Therapy for depression in Hennipen County

Every therapist has a foundation. Mine was established during my internship and is based in psychodynamics.

When people are born, they have an "invisible backpack". All experiences go into that pack. The job is to empty the pack periodically and decide what to keep, what to throw out and what to change.

One purpose of therapy is to evaluate this pack--How it realates to a person's current life and how he or she wants to change.

The other is cognitive feeling--How do people think, how thoughts affect feelings and feelings affect thoughts.

Realizing when a person is stuck, I intervene in the cycle of dysfunctional thinking and feeling so forward movement is enhanced. I steer a client toward increased self-esteem and self- confidence.

Counseling for depression in Minneapolis

I first ask, "What is the event or episode that caused you to pick up the phone at this moment and call me?"

There is no hurry to tell everything right now. This first session, I invite questions on anything a client wants to know. I am very welcoming and accepting of ANYTHING brought into sessions.

I worked with a woman who became depressed when she found out--as an adult--that she was adopted. She struggled with her adoptive mom, as she searched for her birth mother.

We worked around her depression and fear about hurting her adoptive mom. She told the story many times to release the pain of her new discovery.

With my assistance, she completed the search and found her birth mother. It was a disappointing and traumatic experience, as her mother was an alcoholic and showed no emotion when they met. Her birth mother had given birth to her as an adolescent victim of rape.

Adopted woman has closure with birth mother

She realized her adoptive mom had tried to protect her by keeping this painful truth hidden, but she also needed to have closure. Putting the pain behind her, she turned the corner and became healthier. We worked together for a some time.

Shortly after this, she was laid off from a high-level position. A major life transition in terms of career opened for her and she began a completely different path in her career and lifestyle.

Skills learned in therapy allowed her to approach this unexpected turn of events in a totally different way than she would have in the past.

Therapy for depression in the Twin Cities

When working with a new client, I let him or her choose a direction for therapy based on financial and time constraints and motivation. I tailor my approach to each individual.

The diagnostic workup is accomplished first, establishing and discussing the level of problems. The client makes a decision to deal with his or her problem head on or as a Band-aid approach, dealing with issues in stages: a little therapy now, more later. At this time referrals to other resources like groups or psychiatrist are discussed as well.

Depression comes from many sources and is often a result of unhealthy thinking patterns reinforced in childhood. If showing emotion was frowned upon in a family, the child learns to suppress his or her feelings.

Coping strategies used to block out these suppressed emotions often include drug and alcohol abuse as well as withdrawal from life.

Therapist uses cognitive therapy in Minneapolis/St. Paul

Cognitive therapy changes the way a person copes with stress and anxiety. This is possible through education, showing clients how their faulty thinking and behavior prevent reaching goals and contentment in life.

When a client comes in for help, I look at patterns and deep issues within the family. Chemical dependency is a big problem in Hennepin County and a focus at treatment centers like Hazelden.

I explore a client's choices, focusing on thinking and behavioral patterns. A sculpture of the family-of-origin clues me in to the client's problems and issues.If the reality is hard to deal with like with chronic illness, the client learns about "a little denial goes a long way".

Help for depression in Minneapolis/St. Paul

A man came to see me with depression due to his inability to have satisfying relationships. He was an organizer and liked to direct the activities of others.

He enjoyed being the person others would turn to for information, advice and direction. Although he found his role rewarding, he was unable to receive from others.

It was difficult to impossible for him to have a fulfilling relationship, not knowing how to take as well as give in a partnership with another. Our work centered around pinpointing his behavior, trying to avoid the co-dependent actions that motivated him.

During our work together, he was arrested for driving under the influence (DWI). Enrolling in a 12-step program, this experience helped him see how his behavior was stopping him from achieving a satisfying relationship.

As a result of therapy, he eventually found more balance within himself and was able to be successful and have a rewarding partnership.

Counseling for depressed woman in life transition

A woman came to me for help with life transitions. Having recently divorced, she was stuck in a relationship with one man. She enjoyed good sexual relations with this man, but the non-sexual part of the relationship was not fulfilling.

Because it sounded like there was more to her complaint than the relationship, we explored her attitude toward sex and found that in her life, sex was an addiction.

She was also a recovering alcoholic, and her family history showed a trend toward alcoholism and drug abuse. We confirmed some of her addictive behaviors, and she enrolled in self-help programs.

Helping depressed client with family situations

At the same time she was going back and forth between relationships looking for herself. She also had older children and wanted a closer relationship with them, but found this difficult with her narcissistic personality.

As she changed her focus from addictions to life satisfaction, she put energy into her interests and hobbies. Spending more time relaxing, she worked on being quiet, getting away from "human doing" and moving toward "human being."

There was always a stressor in her life, so she needed to look beyond this pressure to what she really needed in life. As a result of our work together, she quit her stressful job and started a new business. Dating different men, she realized what a satisfying relationship required.

Over time, she improved, stopping and coming back to therapy several times. Each time she became clearer. She was able to avoid a long-term, low-grade depression because she had lots of interests.

She contacted me recently to let me know that she had found a life-long companion and was happy with her life.

Help for low self-esteem in Minneapolis

A young woman with low self-esteem and depression came to see me. She was unable to support herself and was close to bankruptcy.

She would often black out, and these episodes brought her to the hospital emergency room several times a year. Panic attacks were causing her to lose consciousness.

Looking at her family of origin, she went to the root cause, of her problems, an abusive childhood. Using a psychodynamic approach, I facilitated her to write letters to her abuser, releasing her hurt, anger and shame.

This exercise is supportive and insight-giving therapy. I also used cognitive behavioral strategies, telling her to "Shoot the shoulds."

This technique moves away from all or nothing thinking, and eliminates the pattern of non-productive thoughts. No more "I should have done such and such..."

Depression clears with family communication

Gradually, she began to realize her strengths and saw her father as abusive, both sexually and verbally.

Writing to her siblings and parents, she found her sisters had also been abused. Her father refused to acknowledge his wrong-doing, but confronting him was cathartic for her.

Connecting with her sisters brought support and a tremendous release, healed her wounds and helped her resume a normal life.

She was able to return to work and experience better performance. Her new assertive manner helped her meet needs and be recognized. She was promoted and earned the respect of co-workers and her boss.

Near the end of her treatment, she was nearly debt-free and had no more emergency trips to the hospital.