Depression Counseling in Pottstown, PA.

Depression can be so cunning because many of us don't even know we are struggling with it. The problem is Depression makes facing it seem like climbing a mountain without the will to do so. I provide understanding and motivation to clients struggling with Depression. I work with clients who may not want to use medication as part of the solution and others who may need talk therapy in addition to medication. There is hope, and you are not alone.

If you’re struggling with depressive symptoms, therapy is a critical part of relief. The first step is being heard & then assessed. Is this a new experience or a familiar one? Has it been triggered by a specific situation? The next, is identifying & replacing negative coping strategies & thoughts with positive alternatives. In addition to identify negative thought patterns, it’s vital to understand where these beliefs came from & work to reframe unhealthy views of the self & others. Know that I’m not someone who immediately suggests medication to everyone. A certain level of discomfort prompts us to change. However, when medication is needed, I'll work closely with your PCP or psychiatrist.

No matter how long you have been suffering from depression, you can free yourself mind, body and spirit. When you identify the negative self-talk that gets you down and consistently challenge that self-talk, ultimately replacing it with positive self-talk, you feel better about yourself and your life. When you get out and begin doing things that give you pleasure, your mood improves When you connect with the unconditional love and healing power of your own inner knowing, you transform old patterns and create a life of greater peace and contentment.

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!

There is a wide continuum that constitutes depression. We all have "bad days" or an occasional case of the "blues," but if you rarely experience any joy in life, if more often than not, it is shear drudgery to get up and face the day, or if your situation feels hopeless, then you may well be suffering from clinical depression. I'll help you identify the source of the depression, and we'll work together to resolve it. If medication seems appropriate (rarely my first choice), I can refer you for medication evaluation.

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.

Depression can distort your view of yourself, your future and the world, leaving you feeling hopeless, guilty or worthless. If you are depressed, you know that it is impossible to "just snap out of it." Research shows that depression disrupts the optimal chemical balance in the brain and changing that is not easy, but therapy is an important part of effective treatment. It is important to recognize ways of thinking or relating to others that hold depression in place; then it is possible to grow in the freedom to think, feel and relate to others differently. These small changes lay the foundation for more growth and healing, and give you the courage to risk new ways of relating.

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.

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/

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.)

If you are feeling intense sadness, numbness, irritability or just a bad case of the blahs, you may be suffering from depression. Together we will explore the underlying causes of your particular symptoms. Next, we will address these issues so that you can climb out of the black hole that you find yourself in. I have struggled with depression myself and I can tell you that with appropriate guidance from a supportive professional, you can work toward living a fuller, more satisfying life that is not defined by your symptoms. You can take back control of your life and replace self-loathing with self-love, self acceptance, and self-compassion. Enjoy your life, instead of enduring it!!

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.

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.