Therapy for Depression

If you’ve seen the movie “Inside Out” then you know that sadness is an integral part of our emotional spectrum; we can’t feel great without sometimes feeling crummy. Depression is evolutionarily adaptive, because it mobilizes our support system to comfort and lift us up. But this is where things can get complicated.

When you’re depressed, well-meaning loved ones often respond by encouraging you to “think positive,” “get out more,” or “just try to feel better.” Even when those suggestions come from a place of love, they can feel frustrating, invalidating, or overwhelming. Instead of helping, this pressure can sometimes make you feel more stuck—like digging your heels in even deeper.

Therapy offers something different.

Working with a professional creates a space where you don’t have to rush your healing or perform “getting better” for anyone else. Instead, therapy helps you understand what your depression is communicating, gently untangle the patterns that keep you stuck, and reconnect with motivation and meaning at a pace that feels right for you.

Rather than pushing you to change, therapy supports you in finding your own way forward—so that change can happen naturally, sustainably, and on your own terms.

Together we’ll examine past and present experiences and figure out what’s contributing to your current problem. With greater self-awareness comes greater flexibility to deal with and solve problems. I also like to use CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) strategies to teach skills for better conversations with yourself, and better coping with life’s ups and downs. If that sounds good to you, let’s talk!