Photo of Christine Chae, Marriage & Family Therapist in 92612, CA
Christine Chae
Marriage & Family Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Irvine, CA 92612
Are you feeling helpless in dealing with your child/teen emotional and behavioral issues? Do you feel lost in connecting with your child/teen? You want to help them but don't know how? I have been working with children, adults, and families for over 15 years to bring out their potential in mindfulness, creativity and relationships through individual and family therapy. Through this process, clients get to know themselves better, in a safe and supportive environment. I develop a therapeutic relationship based on their needs and goals. My experience includes treating individuals with depression, anxiety, anger, and trauma.
Are you feeling helpless in dealing with your child/teen emotional and behavioral issues? Do you feel lost in connecting with your child/teen? You want to help them but don't know how? I have been working with children, adults, and families for over 15 years to bring out their potential in mindfulness, creativity and relationships through individual and family therapy. Through this process, clients get to know themselves better, in a safe and supportive environment. I develop a therapeutic relationship based on their needs and goals. My experience includes treating individuals with depression, anxiety, anger, and trauma.
(818) 350-5345 View (818) 350-5345
Photo of Shabnam S Cherry, Marriage & Family Therapist in 92612, CA
Shabnam S Cherry
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
4 Endorsed
Irvine, CA 92612
Are you feeling down? Are there conflicts in your family? Are you concerned about your relationship, or have you had a recent breakup or loss? Are you struggling at work or in school? Do you feel anxious or angry? There are times when feelings of sadness, anxiety, or anger overwhelm us and we need someone to talk to. During those difficult times, it is comforting to know that there is someone you can talk to in a safe environment, where you can express yourself without fear of judgment or shame.
Are you feeling down? Are there conflicts in your family? Are you concerned about your relationship, or have you had a recent breakup or loss? Are you struggling at work or in school? Do you feel anxious or angry? There are times when feelings of sadness, anxiety, or anger overwhelm us and we need someone to talk to. During those difficult times, it is comforting to know that there is someone you can talk to in a safe environment, where you can express yourself without fear of judgment or shame.
(949) 899-8560 View (949) 899-8560
Photo of Lydia Chun, Psychologist in 92612, CA
Lydia Chun
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
Irvine, CA 92612  (Online Only)
(657) 222-4962 View (657) 222-4962
Depression Therapists

What is the goal of therapy for depression?

Therapy for depression has several major goals. One is to relieve the mental pain of depression, which distorts feeling and thinking so that sufferers cannot see beyond their current state of mind or envision feeling better. Another is to give people the mental tools to recognize and correct the kinds of distorted thinking that turn a problem into a catastrophe and lead to despair. Therapy also teaches people how to process negative emotions in constructive ways, so they have more control over their own emotional reactivity. And it helps people regain the ability to see themselves positively, the motivation to do things, and the capacity for pleasure.

What happens in therapy for depression?

Perhaps most important, no matter the type of therapy, patients form an alliance with the therapist; that connection is therapeutic in itself, plus it becomes an instrument of change. Patients learn to identify and to challenge their own erroneous beliefs and thoughts that amplify the effects of negative experiences. They learn to identify situations in which they are especially vulnerable. And they learn new patterns of thinking and behaving. They may be given “homework” assignments in which they practice their developing skills. In addition, good therapists regularly monitor patients to assess whether and how much the condition is improving.

What therapy types help with depression?

Several types of short-term therapy have been found effective, each targeting one or more areas of dysfunction. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps clients challenge their negative thoughts and beliefs, learn new behavioral strategies, and curb reactivity to distressing situations. Behavioral activation (BA) is a form of therapy often used in conjunction with CBT; it focuses on engagement in rewarding activity as a pathway to changing negative feelings and disturbed mood. Another widely used approach is interpersonal therapy (IPT), which targets the social difficulties that both give rise to and get exacerbated by depression. Therapists may combine approaches as needed.

Can therapy for depression be done online?

Studies have found that online therapy can be highly effective for treating depression, although it may be more challenging to build a good therapist-patient alliance on screen than in person—at least at first. However, online therapy can offer considerable advantages. Accessibility and convenience are tops among them. Some people actually find it easier to talk about problems online than in person. While online therapy typically limits visibility of facial expression and body gestures that give important nonverbal cues to a patient’s state of mind, it can give therapists a glimpse into a patient’s world and life, providing information that can be highly useful in guiding therapy.

How effective is therapy for depression?

Many studies show that therapy is highly effective provided that patients complete the prescribed course of therapy, commonly 16 to 20 sessions. Over the long term, it is more effective than medication and the effects are more enduring. As a result, psychotherapy has the power not just to relieve current suffering but to prevent future episodes of the disorder. Therapy reverses the dysfunction in neural circuitry that disposes individuals to a negative view of themselves, the world, and their future and they acquire coping techniques, problem-solving skills, and understanding of their own vulnerabilities that are useful over the course of a lifetime.