Depression Specialist

Millions of people in the United States struggle with depression. This serious mood disorder affects how you feel and function. Depression isn’t something you can just “get over.” When you have persistent feelings of sadness and despair, it’s time to schedule a consultation with Robert Jaffe, Ph.D, LMFT, in Encino, California. The experienced psychotherapist takes a holistic approach to therapy and uses many innovative techniques to help ease your depression symptoms. Call the office or schedule an appointment online today.

Depression Q&A

“Almost all people suffer some form of intense inner pain at some time in their lives. The suffering might be depression, anxiety, substance abuse, or suicidal thoughts and it results from the battles we wage against our thoughts as we futilely try to get rid of our historie.” – Steven C. Hays, PhD

Do you feel down, hopeless, or lonely? Do small tasks take a great deal of energy, or do you feel constantly tired and sluggish? Have you been having thoughts about death or dying? These are some of the most common signs of depression.

You are not alone.

Depression is a mental health condition that affects how you feel, think, and manage day-to-day activities. The severe mood changes that occur with depression may affect your ability to sleep, work, or interact with friends and family.

Depression affects people of all ages and may occur for many reasons, including abnormalities in brain chemistry, a significant life change, or struggles related to a chronic health condition.

Depression affects your emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. Common symptoms of depression include:

  • Ongoing feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or despair
  • Persistent low mood
  • Low energy
  • Irritability
  • Disinterest in activities
  • Withdrawal from friends and family
  • Sleeping more or less than usual
  • Eating more or less than usual
  • Anxiety
  • Physical aches and pains
  • Thoughts of death or suicide

To be diagnosed with clinical depression, you must feel some or all of these symptoms most of the day, almost every day for two or more weeks.

If you or someone you love struggles with symptoms of depression, you should seek help. Depression is more than feeling sad; it’s a medical condition that requires medical care. Getting the proper treatment for depression, especially during the early stages, may improve overall outcomes, so you feel better sooner.

Even if you don’t have the ongoing signs and symptoms for a clinical depression diagnosis, if you struggle with a low mood, Dr. Jaffe can help.

You can expect honest care and concern from Dr. Jaffe for depression therapy. During your first visit, he listens intently to your story, asking pertinent questions to help him better understand your feelings.

Dr. Jaffe offers feedback and makes recommendations on the areas he’d like to focus on during your depression therapy. Then, together, you decide on the frequency of your therapy sessions.

At your follow-up visits, Dr. Jaffe individualizes care to help you get relief from your depression symptoms, using the appropriate therapeutic techniques, such as:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Gestalt therapy
  • Objects relations therapy
  • Neuro-linguistic programming

He continues therapy for your depression for as long as necessary.

To get help for your depression from a caring and compassionate therapist, call the office of Robert Jaffe, Ph.D, LMFT, or schedule an appointment online today.

Treatment for Depression – Dr. Jaffe Can Help

Seeking therapy is the most important first step in overcoming depression. I am confident that we can work together to help you feel better and live your life to the fullest.

I use a multi-method, eclectic approach to treatment of depressive symptoms. I draw from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people manage negative thoughts and feelings. CBT is one of the most effective therapy options for people with depression (Barth et al, 2013; Honyashiki, Furukawa, Noma, Tanaka, & Chen, 2014; Carter et al, 2013).

Therapy for depression begins with a brief intake interview to accurately identify the problem and provide a diagnosis. I then carefully design a treatment plan that is best suited to your needs, prioritizing your health and well-being.

As you begin therapy for depression, you will learn how to:

  • Make behavior changes to improve mood regulation

  • Identify negative or distorted thought patterns

  • Manage suicidal thoughts

  • Improve your relationships

  • Feel connected

  • Have self-worth

I believe that you have the power to make real changes to your life. Do not let depression keep you from living your life to the fullest.

Interested in Therapy Services?

If you are interested in therapy services, please contact me as soon as possible.

I would love to hear from you, and I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have. It is never too late to get help.

Schedule your first appointment today by calling 1-818-671-4009, and give wellness a try!

Meet Dr. Jaffe

My clinic is based in Encino, California, but I also work with people from all over the area, including Los Angeles, Thousand Oaks, San Fernando, Inglewood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, and beyond!

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References

Barth, J., Munder, T., Gerger, H., Nüesch, E., Trelle, S., Znoj, H., … & Cuijpers, P. (2013). Comparative efficacy of seven psychotherapeutic interventions for patients with depression: a network meta-analysis. PLoS medicine, 10(5), e1001454.

Beard, C., Stein, A. T., Hearon, B. A., Lee, J., Hsu, K. J., & Björgvinsson, T. (2016). Predictors of depression treatment response in an intensive CBT partial hospital. Journal of clinical psychology, 72(4), 297-310.

Carter, J. D., McIntosh, V. V., Jordan, J., Porter, R. J., Frampton, C. M., & Joyce, P. R. (2013). Psychotherapy for depression: a randomized clinical trial comparing schema therapy and cognitive behavior therapy. Journal of affective disorders, 151(2), 500-505.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC. (2010). Current depression among adults-United States, 2006 and 2008. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 59(38), 1229.

Compton, W. M., Conway, K. P., Stinson, F. S., & Grant, B. F. (2006). Changes in the prevalence of major depression and comorbid substance use disorders in the United States between 1991–1992 and 2001–2002. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(12), 2141-2147.

Cuijpers, P., Sijbrandij, M., Koole, S. L., Andersson, G., Beekman, A. T., & Reynolds, C. F. (2013). The efficacy of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in treating depressive and anxiety disorders: A meta‐analysis of direct comparisons. World Psychiatry, 12(2), 137-148.

Honyashiki, M., Furukawa, T. A., Noma, H., Tanaka, S., Chen, P., Ichikawa, K., … & Caldwell, D. M. (2014). Specificity of CBT for depression: A contribution from multiple treatments meta-analyses. Cognitive therapy and research, 38(3), 249-260.

Pehrson, A. L., Leiser, S. C., Gulinello, M., Dale, E., Li, Y., Waller, J. A., & Sanchez, C. (2015). Treatment of cognitive dysfunction in major depressive disorder—a review of the preclinical evidence for efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and the multimodal-acting antidepressant vortioxetine. European journal of pharmacology, 753, 19-31.

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