Depression Counseling in Penndel, PA.

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.

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.

Depression is often a symptom that your life has gotten out of balance. whther your depression issues are biological or situation, longstanding or recent, psychotherapy has been shown to be useful to get back to a life of vibrance, meaning, and peace. My employment of cognitive behavioral therapy techniques (CBT) may help you get back on track toward a life worth living.

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.

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.

Clinical depression is likely the most unappreciated, disrespected illness in existence. For those who have never experienced it, they can't possibly understand what it feels like. As a fellow sufferer, I know how debilitating depression can be, and I even understand how destructive it can be. Depression, if untreated, can destroy your life. Having healthy relationships with others becomes impossible, and one day, you may not be able to drag yourself out of bed to get to work, even in the face of certain termination. Depression can be caused by chemical imbalances in the nervous system, or by runaway, skewed thoughts that dance around our head. It can be treated, but you must ask for help.

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.

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.

Do you feel frustrated, irritable or hopeless? These are signs of depression. We will work together to identify and analyze specific aspects of your life that may be causing you to be depressed. Once these areas are identified, we work together to build coping skills to manage your symptoms. Most of the time, we have these skills with in ourselves, and we simply need a skilled therapist to point them out and help activate them.

In treating depression, we aim to empower you to regain control over your emotional life. We go beyond symptom alleviation, using cognitive therapy to explore and adjust the thought patterns contributing to your depression. As we go through the counseling journey, you'll understand what triggers your depressive episodes. Armed with this knowledge, we'll develop practical strategies for you to tackle these triggers head-on. We also enrich your toolkit with mindfulness and relaxation skills, further equipping you to navigate emotional challenges. Our goal is to pave the way for a happier, more balanced life.

Dr. Marty has developed his own approach to handling depression he calls Focused Short Term Therapy (FSTT)* It combines new cutting edge therapies in the field of energy psychology as well as short term focusing on the depression. When appropriate Dr. Marty uses hypnosis and self hypnosis as well. To learn more about this approach you can go to: http://drmartytashman.com/focused-short-term-therapy-fstt-2/

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.

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.