Depression Counseling

There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds."
In 2019, Harvard research confirmed that "depression doesn't spring from simply having too much or too little of certain brain chemicals. Rather, there are many potential factors of depression including faulty mood regulation by the brain, genetic vulnerability, stressful life events, medications, and even medical problems."  While it is always prudent to visit a doctor to address potential physical issues, it is not the end all.

While therapist's utilize the DSM5 to diagnose and create treatment plans, the DSM5 is lacking in that it does not take into consideration one's background and relational context.  You may be able to create a general timeline and pinpoint when you began experiencing a consistent pattern of depressed mood.  Or, you may have felt stuck for so long, that that would be a challenging task.  What trauma's are you going through or have endured?  How has your upbringing shaped your view of life as an adolescent and now as an adult?  What personal challenges do you face in respect to your sense of self and how you view others?  What type of narratives replay itself within your mind?  These are all vital questions whose answers play a vital role in impacting your mental health.

You may have done research and heard much about CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) as a way to help those struggling with depression.  But recent research showed that "the client's improvement was found to be predicted by the 2 common factors measured: the therapeutic alliance and the client's emotional involvement (experiencing). The results also indicated, however, that a unique aspect of cognitive therapy (i.e., therapist's focus on the impact of distorted cognitions on depressive symptoms) correlated negatively with outcome at the end of treatment" (https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1996-05271-009).  What does this all mean?

Working through your depression cannot be done alone.  Since its roots are connected to one's relational contexts, addressing it must take place within a trusted relationship.  I can certainly empathize with the crippling and paralyzing state that depression can leave you in.  Depression wants to isolate.  Depression wants to drain you from feeling any kind of hope Depression is debilitating.

Perhaps you've struggled with a low sense of self for so long.  Maybe you've been the victim of feeling "less than" throughout much of your life.  You may not have had the privilege of experiencing a loving childhood.  Or maybe you've just gone through a debilitating trauma that has left you shaken to your core.  Look at yourself today--you are alive and living.  While it may not feel like much, you are being strong just to carry on another day.
I'd love the opportunity to walk beside you, to hear your story and to collaborate with you.
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