Depression

Feeling sad from time to time is a part of life and an emotion we have all experienced during our lives. Clinical depression is different though and can affect your ability to function in daily life. Depression is one of the most diagnosed mental health conditions in the world. According to the World Health Organization (2020) more than 264 million people suffer from this condition worldwide and it’s the leading cause of disability. The good news is depression is highly treatable. Therapy, medications, and sometimes a hybrid of both, are standard of practice for treating this condition.

Here are common symptoms associated with depression:

• Depressed or sad mood
• Diminished interest or pleasure in activities
• Changes in weight
• Changes in sleep (not able to sleep or sleeping too much)
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Trouble with concentration or attention
• Suicidal thoughts

At Associates In Psychotherapy, we understand that depression is painful, isolating, and can have devastating implications for your life. We also know that everyone’s story is unique and there are many variables that lead to one’s depression. It is our goal to understand your specific situation and history so we can tailor our approach to treatment. Our empathic therapists use researched based interventions to help each client better understand their depression, learn new skills to reduce symptoms, and to establish or regain a better quality of life.  

How therapy can help:

Our therapists use different approaches to help our clients address their symptoms of depression.  Here are a few that we commonly use when working with clients suffering from depression.   Our team utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which can help you identify certain thought patterns that may be learned over time and contributing to your depression.  Therapy can also help you better understand how these thought patterns negatively impact your mood and behaviors.  Our therapists are also trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), a treatment approach that can help you learn skills to regulate and manage your mood and symptoms, improve your interpersonal relationships, and incorporate mindfulness practices into your life.  Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) is also helpful for clients when dealing with depressive symptoms.  ACT is an action oriented therapy that helps clients to stop avoiding and denying certain emotional states and instead, accept these feelings and learn to make necessary modifications for positive change.   At Associates in Psychotherapy, we also use psychodynamic treatment which can help our clients take a deeper dive into their past so they can increase awareness into how their past may inform or affect their present day life.  Our life experiences shape and influence so many aspects of our lives, sometimes without our awareness, and when we become more insightful about how our individual experiences impact us, we can modify any unproductive or problematic patterns.

There is HOPE for recovery from depression and you do not need go through this journey alone. Therapy can help! We are here to help you navigate through this process so you can regain the joy and fulfillment in your life while also growing in ways that you may not have imagined.

Blog Posts about Depression

Depression Resources