You don't have to battle depression alone.
It's painful to think and think, only to feel hopeless when the solution is unclear. Sometimes, alcohol feels the only escape.
At the heart of depression is a negative feedback loop. Alcohol offers relief, but it makes the depression worse. It doesn't matter if you "know" that alcohol makes you more depressed - when you're depressed, you just need relief.
Sorting out substance abuse from depression can be like trying to determine if the chicken or the egg came first. Some people use drugs and alcohol as a way of filling a void that otherwise would be filled with fearfulness, despair, or hopelessness. Others use drugs and alcohol as a way of self-medicating after trying everything else.
We are here to help. You can break the cycle of depression and drinking. Freedom from depression starts today.
Being depressed can feel like waking up to find yourself at the bottom of a deep, dark well.
You try to figure out how to get out, but find yourself stuck. Sometimes drugs and alcohol offer the only respite for you to temporarily escape from hopelessness. At other times, you may not have the energy to even try to cope.
Individual counseling can help. We use evidence-based practices such as solution-focused brief therapy, mindfulness training, cognitive behavioral therapy, and insight-focused counseling to help you climb out of the well and back into your life.
You can feel good again.
Relief from depression can start today. Our counselors are here to guide you through the pain, so that you can reach a place of wisdom and peace in your life. Let's get started - call or text (312) 715-8234.
Counseling Techniques Used for Depression
We are trained in evidence-based approaches to help you find your direction and achieve your desired outcomes. Our treatment methods include:
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
MI is an approach that places you front and center as the expert of your own life. Your counselor works with you to strengthen your inner motivation to change. MI allows the counseling session to become a productive space for developing a plan based on your own knowledge and strengths. Your counselor serves as a guide when you feel two ways about making the change, understanding that you are the one who controls what you ultimately do.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT is an evidence-based form of cognitive behavior therapy that strategically helps you create the life you want to live. This happens by removing obstacles that are leaving you feeling stuck in a rut. ACT uses your personal values as the foundation of change.
DBT-Informed
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a multi-pronged approach involving groups and individual counseling. We offer DBT-informed individual counseling is an evolution of CBT that focuses on reducing the intensity of negative emotions. DBT-informed individual work goes beyond looking at negative thoughts to help you consider effective ways of relating to yourself and others. It helps you achieve feelings of calm and satisfaction.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
MBCT helps you alleviate feelings of depression and unhappiness. The approach of MBCT reduces overwhelming stress while enhancing your self-awareness. By combining mindfulness practice with cognitive therapy, MBCT encourages you to develop a new relationship with negative thoughts and feelings, restoring your energy so you can effectively manage your life.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
SFBT emphasizes solution building rather than problem-solving. Each session is driven by your goals and vision for the future. Instead of focusing on the negative, SFBT empowers you to mobilize the inner strengths, hidden abilities, and leadership qualities you already possess. SFBT is informed by your present and future, instead of rehashing the past. Building on your strengths is far more important than spending time talking about your weaknesses.