Are You Ready To Feel Happy, Whole And Connected?
Depression can make you feel isolated, alone and disconnected from the people, places, and activities that once brought you joy. Work, relationships, and even seemingly simple tasks might feel hard for you, especially if you are suffering in silence.
People Showing Signs Of Depression Often Feel:
Fatigued, no matter how much or little sleep they get
Helpless and hopeless—without direction, connection, or purpose
That they are never good enough or undeserving of happiness
Perpetually sad, irritable, ashamed and/or guilty for feeling so bad
Like every day is an unbearable challenge without meaning or purpose
Whether you are dealing with low-level depression or suffering from chronic and/or severe depression, depression symptoms can impact your relationships, decrease your ability to focus at work and cause feelings of shame, guilt, and self-doubt. Life might feel harder for you than other people, especially if you're struggling with both depression and anxiety plus have a history of trauma. While you want to see a light at the end of the dark tunnel of depression and experience joy, you may be starting to wonder if relief is possible.
Depression Is Extremely Common
If you're struggling with depression, you are not alone. Statistics show that more than 16 million American adults have experienced a depressive episode in the last year. However, while depression is so common in our culture, few people openly share their experience. Instead, they end up burying their emotions and suffering in silence.
Some people are biologically predisposed to depression and struggle with it off and on throughout their lives. Others experience depression following the loss of a loved one, trauma, or a major life transition. Our fast-paced, increasingly disconnected culture also breeds feelings of depression. As we become increasingly overworked and exhausted, self-care is often neglected, which can heighten stress and further disconnect us from what brings joy and our innate sense of well-being.
We are sensitive creatures by nature, and trauma, loss, and too much stress can trigger bouts of depression—even in people who are otherwise generally happy. Many—if not most—of us also struggle with feelings of low self-worth at times. These feelings often begin in childhood in neglectful or abusive situations when we didn't feel valued or heard. Left unresolved, there is a tendency to attract similar situations and relationships in adulthood, which can create more trauma and exacerbate depression.
Fortunately, with the compassionate support and practical guidance of a warm and reassuring mental health counselor, you can voice your experience, find the light at the end of the tunnel, and experience much-needed relief. No matter the cause or severity of your symptoms, you can learn how to fight depression and take control of your life.
Depression Counseling Provides You With Safe Space, Support, And Skills
I often think of therapy as a cleansing process. It's a safe space to explore what is keeping you stuck, uncertain, and unhappy. It also gives you the opportunity to look at life through a lens that is more supportive of who you are and where you want to be.
I believe that the right words and a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship can begin to lighten up what feels like a dark life. Our sessions are a place for you to express and explore anything that is coming up for you without shame or fear of judgment. Together, we can identify what's working in your life and what may need to shift. We can develop an understanding of the process that got you where you are today, clear through the cobwebs, and challenge outdated thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that you might have about yourself and the world.
Drawing on the vast research done in the field of depression and using evidence-based approaches as well as effective alternative paths to healing, we can work together to figure out what you need to feel healthy and whole. Using mindfulness techniques, you can begin to pull yourself out of a past that has passed and learn to be present in the moment. We can also identify strengths and resources that you can build upon as we devise practical ways for achieving your larger goals. It may take baby steps at first, and that's okay. Therapy for depression is often composed of a series of small shifts until, seemingly suddenly, you're feeling connected, alert, and alive again.
I know both personally and professionally how debilitating depression can be. However, I also know that with help and support there is a better way of living and feeling. It is possible to get back to life or to feel fulfilled for the first time ever. Depression is highly treatable, and the insights, skills, and support you can gain by working with a depression therapist can truly change the way you live.You still might wonder if depression treatment is right for you...
You still might wonder if depression treatment is right for you…
Does a depression diagnosis mean that I’ll need to go on medication?
Medication can help adjust brain chemistry and improve how you feel so you can engage in therapy and other important parts of your life. For some people, an antidepressant can be a short-term solution to improve feelings of well-being while getting to the root of and mitigating depression symptoms in therapy. However, if medication does not feel right for you, there are many effective approaches to treating depression that do not include medication. I can help you explore options, however, the decision about medication is entirely up to you.
I've been depressed for so long, I'm not sure that therapy for depression can help.
There are so many effective ways to treat depression, including medication, meditation, and therapy, that there is a path to healing for all of us. It’s just a matter of discovering what works specifically for you. I truly believe that there is a bigger and brighter way of being and that with your commitment to change, we can discover greater possibilities for hope and happiness.
I've been in depression counseling before. It worked for a while, but now the depression is back.
Sometimes depression does resurface, especially if you have a family history of it. In other cases, it could be triggered by a loss, change, trauma, or heightened stress. And, sometimes it comes out of nowhere. Regardless of what causes depression, as a skilled and compassionate therapist who specializes in treating depression, I can get to the root of what is triggering depressive episodes, explore different paths to healing, and help you find sustained relief.
You Can Take Control Of Your Emotions And Your Future
If you're struggling with depression in the Hamptons, North Fork or South Fork, NY or surrounding areas, I invite you to call my office at 212-888-2888 for a free phone consultation. I'm happy to discuss your specific needs and answer any questions you have about depression counseling and my practice.
