotal on developing an effective plan in addressing these concerns. By working with my clients and families in understanding the depression we are often able to shape the environment in which the depression exists. Joining this with cognitive behavioral and evidenced based interventions, we are then able to more effectively address these symptoms in our pursuit of long term goals.

My aim is to help you find your own way through your personal recovery. My goal is to support you every step of the way, as you break free from depression and find your own voice. I will help you recognize and build upon your strengths so that you can overcome any obstacles you may be facing.I will offer you an effective and compassionate therapy plan which works towards your goals and, most importantly, at your own comfortable pace.

Depression can be a heavy and overwhelming burden to bear, but with my evidence-based approach and compassionate guidance, we can work together to lift that weight and shed light on a brighter future. My use of cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness techniques can help you understand and challenge negative thought patterns, leading to an improvement in mood and overall outlook on life. I will provide a safe and non-judgmental space for you to explore the root causes of your depression, and work towards building healthy coping skills to manage symptoms. You are not alone in this journey and I am here to support you every step of the way.

CBT is a particularly effective treatment for depression, both as a combined approach with medication and as a stand alone treatment. Participating in CBT therapy for depression can help you restructure negative thought patterns and get out of negative cycles of thinking. Changing the way you think can help you interpret your environment and interactions with others in a more effective and positive way, improving the way you feel about yourself and helping improve your relationships with others. It may also help you recognize things that may be contributing to the depression and help you start doing things that lead to a reduction of symptoms and feelings of meaningful happiness.

For depression, research studies have indicated a similar level of effectiveness when comparing psychotherapy with antidepressants. One significant difference, however, is that the effects of psychotherapy last longer than those of medication if/when you stop both. With that said a common approach to treatment is to incorporate both into the plan. For medication, a referral to a qualified psychiatrist is necessary. For psychotherapy, I begin with the 3 foundational pillars of my approach which are improving and regulating our diet, sleep, and exercise. Building upon this foundation is the integration of grounding and mindfulness-based skills, including present-moment awareness and focus.

I work with a depressed nervous system by working with the body. Often we struggle to sleep, eat, or accomplish relatively simple tasks. Our bodies are stuck with the brake on. When our body thinks it is futile, out mind follows quickly thereafter and we begin to tell ourselves how pointless things are and how worthless we are. I work with the whole body to re-regulate the body to enable you to get back to a whole integrated self.

Depression can be a lonely place. A place where you are surrounded by your darkest and deepest thoughts. A place that feels isolated. A place that prevents you from moving forward, getting out of bed, and having a fulfilling life. Depression can become so powerful that instead of having hope, you can become consumed with feelings of sadness and hopelessness. In therapy, I will make you connect your emotional and physical pain into your depression and teach you self care, though stopping techniques, and relaxation techniques in order to overcome the symptoms. You and I will work together to work through your past traumas you have experienced growing up.

Depression can develop from early attachment deficits as well as from traumatic events, losses in the form of break ups, death and divorce. How and why a person suffers from symptoms of depression can be very difficult to assess and is important, however, attending to the debilitating symptoms of depression are of the utmost importance. When depressive symptoms arise, finding and securing a safe, supportive and empathic therapeutic relationship can be very helpful, let alone life saving.

Depression is a condition that can be insidious in that the symptoms are frequently physically and emotionally debilitating. Friends and relatives often suggest as a cure to merely "take a walk" or "think positively" in order to combat those symptoms which usually only increase feelings of shame and encourage patients to further isolate. I don't offer such simple suggestions but construct a treatment plan that includes supportive psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral techniques and integrating an evaluation for medication if indicated and desired by the patient.

Depression often results following some type of loss. However, often it is not the loss itself that causes the depression, but the person's assessment and thoughts about the loss that produces feelings of depression. Cognitive therapy, as practiced by Dr. Levine, can help reverse such clinical depression. It is normal to feel sadness following a loss or unexpected negative life event and cognitive therapy is frequently an excellent method for insuring that normal sadness does not morph into clinical depression. If medication or TMS might help in addition to therapy, Dr. Levine can help direct you to a competent psychopharmacologist to provide this additional assistance, if you choose.

If you or your child / adolescent are suffering with symptoms of depression such as, loss of interest in activities, low self-worth, and mood changes then I would like to help. Untreated depression can negatively impact relationships, productivity, physical and mental well-being. Whether you understand the root cause of your depression or are unsure of why you are struggling, therapy can be the start you need to move towards healing.

Depression is a debilitating feeling and I commend you for reaching out for help. I believe that therapy gives you choice in how you want to live, not just how you learned to survive. I help my clients examine and uncover what is underneath their depressive symptoms to resolve the unconscious triggers and feelings that create these tough feelings. Together, we can bring you relief.

In treating mood problems, the most important piece in collaborating is to find rays of hope in your life. What did you love to do before that you no longer enjoy? What are/were your interests in life? Who are the people in your life you want to feel closer to? What are your strengths? How can we interupt habitual feelings of hopelessnes, by changing the way you think about triggers that lead you to depressed feelings? How can we challenge negative or unrealistic thinking? With sensitive, open communication in sessins, we can find answers to these questions that can curtail habitual depressive thought and feelings. Coping skills can be taught and mastered.

Untreated depression can lead to destructive and often fatal behaviors if an individual has little or no social supports or coping skills intact, as well as vary between age, gender & cultural groups. Often what many depressed people feel is empty, hopeless, helpless and completely alone, even if family or others are physical nearby. Often clients report that they cannot function with what would be considered daily simple tasks, i.e., bathing, getting out of bed, and even making meals or eating can be taxing. Feeling excessively tired and worn out has been common with chronic depression. Psychotherapy can possibly make all the difference when individuals feel life is no longer worth living.

Are you living in a cloud, where everything seems foggy and dark? Depression can be a debilitating and hopeless experience. I understand that it can be incredibly difficult to reach out for help; remaining isolated is tempting for those struggling with depression -- whether it be from grief, trauma, loss, or "just because." I have experience working with depression and can help you not only develop more effective coping skills, but also identify the core reasons behind your depression in order to provide longer-term healing and change.

Sadness vs. Depression? Which is it? Treatable YES! Everyone feels sad or 'blue' on occassion. People tend to grieve over a loss, but usually, the feelings of grief tend to lessen over time. Depression occurs when feelings of extreme sadness or despair last for at least 2 weeks or longer and tend to interfere with activities of everyday living. Deperessed feelings include helplessness, hopelessness and even thoughts of death and possibly suicide. People with these feelings may feel overwhelmed. Causes may be from body chemistry which influence mood and thought. Chronic illness can accompany depression. Start feeling better. Give me a call and make an appointment now. Dr. Sobo

Depression is a particularly cruel and insidious companion, often working in tandem with other problems to try to silence us, to steal joy and passion, and to convince us of our uselessness. Depression may try to convince us that there is one truth - our own unworthiness - to the exclusion of all others. Together we will challenge depression's version of your story.