Depression Therapy

Depression Therapy in San Jose and Campbell, CA

Marriage & Family Therapist

Depression Therapy in San Jose, CA

Let’s be honest, life is stressful and challenging at times. During these times, it feels like regardless of what you do and all the different things you try, it’s just not going the way you want it to. Even if you have friends or family that you can talk to, you sense that it’s different because you can’t be totally honest or yourself at all times. This is more common than you may think— most people will actually try other alternatives/options before they come to therapy. For many, starting therapy is a daunting process because you have to choose a therapist and feel comfortable and safe with this person in order to share your life experiences with them. Depression can oftentimes feel isolating, lonely, and hopeless. For some people struggling with depression, it also tends to impact other areas of their lives, such as work, school, or relationships.

Luckily, you’re not alone in this process. Here at Uplift Psychology Group, we understand how difficult it is to even make that first phone call or send that initial email. 

What causes depression?

The answer to this is just as complex as the disorder itself. There are many factors that can cause depression, such as biological factors, our environment, and life transitions. For example, depression is a highly genetic disorder and often runs in the family, so a family history of depression might increase the chances of developing it yourself. Sometimes significant life changes, like a divorce, birth of a child, losing a job, or developing a chronic health condition, can also trigger a depressive episode and result in emotional difficulties. Feeling unfulfilled in one more areas in your life and not knowing how to change it can also create a sense of hopelessness. As you can see, various environmental factors as well as a family history of depression can lead to a person developing the condition. 

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Depression vs. sadness?

Sadness and feeling “blue” occasionally is a normal part of life and there are many different types of depression. Certain life changes like the death of a loved one or losing a job can lead to feeling upset and sad. However, sadness can be easier to find relief from and usually passes with time. When it does not pass or when it starts to impact other areas of your life, that’s usually a sign of depression. Although feeling sad for a long period of time is one of the symptoms, depression consists of more than that, such as difficulty getting out of bed, hopelessness, a lack of motivation, withdrawal from others, and a loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy before. 

Depression vs. Anxiety?

Depression and anxiety are both mood disorders. While these are two different disorders, it is common for people to experience symptoms of both and can be hard to distinguish the differences. Both depression and anxiety are very common, and they often happen together. About 60% of people with anxiety also have symptoms of depression, and vice versa. Each condition can make symptoms of the other get worse or last longer.

Anxiety is a term that can be used to describe a feeling of worry, fear and phobias for parts of everyday life that can be excessive or long-term. 

Depression and anxiety both affect a person’s mood and therefore can affect how one feels emotionally and physically. The main difference between depression and anxiety is the symptoms. Depression is a persistent feeling of sadness, hopelessness, or worthlessness. You also have no energy and you lose interest in activities you once loved. Some people with depression think about hurting themselves. Anxiety involves fear or worry that you can’t control. Depending on the type of anxiety you have, the worry can surface during everyday activities like meeting new people.

Can children and teens be depressed?

Yes, children are vulnerable to the same factors that cause depression in adults. However, some of the signs of depression in children look different. For example, many children might show irritability or “acting out,” social isolation, changes in their appetite and sleep patterns, and changes in their academic performance. Similar to adults, signs and symptoms vary in children too!

Do I need to take medications to feel better?

Many clients fear taking medications due to the side effects or becoming dependent on it, and we understand how scary that might be. Here at Uplift Psychology Group, we believe trying to address feelings of depression through talk therapy first. If it seems like you could really benefit from medication, and you’re interested in going that direction, we will work closely with you and your medical professional to develop a treatment plan and support you through the process of beginning that course of treatment.

Medications can be very effective, primarily when used in combination with psychotherapy, and for those with moderate to severe depression. The key is to ensure that you find the right type and dose of the antidepressant, so you’ll need a prescribing professional to monitor your side effects and symptoms.

Once our depression therapists in Campbell, CA and San Jose, CA have a chance to understand your depression and your symptoms, we can help make recommendations about the best course of treatment options for you. You’re not in this alone! Please call us to set up a free consultation. You can reach us at (408) 404-5983… call or text!

Is depression therapy a good treatment for depression? How do I cope?

Regardless of the type of therapist you seek, therapy can help identify what behavior, emotion, or situation is contributing to depression. It can also help find ways to deal with similar emotions in the future. Oftentimes, depression can lead to negative thinking. It’s very easy to get consumed by these negative and pessimistic thoughts and start feeling stuck. In therapy, you can explore these thoughts in depth and understand what’s contributing to the hopelessness about the future and helplessness about changing your circumstances.

Once you can understand these thoughts more clearly, a therapist can help you adopt a more positive (and realistic) perspective on life and situations and provide stress management techniques. As mentioned before, depression tends to impact other areas of your life (i.e., work and relationships) as well. So therapy isn’t just great for helping you manage depression and improving your mental health, it can be great for improving other parts of your life too! After finding a therapist you connect with, you can feel understood in ways maybe you have never felt before; this experience of feeling heard and understood by your therapist lays the groundwork for developing insight into yourself, how previous and current experiences impact you, and how you can navigate the challenges of life in a way that works for you.

Once our depression therapists in Campbell, CA and San Jose, CA have a chance to understand your depression and your symptoms, we can help make recommendations about the best course of treatment options for you. You’re not in this alone! Please call us to set up a free consultation. You can reach us at (408) 404-5983… call or text!

Here are some of the ways our therapists here at Uplift can help you live a more fulfilling life.

We help you…

  • explore your own thoughts and learn how your thoughts affect both behaviors and emotions.
  • learn how to cope with high levels of intense emotions by cultivating acceptance while also working towards change.
  • live presently and create healthier alternatives to cope with everyday challenges by building skills for mindfulness, emotion regulation, problem-solving, and  interpersonal effectiveness.
  • live in the moment, and accept your thoughts and feelings with zero judgment. Our goal is to help you move forward through negative emotions and thought patterns by not dwelling on the negative, and instead, focus on healing.
  • quiet the inner voice that can overshadow living presently so you can learn to have compassion for yourself.
  • bring the unconscious mind into consciousness by recognizing and experiencing the deep rooted feelings to help resolve them; this may include the exploration of early life relationships with parents or caregivers, family, community, and cultural systems of influence, and coping (both conscious and unconscious) that may emanate from these experiences.
  • gain skills to better function socially and to reduce on-going feelings of depression; you’ll strengthen relationships with not only others but yourself too.
  • learn about yourself, your attachment patterns past and present, and learn new ways to have healthy relationships.
  • find tools and set goals to help manage immediate dilemmas and cope with challenges in the present. 
  • manage and navigate your emotions rather than the emotions dictating your everyday life. 
  • find new ways of relating to others so you can develop stronger bonds with others 
  • get connected to your inner world, identifying and getting to know the various parts that are showing up in your life and causing distress; we’ll help you understand why certain parts act in certain ways, and help guide the Self back into the leadership role to heal and transform the wounded parts that are causing so much pain.

With a therapist at Uplift Psychology, you will be able to work through the concerns and issues that are holding you back, recognize the unhelpful patterns that are occurring in your life, and find healthier replacements. But guess what? There are additional steps that can help the day to day struggles outside of a therapy session that can help with the battle of depression. Here are some examples:

  • Creating a Routine –  Maintaining a healthy and regular routine is very helpful for people with depression. Depression can cause poor sleep patterns such as staying awake late, and sleeping during the day. Creating a pattern to help with sleep and eating can help to increase other enjoyment throughout the day. Creating a routine and following through can help to bring a feeling of accomplishment which can decrease high levels of depression.

  • Staying in Touch – While it can be hard to socialize, it is important to not withdraw from all parts of life. Having family and friends to socialize with can help to increase your mood. As well as, having a strong support system when you are feeling low to share and feel supported with. 

  • Being More Active – Exercise is shown to increase your mood. Even if it is just a five minute walk outside, rather than an hour gym session, this will help relax and feel calming to lift your mood!

  • Expressing Yourself in Writing or Art – Writing in a journal is a great form of release that can help you manage depression.  Writing down feelings and challenges with depression can help to release pent-up emotions. This form of reflection is a great tool to use in the therapy space as well!

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