Bend Climbers - Please Help (OT)

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Messages 1 - 7 of total 7 in this topic
oils

climber
Topic Author's Original Post - Dec 1, 2016 - 09:18pm PT
I have a dear friend in Bend who is having a very difficult struggle with depression. Does anyone have a recommendation for a really good therapist and/or support group in Bend?
Wen

Trad climber
Bend, OR
Dec 1, 2016 - 09:33pm PT
How old? Male or female? I'm a child psychologist here but know lots of therapists....
oils

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 2, 2016 - 03:44pm PT
Thank you for the response. 35 year old male. He says he 'feels nothing', 'pushes everyone in his life away' (he does!), and sometimes just can't manage to get out of bed for a day. I guess this has been going on for many months if not years and I can't understand it (not that that matters) because otherwise he has a good job and is a reliable worker, exercises/climbs hard regularly; eats well and healthy; is friendly, funny and charismatic. Any recommendations you can offer are most appreciated!
Wen

Trad climber
Bend, OR
Dec 2, 2016 - 10:57pm PT
Ray Gertler is a psychologist who focuses on mindfulness, he's a great therapist. Other good ones include David Goldstein, D'Arcy Swanson, Rob Burch and Andy Barram, I could recommend any of them. Male clients generally prefer male therapists.

The best predictor of a good outcome is whether the client likes the therapist. Tell your friend to try one of the names on this list,see how it goes, and if for any reason he doesn't think it's right to move on to someone else. We have tons of good therapists here.

I wish him well.
Mark Allen

Trad climber
Longo, CA
Dec 4, 2016 - 10:58am PT
Oils, your concern for your friend is heartwarming. I hope and pray he will find some help. Depression is often misunderstood by many. It took me 60 years to realize I needed help. "Suck it up" was my way of dealing and it almost led me to consider ending it all but for those (like you) who loved and cared about me. Counseling and medication are often what is necessary. Some downplay medication and preach it evils, however, serotonin levels are difficult to gauge let alone understand even by the highly learned. Every person has a story and may need individual help. Been there, done that. Again, I hope and pray your friend gets the help he needs...
CopingJane

climber
Dec 9, 2016 - 02:17pm PT
I am currently helping a loved one with depression too. Finding a doctor and therapy program that understands has been an uphill battle for us. We found that the current medical insurance environment (here in CA) also made it hard to find available psychiatrists/psychologists. Most of the highly-reviewed people we found are cash-only doctors.

Our experience has been doctors trying to medicate symptom after symptom, then medicating side effect after side effect from the medications; meanwhile, the depression itself hasn't been relieved but his physical body has more problems. Every time he had a concern, another med was thrown at him. It wasn't until taking a genetic test called Genesight that revealed he cannot metabolize most anti-depressants, so we've had to change the game plan.

Good luck to you and your friend. This community has been great and I hope everything turns out well for our depressed loved ones and their loved ones.
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Dec 9, 2016 - 02:36pm PT
Mark Allen stated it well - depression is often misunderstood.
A person's circumstances (job, family, etc.) may look great,
but they wake up each morning "feeling down for no reason".
Finding a good therapist is the most important factor for controlling its impact.

Drugs can help, but there's no universal "happy pill".
And it takes time to see if a drug is helping / is better than a previous drug.
Messages 1 - 7 of total 7 in this topic
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