(Newswire.net — January 17, 2014) Placerville, California —
Kathleen S. Young, MA, LMFT has been a licensed marriage and family therapist, mentor, and advocate for the past 20 years, She has worked with individual adults children, and couples to overcome various emotional issues including trauma, domestic violence, child abuse, as well as depression.
During a recent interview, Placerville Family Therapist, Kathleen S Young MA, LMFT, provided tools to overcome depression and find a caring therapist who will help one regain their sense of hope.
Many people believe that they have to live with depression. What are your perceptions of this belief?
I don’t believe that we have to live with depression. Often people feel that they are stuck with depression when it enters their life, and feel helpless to change how they feel. However, there are many tools that can be used to help lessen or even reverse symptoms of depression.
First, it’s important if one is experiencing depression to get support and a professional evaluation in order to know what is causing depression.
For some people, depression has been a life-long challenge and may even run in their family. Then there is depression that stems from difficult, unexpected or traumatic life situations. In this case, people have situations that happened in their lives that throw them for a loop and they experience anxiety or depression. Either way, there is a lot one can learn in therapy to help their own healing process.
In your practice, what tools do you offer clients to help work through their depression?
When someone comes to me with depression, we work together to understand the root cause of their depression. Then we want to identify patterns of negative thinking or self-talk that can cause one to spiral further into depression, and work to stop that negative pattern of thinking. I want to identify and support my client’s strengths.
Other tools might include journaling feelings, focusing on positive affirmations and gratitudes, and encouraging meditation, exercise or yoga.
A technique that I have used successfully for depression and anxiety is EFT, or Emotional Freedom Technique. It’s a tapping technique where one taps on specific acupuncture points while pairing the tapping with an appropriate affirmation of self-acceptance.
How do you manage a client with severe depression?
If the depression is severe I will refer a client for a medication evaluation. While not everyone who experiences depression needs medication, when the depression is severe, medication can help a person experience enough relief to able to engage in and benefit from therapy and the techniques that I’ve been describing.
What is the one piece of advice you would give someone who is depressed to help them find the right type of therapist for them?
Don’t be afraid to reach out for help and support. Interview therapists and find the right person for you. It can be scary for people to reach out, particularly when feeling depressed or anxious, so the right therapeutic fit is important.
I believe in the process, and the therapeutic conversation. The fact that someone cares; that someone is listening and willing to actively support you in healing and regaining a sense of hope in life.
Kathleen S. Young, MA, LMFT, Licensed Marriage Family Therapist practices in Placerville, California. For more information about the services provided please visit Psychology Today
She is available to answer questions for interested patients. Email