Depression Counseling in Long Branch, NJ.

Depression is a mood disorder that can cause a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest that can interfere with daily functioning. Reaching out for help is a step towards wellness. Symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, but it is a very treatable condition. Therapy for depression helps you overcome the feelings of hopelessness and despair and to gain control of your life.

Depression presents itself when we feel abandoned by ourselves. By showing up for our needs, making space for our emotions, validating our feelings, processing past traumas; depression can ease its grip and we will feel happier, lighter and more at peace with ourselves. I provide a safe space to process all of this so depression no longer needs to control the client’s life.

Through the use of cognitive behavioral therapy, patients will learn the relationship between their thoughts, feelings and behavior. They will learn relaxation techniques and coping strategies to tackle difficult situations. Patients will learn coping skills to handle stressors which may be precipitating a change in mood. Developing interpersonal skills is key to establishing better relationships with significant others, family, and friends.

I address depression by exploring its roots in childhood. What were the negative influences that made you believe things would never get better? What made you feel it was pointless to try? Where does your low self-esteem come from? Together, we can identify these factors and how they affected you, and then question their validity in your present circumstances, as an adult with adult capabilities. In addition, I will teach you coping strategies, including mindfulness practices, self-compassion and self-care, that will help you reduce depressive symptoms on a day-to-day basis.

My philosophy of therapy and change is that change comes from within. As a therapist, I ask a great deal in asking an individual to change, as change is an incredibly difficult task for everyone. The journey of change requires both the client and myself to work collaboratively throughout this journey. It is for this reason that the rapport between the client and myself is critical. I aim to provide all my clients with the space to explore their underlying feelings, thoughts, and behaviors so that they can engage in change.

We all do our best to have an abundance of hope in our lives. Sometimes circumstances, emotional wreckage and frustration prevent our reaching our goals and expectations. By identifying the emotional toll charged by an endless cycle of frustration, a personal plan of growth will be put in place. This approach short-circuits frustration and provides hope now and into tomorrow. Dr. Eljay has 20 years of counseling experience in lessening this burden.

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.

My approach with depression is utilizing multiple techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to reframe and restructure negative thought patterns and work together to change unhealthy behaviors as a result of those thought patterns. The goal is to identify and address unhealthy thought patterns in order to change those behaviors to relieve symptoms of depression.

When you are depressed, you lack energy and motivation, and want to isolate, which is one of the worst things you can do. Negative thinking drags you further into a hole, and staying alone with your thoughts can make the depression worse. I will help you evaluate your thoughts and your situation more objectively, and give you ideas about how to begin to pull yourself out of the darkness. Trying to do it alone can just prolong it. Sometimes you just need a hand to pull you up. I can do that.

Depression can feel extremely dark and debilitating. Therapy can help bring light into the darkness. Dr. Spada can hold the flashlight for you, while you lead yourself into the light. Many things in life can make us feel depressed. Understanding deeper thought patterns can hero facilitate feeling differently and living your life differently. When it comes to understanding your depression, exploring what's really going on and brining intentionality into your life is key.