Depression Therapy
Has Life Become Dull Or Joyless?
Do you or your child feel sad, lonely, and hopeless most of the time?
Is a recent change in circumstances causing you to feel pessimistic about the future?
Have you lost the motivation to engage in your work, school, relationships, or hobbies?
You may have found yourself wondering, “Do I have depression?” Lacking the energy to complete daily tasks or even get out of bed in the morning, it seems like life is passing you by. And even though you want to enjoy your experiences, it may feel as though you’re treading water just to get through the day.
Regardless of age, depression can seep in and affect every aspect of existence. You may have noticed chronic fatigue and pain becoming more of a presence in your life, or perhaps your sadness has impacted your relationships. If you’re the parent of a child or teen who has exhibited symptoms of depression, you may have noticed your otherwise happy child become withdrawn and uninterested in their daily activities.
When it’s impossible to be present, it quickly creates tension with those around you. Your partner, friends, or family members may have commented on your lack of participation in your relationships. And though your relationships matter to you, you may find it increasingly hard to concentrate and focus on just about anything—perhaps turning to substance use, constant scrolling, or other activities to distract you from your depression.
Depression Can Cause You To Turn Inward And Self-Critical
Even if you feel functional and able to put on a smile around others, you may battle with a negative inner critic that’s telling you you’re doing it all wrong. And it’s possible your depression pairs with debilitating anxiety that causes you to fixate on past failures or dread the future. If the psychological pain and stress have become so unbearable that you’ve considered suicide or self-harm, it’s essential that you seek help for depression.
Despite how you may feel right now, it’s important to remember that depression can be managed with treatment. In the safe, supportive space of therapy, you can learn how to challenge what your depression has been telling you and start feeling relief from the pain it has inflicted.
Depression Is Very Common And Highly Treatable
Many individuals across the globe—regardless of age, gender, cultural, and socioeconomic background—experience depression. In fact, depression and anxiety are considered the most common forms of mental illness worldwide. And though these conditions can often be draining, they can be helped with therapy.
Why Does Depression Occur?
There is a combination of factors that can lead to an onset of depression. Genetics and chemical imbalance might account for some instances of clinical depression, and some medications may cause symptoms of depression as a side effect. However, depression is often situational, resulting from a painful experience that is difficult to process.
If we’ve recently suffered a major loss—including that of a job, home, or loved one—then we’re more likely to develop feelings of intense sadness. Not to mention, when depression co-occurs with pre-existing issues, including anxiety and substance abuse, it can worsen our mental health on the whole.
Unfortunately, because depression is so effective in skewing our worldview and self-perception, we can form the inaccurate belief that we are alone in our feelings or that our symptoms can’t be improved with treatment. Many of us are conditioned to believe that seeking help through therapy indicates weakness or inability, but we don’t realize that’s just the depression furthering our sense of isolation.
Counseling is a meaningful, effective way to target depression. By working with a therapist who will meet you where you are with empathy—while gently challenging the negative beliefs you’ve formed about yourself—you can make great strides in your healing journey.
Therapy Is A Tailored And Effective Way To Combat Depression
When certain symptoms make life so difficult that you can’t imagine tackling the day with confidence, it’s easy to feel like depression has won. But in therapy, you have a chance to lift some of the burden brought on by sadness and despair, working with a professional who can help you make small steps towards big changes.
Our therapists are trained and empathetic clinicians who tailor the therapeutic process to each client. With our collaborative approach to depression treatment, we will honor your strengths and experiences while giving you lifelong coping skills to help you manage depression.
Once you’ve completed paperwork through our secure client portal, you will be matched with a therapist who will schedule your first introductory therapy session to begin the essential work of relationship building. By developing a trusted, honest relationship with your counselor, you can start to sort through the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that have been distorted by depression.
Our Approach
We are trained in a variety of counseling methods and are invested in providing quick, effective relief to clients struggling with depression. In therapy at The Next Step, your counselor is likely to draw from some of the following models:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – otherwise known as one of the most effective treatment approaches for depression, CBT challenges distorted thoughts so that you can have more perspective on how those thoughts affect your daily experience
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – like CBT, DBT works with behaviors but specifically centers around distress tolerance and emotion regulation; this is a skills-based model that is particularly effective for major depressive disorder
Psychoanalysis – uses your background and history to understand how certain beliefs and values developed
Play and creative therapies – primarily used for child and teen counseling and can be helpful for children exploring their thoughts, feelings, and emotions to reduce symptoms of depression
These and other therapies can be greatly beneficial in treating depression. However, we know that the most effective support comes from the therapeutic relationship itself. Our therapists will work with you to carry some of the burden of depression so that you can gradually make progress and escape the psychological pain that’s been holding you back.
Life can be challenging and feel hopeless sometimes, but this doesn’t have to be your permanent experience of the world. Depression is highly treatable and can be managed in therapy. At The Next Step, we are here to walk the healing journey with you, making both small and big strides on the path toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
Maybe You’re Curious About Depression Treatment But Not Sure If It’s Right For You…
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There are some very effective medications that can help alleviate depression symptoms, and we can discuss if incorporating antidepressants into treatment is a good option for you. However, the most effective and lasting way to target depression is with therapy. While medications mask certain symptoms and work only for as long as you take them, counseling provides you with concrete skills and techniques that can be highly beneficial in overcoming your depression for good.
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In an effort to make our counseling services affordable and accessible, we’re pleased to offer in-network coverage with a variety of insurance providers. If you’re covered by Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, or Cigna/Evernorth, you are eligible for treatment at a reduced cost. And even if your insurance provider is not listed here, we are happy to work with you on options for reimbursement.
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Counseling is not meant to be a time to drain you of your energy and resources—it’s intended as an opportunity to get those resources back. By working with a professional who can guide you in actionable steps and coping techniques for managing depression, you can develop a toolbox to use for life, long after therapy is over.
You Can Experience Hope, Pleasure, And Fulfillment Again
If you or your child experiences hopelessness, despair, and a lack of pleasure in life, depression treatment is a meaningful way to address your symptoms. For more information or to schedule a free, 15-minute consultation, fill out our contact form or call (480) 702 – 1605.
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