Depression Counseling in New Hope, PA.

Sometimes depression is based in chemical imbalances in our brains. Sometimes depression is caused by the situations in our lives. Learning how to cope with depression is a skill that can be learned and practiced. The pain of depression is often disabling. However, the beliefs we have and the choices we make today can make the difference tomorrow. Medication is not always necessary and is never enough for healing for the pain of depression. I will offer support and techniques to guide you through those dark and depressed times. Life can be filled with joy, hope and serenity. Learn how positive living and positive thinking breaks through the darkness of depression.

Depression is a very difficult and real reality for many people, even Christians. I want to help you to tackle depression from a Biblical perspective. Know that God loves you and cares about every detail of your life. Together we can fight depression at it's core and get you back to feeling hopeful and excited about what this life God gave you has to offer.

Depression is the single most diagnosed problem in mental health. I believe it can be divided into two categories: situational depression and clinical depression. We all can experience sadness and changes in mood due to negative circumstances in our lives. I work with clients to examine the current issues, look into the past for previously successful solutions, and work toward implementing solutions in the future. Clinical depression is suspected of being genetically linked and found in families. It is usually triggered by a traumatic event which causes neurological changes. This is best treated with a combination of talk therapy and medication.

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.

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 believe that depression is nature’s way of shutting us down when there is some element in our life or our past that overwhelms and burdens us. It is often something experienced that our usual ways of coping cannot remedy. A client experiencing depression is often ‘turning off’, ‘shutting down’ and going inward in response to something in their life or in their relationships that is just too much to bear. I help depressed clients discover what it is in their life that is overwhelming them and help them find the strength and power to directly face the matter that is causing the turn inward and the shutting down.

Depression is more than feeling sad. Depression is a sustained period of feeling "down," accompanied by some or all of the following symptoms: decreased interest in activities that were previously enjoyable; decreased concentration; decreased energy; difficulty sleeping; hopelessness; thoughts and/or acts of self-harm; marked weight gain/loss; increased irritability; isolating from friends/family. Note: this list is not meant to diagnosis depression. If you feel that you may be struggling with depression, you do not need to struggle alone. Depression is treatable and you can recover. Not all depression needs to be treated with medication. Together we will chart your course to recovery.

Depression can be debilitating, but it can also be a dull ache that underlies one's everyday activities. You may appear to be doing "fine" but underneath it all, there is a depressed feeling that does not go away. Using an integrative approach, I can help you work through the underlying issues while addressing the day to day challenges. Seasonal depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is also a common and highly treatable depressed state that is often seen in the colder, darker months and around holidays.

I help my clients view depression as a mental, emotional, and physiological condition that can be treated with a full application of the tools, insights, and aids that are available from a variety of sources. These will include cognitive techniques to redirect unhelpful thought patterns, behavioral practices such as exercise, sleep hygiene, and life style adjustments, and social/relational interactions with significant others. We will also explore patterns of reactions to past and current life stressors that might perpetuate a cycle of depressive symptoms. If symptoms of depression are chronically severe, posing elevated risks to health or safety, I will help the client consult with a doctor to evaluate the potential use of a psychotropic medication to...(view profile to read more)

Depression can disrupt or color our lives in so many ways. Likewise, depression can have different causes and stay with us for different lengths of time. Some believe that understanding the role our thoughts play on depression is useful. Others believe that being able to speak to a therapist and channel our depression is useful. No matter the philosophy, visiting a therapist can be a positive step in reclaiming your life from depression and taking back control of your own life.