Depression

Roughly 4.1 million adolescents from ages 12 to 17 in the United States have had at least one major depressive episode. Depression is hard to notice in teens because of the expectation that teens can act moody. Adolescents may not understand or express their feelings and may not be aware of depression symptoms and may not seek help. Depression is a mood disorder that causes symptoms that negatively affect your emotions, thinking, and actions. It can hinder handling everyday routines like sleeping, eating, or working.

Depression is now being seen more in children and adolescents, although it is sometimes noted as irritability rather than depression. It is treatable, and it is best to seek help if your child, teen, or young adult is struggling with this. There are several forms of depression, and a professional can help in the diagnosis.  

There are many contributing factors to depression:

• Certain brain chemicals may be imbalanced.

• Depression in the family history.

• Stress from complex life events (death, divorce, or birth).

• Medications or medical conditions.

• Negative thought patterns.

• Poor nutrition.

• Circadian rhythm.

• Substance abuse.  

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Depression in adolescents and young adults from can include:

• School performance is poor.

• Withdrawing socially and from activities.

• Feeling Sad and hopeless.

• Lacking enthusiasm, energy, or motivation.

• May be angry and have rage.

• Overreacts to critical comments.

• Anxiety/feeling  overwhelmed about the future and being able to achieve their goals.

• Guilt and Low self-esteem.

• Restless and agitated.

• Altered eating or sleeping habits.

• Abuse of substances.

• Struggles with authority figures.

• Thoughts or actions of suicide or negative thoughts.

• Slowed movements or speech.

• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions. 

Thankfully, early interventions can help kids get back on track before symptoms of depression cause more profound problems.

 Therapy for Depression  

How I Treat Depression in Therapy

Therapy is trust-based. It can take some time for a person with anxiety to feel they can trust a therapist; thus, a one-on-one approach is usually the most effective. Once trust is established,

effective therapy can reduce or eliminate symptoms that come with anxiety in a reasonably short time. Using evidence-based treatments, I will help your child, teen, or young adult manage symptoms. I help clients work through the many trials and adjustments that come with life, such as periods of transition and experiences that leave them stressed out and overwhelmed.  

My approach to therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach. I use a combination of evidence-based therapy treatments such as: 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to identify negative thoughts and beliefs and replace them with positive ones. 

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): Dialectical behavioral therapy aims to calm the intensity of a person’s emotions and focus on what is going on in the present. 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Acceptance and Commitment Therapy aims to encourage a person to accept the circumstances in their life and make short and long-term commitments to act in ways that help them face their problems head-on rather than avoiding them. 

Together we work through self-reflection to understand and unravel the cause of depression. We focus on learning how to relax, see situations as less scary, and develop problem-solving skills.