Depression Counseling in River Rouge, MI.

Symptoms of depression include: feeling down in the dumps, changes in sleep, appetite or sex drive, crying spells, feeling hopeless, not wanting to do things you used to enjoy, withdrawing from people. Anger can also be a sign of depression. Some folks who are severely depressed can’t get out of bed or brush their teeth. Some folks even think about or consider suicide as an option. If you are feeling this way, you need not suffer alone. Research shows that psychotherapy is as effective as medication in treating depression. With regular ongoing psychotherapy, I will help you get a plan of action to move slowly and steadily toward your goals, and reclaim your hope again!

I strive to create a creative, mindful, and contemplative approach towards strengths based positive therapy, led by the client, and based on a shared respect between the client and clinician. I am committed to providing the best professional services by working with clients and developing and implementing the most effective and customized life enhancing change plans, through the promotion of learning and personal growth.

Depression is one of the most misunderstood of all the emotional difficulties. Often it is described as a medical condition, due to chemical imbalances in the brain that require treatment through medication. And while this is sometimes true, in the vast majority of the cases depression is a natural condition, in response to stressors and unresolved problems in life. In most instances, medication treats the symptoms of depression, but not the causes and thus the factors causing depression will remain, untreated and dependent on drugs to keep them at bay. Good therapy successfully treats the causes of depression, thus relieving the symptoms of depression. It is work, but healing is permanent.

You did not choose to be depressed and it’s not something most people can simply “shake off.” Depression is real. It’s life altering and can trick you in to believing that you can never be happy again. I am here to help. I would be honored to walk with you as we challenge the narrative of your depression while acknowledging how incredibly hard and real it is. You are not alone, and hope can be the beginning to your own healing.

Depression is a state that affects a person's mind, emotions, and body. Depression can create a dysphoric mood, lethargy, profound sadness, low self-esteem, and/or anxiety. Rather than medicating the depression away as a permanent solution, I approach your depression with intense curiosity in an effort to help you understand and heal the source of the depression.

Have you been feeling down and blue lately? Have trouble sleeping at night, then can't get out of bed in the morning? Maybe your energy is really low and you don't feel like doing anything, not even those things that have brought you pleasure in the past? Counseling can definitely help you resolve this depression, and probably quicker than you think! I believe in using a mix of positive psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy, person-centered therapy, DBT, and Behavioral Activation which will help you to better cope with what you're going through and improve your depression.

Feeling overwhelmed? Lost in a darkness that you cannot explain. Irritable. Trying to feel a void through overspending and buying unnecessary things? Depression manifests differently and is not only displayed by feeling sad all the time. We will start by gauging the severity of your symptoms and discuss how severely they are affecting your daily life. Then we will go over coping skills to help you crawl out of the darkness and into the light to have energy and joy in your life again!

One of my favorite trick questions to ask patients hospitalized for depression was, "Is the sky ever grey?" Even though most of the time I TOLD them it was a trick question, they usually said, "Yes." Just like the sky only looks grey because clouds are covering up the sun, we can often FEEL "grey" when depression is covering us. My goal is to help you to get rid of the cloud so that your life can be what it was intended to be.

Depression is often a monkey on your back weighing you down. I think the television commercials that depict depression as this internal struggle that causes so much pain, while putting on a face for the outside world are, hit the nail on the head. Depression is very real, whether others around you see it or understand it. Depression can make you feel like you are living in a well of darkness. My approach is to help acknowledge where you are starting, why you got to where you are, help you learn new tools and strategies to overcome depression and help you find your way into the light.

It is said that depression is anger turned inward. This is often true. It is also true that depression can be biological and physiological. We assess your depression through a depression inventory and identify what is best for you in terms of talk therapy or medication and/or both. Untreated depression leads to it getting worse causing folks to act on their suicidal thoughts and behaviors. It doesn't have to get that far. Help is available.

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.

I am a psychotherapist who understands life can feel like a daily struggle. No one should have to endure these feelings alone. As a professional counselor, I compassionately listen and support clients as well as offer a therapeutic relationship that provides clients the opportunity to emotionally move forward and bring a healthy balance back into their lives. It is possible to heal, gain a sense of well-being, restore hope, and rekindle happiness even during the most challenging times. Clients that experience less depression often feel more relaxed, increased energy, less stressed, motivated, experience satisfaction in relationships, and have an easier time coping with life difficulties.

Depression is a TREATABLE illness. Let's get that out of the way! I know that depression can make you feel helpless, but you are not helpless. Taking the first step is asking for help. There is no “one size fits all” treatment that cures depression so a client should not expect immediate results. It is important to be realistic about your symptoms and your goals. Treatment takes time and commitment from both of us. You are not alone.