Depression Counseling in Wayne, PA.

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.)

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.

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)

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.

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!

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.