Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings
Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
Irritability, restlessness
Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
Fatigue and decreased energy
Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
Insomnia, early–morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
Overeating or appetite loss
Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts
Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
Symptoms of depression can manifest over a period of time with a slow progressive disengagement from pleasure and involvement in normal life activities or suddenly appear from a traumatic precipitating event as in the death of a spouse. The severity and duration of the symptoms as well as the degree of distress created in social and occupational functioning are significant hallmarks for the diagnosis of a major depressive disorder.
Dysthymic mood disorder may be diagnosed when the symptoms are milder and longer term. A diagnosis of adjustment disorder with depressed mood results when symptoms appear as a psychological response to an identifiable event or stressor but the resulting emotional or behavioral symptoms are less impactful on occupational and/or social functioning.
The discussion of the nature of depression may be as old as human existence considering the reality and the threat of non-existence of oneself and others of personal significance. Depression is a complex disorder with no single known cause. Rather, it likely results from a combination of personal, familial, genetic, biochemical, sociological, and psychological factors. Modalities of treatment vary depending on the presenting symptoms and goals of each individual. Psychotherapy may be short or longer in duration. If appropriate, a discussion and referral to a medical doctor for a medication consultation will be incorporated in the treatment. Dr. Silbert works with individuals and couples in marital and/or relationship therapy.
Psychotherapy is a process of learning to recognize and resolve internal mental conflict such as self-doubt, fear, guilt, self loathing, and emotional turmoil while promoting self-awareness, self-knowledge, self-confidence, and personal growth. Dr. Silbert’s theoretical framework of practice envelops psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral, and hypnotic concepts to lessen and eradicate symptoms of depression, anxiety, fear, stress, anger, dysfunctional behaviors, inappropriate guilt, and feelings of worthlessness and emptiness.
nature of internal thoughts and illogical patterns of thinking about one’s self. This internal mental environment fuels a self-fulfilling prophecy culminating in self-defeating behaviors and dysfunctional relationships. Awareness is the first step in promoting positive internal changes allowing for a healthy relationship with one’s self and with others.
Emotional distress and psychological problems occur in the context of human relationships. Therapy seeks to help the individual understand and become knowledgeable about the conscious and unconscious nature of past relationships and their significance to current emotions and behaviors. Individual patterns of relating are developed in our family of origin as children and adolescents. The tools we learned and used to survive in earlier stages of our lives, with our child psyches, are often no longer effective in our adult environment, creating negative symptoms and haphazard relationships.
have their origin in the past, the psychotherapeutic process focuses primarily on the present and how these dysfunctional patterns are represented currently. Dr. Silbert supports intergenerational consultation with children and/or parents of the client, if deemed appropriate, for enhanced treatment results.
between Dr. Silbert and each client whether seen individually and/or in couple’s or marital therapy. The process of psychotherapy consists of an interchange of ideas in a respectful environment enveloping a core of trust. The therapeutic alliance supports confronting individual symptoms of erratic and often overwhelming emotions, erroneous, fearful and condescending thoughts, and dysfunctional self-defeating behaviors. The experiential process of therapy is the healing necessary for the client to learn to relate to one’s self and others in a more productive, meaningful, authentic, and life affirming stance.