Depression Counseling in Devon, PA.

Over my thirty years of practice I’ve seen hundreds of depressed children, teenagers, and young adults. In some kids it shows up as sadness, in others as a chronic irritability or anger. Some kids just sleep a lot, or lose themselves in video games. We can blame technology, social media, the pressure kids feel to get into a “good” college, the disconnect they feel with their parents and other adults, but we can’t deny the fact that many children, teens, and young adults are unhappy. I have a long history of helping these kids work their way out of their depression—sometimes counseling them individually, sometime with their parents—and would welcome the opportunity to help yours.

I help clients look at how past and current factors have led to their current depression. I have them change and/ or adapt their way of dealing with those issues in a way that allows them to feel better. I work with their primary physician and/or psychiatrist to determine if medication would be a helpful adjunctive therapy and if illnesses playing a role in the depression. I also teach clients ways to challenge their negative, distorted views of themselves and others to have a more positive and realistic approach to their lives.

Although there are similarities in characteristics of depression from person to person, there are unique ways depression can impact someone struggling with it. In my work, I want to understand what depression is like for my specific client sitting in front of me. As we process this, I aim to help them understand how it functions for them and what may be perpetuating it (i.e. thoughts, behaviors, situations, etc.). Once we start to understand this, I collaboratively work with my client to move toward change.

We are social beings. If our interactions with others are difficult or conflicted, depression can result. We may feel hopeless, isolated, sad, irritated, even worthless. In a safe, empathetic environment, I help clients to identify relationship patterns which fuel their depressive symptoms, and to change problematic ways of relating to others as well as to themselves. When our relationships are going well, we feel better about ourselves, we engage in activities, we increase our mood. We enjoy living!

Feeling low and downright sad, unmotivated, a lack of pleasure, a lack of energy, worthless, and hopeless are just a few words to describe depression-- that quite frankly does not give justice to what those are truly going through when they are fighting it. It takes giving yourself time as you are working through depression to find any relief from it. My approach to treating depression is to work with my client to understand how they uniquely are experiencing it, aid them in increasing their awareness of how it operates for them, and then to work collaboratively with them to identify and change the areas of their life that may be perpetuating it (i.e. thoughts, situations, beliefs, etc.)

Clients can have a reduction of depression symptoms through a variety of modalities. Some modalities, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, focus on how thoughts and behaviors are interlinked. This modality works to change one so that the other can change. For example, when someone starts to challenge their negative thoughts about their inability to socially engage, they may feel better about themselves, leading to greater socialization and a decrease in depression. Other modalities, such as Narrative Therapy look at how the presenting concern of depression has developed over times and seeks to find unique outcomes, or exceptions to the negative narrative to build a position of strength.

While many people can recover from trauma over time with the love and support of family and friends and bounce back with resiliency, others may discover effects of lasting trauma, which can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, depression, fear, confusion, or posttraumatic stress far after the event has passed. In these circumstances, the support, guidance, and assistance of a therapist is fundamental to healing from trauma. I am dedicated to working with couples, and families striving to live a life of hope, resiliency, strength, and empowerment. Schedule a free telephone consultation by calling 610-944-4327. https://empoweredlifeandwellnessllc.com/

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.

Our approach to depression counseling is centered on creating a safe, empathetic space where you can explore and address the underlying causes of your depression. Utilizing evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), we help you develop effective coping strategies and positive thought patterns. Our compassionate therapists work with you to build resilience, enhance self-awareness, and foster a sense of hope and empowerment, guiding you towards a healthier, more fulfilling life.

As a group therapist, I help clients suffering from depression to share their pain and internal dialogues which keep people feeling isolated and hopeless, with the team / group model depressed clients break out of their own internal trap of sadness, desperation as they share and work as part of a team with others who are caring for them. We help people get out of their head and into the world and for folks suffering from depression getting out of their heads is critical for moving forward and getting unstuck.