Family Therapy Center of Northern Virginia, llc
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Individual Sessions for Adults or Teens


Depression

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Anyone who has lived with depression knows how excruciating and often debilitating it can be. Sometimes depression lasts for weeks or months and keeps individuals from doing what they love. Other times it comes in without warning and knocks the wind out of them for a day or so and then blows on through again until the next unexpected episode.  Depression hurts the one depressed but it also hurts loved ones. It is hard enough for the one suffering to understand it much less the loved ones who just want to experience that connection again or want to see a genuine smile. 

In some, depression is very uncomfortable, sad and exhausting. But to others, it becomes a scary scary place to be. Some with depression will experiment with self harmful behaviors such as cutting, while others may begin to control their diet and food intake to a dangerous level, others still may have suicidal thoughts, fantasize about their own death and may begin to plan ways to accomplish this and others again may eat so much that weight gain becomes a new issue as well. 

Depression is a serious ailment and requires consistent mental and often medical attention. Here at the Center, we have trained therapists who can assess for safety and can help make referrals to medical physicians when necessary. Our therapeutic approach can help you lift the veil of depression and can help you find the energy and love for life you once knew. When your eating habits are effected and you feel your life becoming out of balance from this perspective as well. Having a well rounded approach to depression can often help. 

* Low Energy  *Sleep Issues  * Feeling Blue  * Low Motivation  * Darkness  *Feeling of Isolation  * Loss of Interest  * Missing Yourself

Aromatherapy

Some of our clinicians are trained in aromatherapy and can help guide you through this process if this interests you. Essential oils can may amazing calming tools and quickly reach the limbic system portion of the brain when inhaled through the nose. Diffusing essential oils is a wonderful way to experience this 100% natural calming effect. If this is of interest to you, ask your therapist if she will diffuse for you during session. Some oils are well documented and researched to provide a calming effect, while other will invigorate and uplift the mood. Check out research on PubMed if you are interested.

Real Life Example #1
One day a teenager and her mother were in a family therapy session together. The teen was relaying a recent traumatic event and began to have a panic attack. The child was weeping uncontrollably and struggled to catch her breath. I looked to the mom and told her I could diffuse orange essential oil if she wanted, telling her that this may help calm her limbic system enough to catch her breath. Mom agreed. Within 5 minutes of diffusing the orange essential oil, The teen's face soften, the tears stopped and she was able to talk. I noted these changes aloud. Mom also interjected that the knot that she herself had in her stomach was gone. NOW we could start therapy. Although the essential oils did not take away the traumatic event, it certainly did decrease the way she responded to it and it helped her be more susceptible to therapy and support. 

Real Life Example #2
One day I was diffusing a grounding blend for myself at the office. This blend helps create calm grounding feeling while squelching anxious feelings at the same time. It is my favorite blend of all time. A mom of 2 special needs children came in for a parenting session. She entered the session SO stressed and in tears about the quality of her life and the chronic illness that her children were facing each day. Half way throughout he session she picked up the bottle of my grounding blend and said "What is this? I want to have this poured into my veins!" The power of essential oils on the brain, limbic system and our emotions can be astonishing.

Get Help for Yourself or a Loved One Today! 


Hours

M-F: 8am - 9pm
Sat: 8am -2pm

Telephone

571-733-9736

Center's Owner Contact Info:        Practice Address:

Gabrielle@FamilyTherapyNova.com.                       19420 Golf Vista Plaza #330
Owner/Licensed Therapist                                     Lansdowne, VA 20176