How depression counseling is helping persons in Boston dramatically improve their lives.

Already know about Thrive Boston Depression Counseling? Call 617-395-5806 to schedule your counseling session.


What if you woke up tomorrow morning and a miracle had occurred overnight?
While you were sleeping, the problems that have been bothering you; your job, your money, your relationships, your worries, issues in your everyday life-everything was fixed.

Take a minute and think about it.

It's an interesting question, isn't it? It's called "The Miracle Question" and it's often used to help counseling clients, like you,

Does the 'miracle question', and your answers to the questions above seem impossible? You're not alone. In fact, many people have felt this way.
However, what we at Thrive Boston Counseling have found is that when you begin to identify the core of specific problems in your life, change can be More Within Reach, and can Happen Faster, than you ever thought possible.
Consider the experience of "Mike" (name changed, story 100% true), a once-client of Thrive Boston Counseling. Mike has given us permission to use his story.

True Case Study - Depression Counseling in Cambridge, MA

Mike, a 30-year-old MIT graduate, had been depressed for most of his life. He began counseling therapy at Thrive Boston Counseling not expecting it to make much of a difference, as he had seen counselors before. However, Mike was willing to give it one more shot. He explained, "I've been to counseling before, but I never saw it through."

I asked Mike if he would agree to "see it through" this time, and he said he would. He said, "I have no choice, I don't know if I want to live anymore. I think I should give counseling an honest shot."

Mike was borderline suicidal, and the first few sessions with Mike were difficult for both of us. Mike would arrive to session in anguish from the depression, and social anxiety, he experienced every day. He would often say that he believed he was permanently defective as a person, and he told me once that he had read somewhere that some people are genetically prone to being unhappy-something he was sure applied to him.

Here is an example of how down Mike was. One day Mike came into my office, and I asked him how his week had been. "It was okay" mike told me, looking down, and looking very low.

"Any high points?" I asked him?
"Not really?" he said.
"Well, what did you do this week?" I asked.
"Some friends and I went to Ireland," he said.

This is how depressed Mike was. He and a few of his friends found some cheap airline tickets online and took off the week before and spent 5 days in Ireland! The trip went well, and Mike still reported that he experienced no high points.

The more Mike felt depressed or anxious, the more he told himself he was defective, which made him even more depressed and anxious. It was a bad downward spiral. I knew then that I needed to help Mike change the destructive things he was telling himself if I was going to help him change his mood.

During counseling, Mike learned a few really important things that helped him change his life. First, he learned that he doesn't need to be anything to be valuable. Whether he found a great job or lost his job, whether he became the most popular person in Boston or the most unliked person in Boston, whether he lost 10 pounds or gained 11 pounds, he was still a valuable and acceptable person.

Mike was harder on himself than he was on anyone else (something lots of our clients bring to therapy), so we practiced reframing his thoughts. Sometimes in session I would ask, "Would you be as hard on a good friend as you are on yourself?" the answer was always "No way. I would tell my friend he is fine the way he is, and I would mean it!" Soon, Mike began to realize the flaw in his double standard.

It took Mike about a month to begin to really own this new perspective, but once he did he was able to be nicer to himself. He stopped fearing that others would reject him. He stopped fearing failure. He starting to say things like, "I have realized that I am acceptable the way I am, and that if I want to try and improve something in my life I can do that-and whether it works out or not, things are always going to be ok!"

Once Mike had this perspective, his life started to improve dramatically. He was able to engage openly with others, without fear (his co-workers and friends), because he didn't worry that he would be rejected. He no longer became frustrated at work, or worried about losing his job (however, even though he didn't have fear of losing his job, his work improved and he received a promotion!). His mood went from extremely low (Major Depressive Disorder) to having no signs of depression whatsoever.

When Mike first came to counseling, I asked him to fill out David Burn's Depression inventory (a popular depression test). Mike scored in the high double-digits, meaning he was severely depressed. About two months later, I handed the same depression test to him and he literally laughed out loud! He said, "I can tell you without even looking at this, all my scores are going to be zero - I'm not depressed at all."

Mike and I, soon after, ended counseling, and his improved mood was still there during a 6-month follow up session. Mike attributes his recovery to the work we did in session, the skill and tools he learned that have empowered him to change his thinking, which have helped him to live in peace and happiness with himself-and take charge of his life!

This is a true story, but it is not the exception. Every year, Thrive Boston Counseling Therapy helps hundreds of clients, just like Mike, experience a dramatic life change. Sometimes it is about depression or anxiety, sometimes it is about relationships, sometimes it is about career, money, sex, addiction, fear, or anger. Thrive Boston Counseling Therapy holds true to our philosophy that EVERYONE has the ability to life an exciting, fulfilling life. Everyone has the ability to Thrive.

 
Thrive Boston Counseling Therapy:

Professional Endorsements

Anthony Centore is one of the most talented, insightful, and promising therapists I've ever met. There is nothing about him or his practice that doesn't ring of quality, innovation, and real help.  And speaking of Thrive, I truly believe it embodies the highest ethical standards, the most sound and time-tested counseling practices, and, perhaps most importantly, a natural, warm disposition with clients as the primary focus.  As a therapist, I'd feel more than comfortable using Thrive for the counseling needs of myself or my family.
-- Ryan Neace, M.A. Therapist, Central VA

The dramatic success of Thrive Counseling is a tribute to its ardent commitment to excellence and to making a difference in people's lives.  Founder and Director Dr. Anthony Centore and his staff of experienced clinicians offer a powerful combination of integrity, knowledge, and expertise. I wholeheartedly recommend Thrive Counseling to anybody seeking counseling from caring, dedicated professionals.  -- Jory H. Fisher, JD

View More Professional Endorsements and Reviews

Introducting Thrive Boston Counseling's approach to Counseling and Life Coaching

My name is Dr. Anthony Centore, Director of Thrive Boston Depression Counseling, (writing on behalf of the Therapists at Thrive Boston Counseling) and if we were together right now, I would want you to know one thing--that no matter what your situation, no matter how dark things in your life might seem, no matter what has happened in your past--you can experience a better life.

It might not seem that way right now. If you are in a place of hurt or pain, you are not alone. In fact, we live in times when many people are hurting. People today are often struggling with Major Depression, and its sister problem Anxiety.

Depression Problems: 

One in 5 people experience depression every year. This isn't just "the blues", or feeling down. Depression is a medical condition that steals life away from both persons who struggle with it, and their loved ones-those closest to them. 

In Boston, depression can be exacerbated by our busy and time-starved lives, and by the short summers and long-dark winters.

Anxiety Problems: 

People with anxiety feel constant fear and dread. They cannot calm down and feel unrest and worry most of the day, most days.  Anxiety can be made worse by many things in your day to day life: 
External situations (viewing the news, a fast paced lifestyle), Physical well being (lack of sleep, blood sugar), Learning (parents who were highly anxious), and Trauma (situations that caused great pain). 

Anxiety symptoms can include:

If you are struggling with Depression, or Depression with Anxiety, it is possible you are also suffering with Self-Image or Relationship Problems, or both. We have provided some information for you below:

Self-Image Problems: 

Self-esteem refers to an inner sense of value that gives you resilience to attacks or criticism. Every person has ideas about their self-worth.
Having good self-esteem does NOT mean being proud or having an over-blown "ego". 
Low self-esteem can cause: feelings of self-hate, believing that one is unworthy or incompetent, a refusal to get close to people, a belief that one doesn't deserve strong or supportive relationships, refusal to trust others, and an inability to accept oneself as special or unique.
Your self-esteem is in trouble when you allow others to convince you that you are not valuable or significant.

Poor self-esteem is often the result of prolonged periods of negative feedback in a person's life. This results in deep wounds and emotional pain. 

Relationship Problems:  

We feel more isolated today than ever before. 
50% of marriages end in divorce. Communication problems, anger, dependency, jealousy, painful pasts, adultery, and uncertainty about a relationship's future are just a few of the things that can cause serious relationship problems.
Also, today (more than ever) persons are finding that they feel completely alone, even in a large city, such as Boston, MA. 
The problem of isolation gets even worse when we work long hours, have moved several times, or when our social support system has left us.

Do these problems sound familiar to you?  It is no secret that today, people are hurting. We live in the most affluent times in history of the world, but affluent times does not make our problems go away (and many of us still struggle to make ends meet). 

It is often said that we are the unhappiest generation who has ever lived. That is a tragedy--too many lives are wasted by the problems of depression, anxiety, self-image, and by broken relationships.
The real tragedy is that many people suffer for years without getting help, when change is right there at their fingertips. 

They just don't know how to reach out and take it.

Has this been you?

"I Want to Overcome my Depression"

Thrive Boston Counselors, every year, help hundreds of individuals, couples, and families from Cambridge and Boston (We also help clients from around the country who seek out our expertise by telephone or online counseling). 
We serve clients who work at Harvard University, MIT, Boston University, Tufts, Mclean Hospital, Brigham and Women's--many of our clients are some of the top thinkers in the country who trust and rely on the care provided by Thrive Boston Counselors. 

At Thrive, we are focused on you, the client. Simply put, from the first time you make a phone call to our office (617-395-5806), to the first time you arrive in our offices you are always respected and treated with sensitive, professional care. 

I (or another Thrive Boston Psychotherapist) will treat you with the respect and care you deserve. At Thrive, you are a person, not a disorder. Not a combination of symptoms--which is often the status quo with counseling practices these days. --A disorder does not explain or summarize you, or your life experience. 

We help our clients live better, more engaging, more successful lives (many of our clients are high-achieving, widely respected professionals).

The Thrive Boston Counseling philosophy guides everything we do.

"Your First Counseling Appointment is This Week"

(No Waiting Lists)

We want to find you the care you need.

You've made it this far, let us walk with you from this point...this point right here...until you are where you want to be. Until you have reached your personal goals for both wellness and success.

The Boston Therapists at Thrive do something no other counselors, psychotherapists, psychologists, social workers, or anyone else in the Boston / Cambridge mental health counseling field does.

Call Thrive Boston Counseling today to schedule your first session, and we will schedule your first therapy appointment with an excellent therapist this week! Sometimes we can even manage to get new clients an appointment the SAME DAY that they call.

We can only offer it because Thrive Boston Counselors believe helping you get started in your life changing counseling therapy process is so important, that we're willing to open our schedules in a way that we can offer this. 

The way we see it is this: You worked up the motivation and courage to begin counseling, the least we can do is help you receive your first counseling session right away.

In case you missed it, our number is 617-395-5806. 

We know this is just the beginning of your healing and life-changing counseling experience.

We really do want you to find the help, care, information, education, or motivation you are looking for. Let's begin right now.
Warmly,

Dr. Anthony Centore

and the Thrive Boston Counseling Team

P.S. 

In case you missed our offer, the offer that no other Boston counseling practice can give you--I will write it one more time here. 

Call Thrive Boston Counseling and speak with a master level counseling professional, who will answer your questions and will help you schedule an appointment with an excellent Thrive Boston Counselor for this week. No more waiting lists, no more waiting to get help. 

You are on this page for a reason. If you are here to experience a better life, or if you just have more questions, let's talk. Help and healing starts now. Call 617-395-5806.