Depression and Anxiety Most people have felt depressed or anxious at some point in their lives. However, those who suffer from clinical depression, panic attacks, and other forms of extreme anxiety face a very different battle. When you can no longer function well in your personal, work, or academic life due to your mood or anxiety, it is time to seek professional help. There is a biological component to clinical depression and anxiety disorders. Therefore, medication may be helpful for some people. Stress and difficult life events contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety. Psychological intervention can be helpful to process the thoughts, feelings, situations, and behaviors that accompany depression and anxiety. Many techniques designed to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety exist and have been found to be effective. Body Image and Eating Disorders Body image problems and eating disturbances have long been a serious issue for adolescent girls and young women. Currently, pre-adolescent girls and women of all ages struggle with eating disorders. Boys and men are developing eating disorders at a higher rate than in the past. Body image and eating disordered behavior may manifest itself differently for males, but the effects can be just as devastating. My approach to treating body image and eating disorders involves outpatient therapy with the involvement of a treatment team. I assess and diagnose eating disorders and determine whether outpatient therapy is appropriate or whether a higher level care may be needed. Clients will need to keep regular appointments with me to address the psychological aspects of the disorder. Clients will also need to see a physician, who will monitor physical damage that may be developing as a result of the eating disorder. Many clients will require the assistance of a psychiatrist to determine whether medication may be of help to them and to monitor the effects of the medication. The involvement of a dietician who has experience working with clients with eating disorders is also helpful. Outpatient treatment works best when the professionals who are part of the treatment team communicate with one another and are able to make informed decisions about the treatment of the client. Career Counseling Whether you are just beginning to explore your career options or whether you are thinking about a career transition, career counseling may be of help to you. Career assessment can help you to understand how your abilities, interests, and talents match up with different career options. Career counseling can help you to decide what sort of career that you would like to pursue and overcome barriers that may be standing in your path. Gathering information, learning about your decision making style, and considering whether your work values match with the career you are considering are also crucial to the process. We can also work on the practical aspects that will make you more successful when seeking a job, such as resume writing and mock interviews. The majority of our waking hours are spent at work, so satisfaction with your career significantly impacts your quality of life. You owe it to yourself to explore your career choices carefully.