Depression Therapy: Find Relief, Rediscover Hope & Reclaim Your Life

Therapist sitting with client. Therapist is holding a pen while client is clutching a tissue.

If you’re struggling with depression, you’re not alone, and help is available. Whether you’re experiencing major depressive disorder, persistent low mood, or depression without knowing why, professional therapy can make a profound difference. Depression is a medical condition that responds to treatment. You deserve support on your journey toward feeling like yourself again.

Schedule a Free Consultation

When Everything Feels Heavy: Recognizing the Symptoms of Depression and Major Depressive Disorder

Depression is common, affecting millions of people. Recognizing depression symptoms is the first step toward getting treatment and feeling better.

Common Signs You Might Be Suffering from Depression

Persistent Sadness and Loss of Interest

One of the hallmark symptoms of depression is persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness that lasts for weeks or months. You might feel like a heavy cloud follows you everywhere. Along with sadness, many people with depression lose interest in activities they once enjoyed. Hobbies feel pointless, social activities feel exhausting, and nothing brings pleasure anymore. This symptom, called anhedonia, can make life feel colorless and meaningless. You might go through the motions without experiencing joy. This isn’t laziness or weakness; it’s how depression affects your brain’s reward system. Depression is a mood disorder that alters brain chemistry, making it difficult to experience positive emotions. Therapy for depression helps address these core symptoms by working with both your thoughts and brain chemistry through evidence-based approaches.

Fatigue and Low Energy

Depression often brings overwhelming fatigue that rest doesn’t relieve. Simple tasks like showering or making breakfast feel exhausting. You might sleep more than usual but still wake up tired. Or you might struggle with insomnia, lying awake with racing thoughts. This fatigue isn’t just physical; it’s mental and emotional exhaustion too. Your motivation disappears, making it hard to accomplish even basic daily activities. Many people with depression describe feeling like they’re moving through mud. This energy depletion can affect work performance, relationships, and self-care. It’s important to understand that this fatigue is a symptom of your depression, not a character flaw. Treatment for depression addresses energy levels through various approaches, helping restore your vitality.

Changes in Sleep and Appetite

Depression can vary in how it affects sleep and appetite from person to person. Some people with depression sleep excessively, finding it hard to get out of bed and using sleep to escape painful feelings. Others experience insomnia, lying awake ruminating or waking early unable to return to sleep. Similarly, appetite changes differ. You might lose interest in food entirely, forgetting to eat or finding food tasteless. Or you might overeat, particularly comfort foods, as a way to cope with emotional pain. These changes often lead to significant weight loss or gain. Sleep and appetite disruptions worsen other depression symptoms, creating a cycle where poor sleep increases fatigue and mood problems, which further disrupts sleep. Addressing these biological symptoms is an important part of depression treatment.

Difficulty Concentrating and Making Decisions

Depression affects cognitive function significantly. You might find it hard to concentrate on work, conversations, or reading. Your mind wanders or goes blank. Making even small decisions feels overwhelming. You might spend excessive time deliberating over choices that previously felt simple. Memory problems are common too; you forget appointments, conversations, or tasks. This cognitive fog frustrates people with depression, especially when they’re accustomed to sharp mental function. You might feel less competent at work or school, which damages self-esteem further. These aren’t signs of permanent cognitive decline; they’re symptoms that improve with treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy specifically addresses the thought patterns and mental processes affected by depression, helping restore clarity and decision-making ability.

Feelings of Worthlessness and Excessive Guilt

Many people with depression struggle with intense feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt about past events. You might harshly criticize yourself for minor mistakes or perceived failures. Negative thoughts dominate your thinking: “I’m a burden,” “I’m not good enough,” “Everything is my fault.” These thoughts feel absolutely true even when evidence contradicts them. You might ruminate on past errors, convinced they define you. This harsh self-judgment extends to how you interpret neutral situations. If a friend doesn’t respond to a text, you assume they hate you rather than considering they might be busy. These distorted thinking patterns are characteristic of depression. The good news is that therapy, particularly cognitive approaches, helps you identify and challenge these negative thoughts, developing more balanced, realistic perspectives on yourself and your experiences.

Physical Symptoms and Unexplained Pain

Depression isn’t just emotional; it manifests physically too. You might experience headaches, stomachaches, muscle tension, or other pain without clear medical cause. These physical symptoms are real, not imagined. Depression can also slow physical movements and speech, a symptom called psychomotor retardation. Or conversely, you might feel agitated and restless, unable to sit still. Digestive problems, weakened immune function, and chronic pain conditions often accompany depression. Some people seek medical treatment for physical complaints without realizing depression is the underlying cause. It’s important to address both the physical and emotional aspects of depression in treatment. A comprehensive approach recognizes that depression is a medical condition affecting your entire body, not just your mood.

Less Obvious Signs That You May Need Help with Depression

Irritability and Anger in Depression

Many people with depression experience irritability and anger rather than just sadness. You might feel constantly annoyed by small things, snap at loved ones over minor issues, or have a short fuse that wasn’t there before. This is particularly common in men and adolescents experiencing depression, though women experience it too. You might feel rage bubbling under the surface or explosive anger that seems disproportionate to the situation. Depression-related irritability strains relationships as others don’t understand why you’re so hostile. You might feel guilty after angry outbursts, which worsens depression. Recognizing that irritability can be a depression symptom rather than a personality flaw is important. Therapy addresses this by exploring what’s underneath the anger, teaching emotional regulation strategies, and helping you communicate feelings more effectively before they build to explosive levels.

Perfectionism and Self-Criticism

Depression often involves harsh, relentless self-criticism. You hold yourself to impossible standards and brutally judge any perceived failure. Perfectionism fuels depression by ensuring you constantly feel inadequate no matter what you accomplish. You might ruminate for hours over small mistakes, dismiss your successes as meaningless, or avoid trying new things for fear of not being perfect. This creates a cycle where perfectionism leads to depression, and depression reinforces negative self-evaluation. Many people developed perfectionism as a coping mechanism earlier in life, perhaps to feel worthy of love or avoid criticism. Now it maintains your depression by preventing self-compassion. Cognitive behavioral therapy specifically targets perfectionism by helping you develop more realistic standards, practice self-compassion, and recognize that your worth isn’t determined by achievement. Learning to be “good enough” rather than perfect is often a major therapeutic breakthrough.

Rumination and Negative Thought Loops

Rumination involves repetitively thinking about the same negative thoughts without resolution. You might replay past mistakes endlessly, worry about worst-case scenarios, or analyze every interaction for evidence that others dislike you. These thought loops feel impossible to escape. You lie awake at 3am ruminating, or find yourself unable to focus because your mind keeps returning to the same negative thoughts. Rumination maintains depression by keeping you focused on problems without working toward solutions. It feels productive, like you’re “working through” issues, but actually you’re reinforcing negative neural pathways. The course of treatment often includes specific strategies for interrupting rumination. Mindfulness teaches you to notice when you’re ruminating and redirect attention to the present. Cognitive therapy helps you challenge ruminative thoughts and move toward problem-solving.

Masking and High-Functioning Depression

Not everyone with depression appears depressed. “High-functioning” depression describes people who maintain work performance, social obligations, and outward functionality while suffering internally. You might be the person everyone sees as successful and put-together while privately struggling with significant depressive symptoms. This pattern is exhausting, requiring enormous energy to maintain the facade. Others don’t take your pain seriously because you “seem fine,” leaving you feeling isolated. You might delay seeking help because you don’t think you’re “depressed enough” to deserve it or believe you should be able to manage alone. Understanding that depression severity isn’t measured by external functioning is important. You can be objectively successful while subjectively suffering. Masking takes tremendous effort and prevents you from getting the support you need. Therapy provides space to drop the mask and address real struggles beneath the surface.

Remember: Depression is not a character flaw, and seeking help is an act of courage.

Depression is one of the most common and treatable mental health conditions. You didn’t choose to feel this way, and you don’t have to face it alone. Treatment works, recovery is possible, and you deserve to feel better. Taking the first step toward therapy is a sign of strength and self-care.

70-80% Success Rate

Most people with depression experience significant improvement with proper treatment combining therapy and, when needed, medication

You’re Not Alone

1 in 6 adults will experience depression at some point. It’s one of the most common mental health challenges, and seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

6-12 Weeks

Many people begin noticing improvements in mood and energy within the first few months of consistent treatment

What’s Really Happening:
Understanding Major Depressive Disorder as More Than Just Sadness

Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest, and various physical and emotional symptoms that interfere with daily functioning. Major depressive disorder is the clinical term for what many call clinical depression. To receive a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, you must experience at least five depression symptoms nearly every day for at least two weeks, and these must include either persistent sadness or loss of interest in activities.

Depression in adults is incredibly common, affecting approximately 1 in 6 people at some point in their lives. Understanding that depression is a medical condition, not a personal failing, helps reduce stigma and encourages people to get treatment.

There are various types of depression beyond major depression. Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) involves chronic depression lasting two years or more. Seasonal affective disorder brings depression during specific seasons, usually winter. Postpartum depression affects some women after childbirth. Bipolar disorder includes depressive episodes alternating with manic episodes.

Each type of depression may require different treatment approaches. Mild depression involves fewer and less severe symptoms but still impacts functioning. Moderate depression significantly interferes with daily life. Severe depression involves intense symptoms that make basic functioning extremely difficult. People with severe depression may require intensive treatment including hospitalization. Understanding which form of depression you have helps guide appropriate treatment.

How Depression Affects the Brain

Depression involves measurable changes in brain structure and function. Areas regulating mood, motivation, and pleasure show altered activity. Neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine become imbalanced. The stress response system becomes dysregulated. These biological changes explain why you can’t simply “think positive” your way out of depression.

However, both psychotherapy and antidepressant medications can create positive changes in brain chemistry and function. This is why treatment usually involves addressing both biological and psychological aspects of depression. Understanding the neuroscience of depression helps reduce self-blame and validates that what you’re experiencing is a real medical condition.

Depression and Other Conditions

Depression often co-occurs with other mental health conditions. Many people with depression also experience anxiety or depression alongside each other. Substance use disorders frequently develop as people attempt to self-medicate depression symptoms.

Some medical conditions increase the risk of depression, including diabetes, heart disease, and chronic pain conditions. Treating co-occurring conditions is important for comprehensive care.

Sometimes addressing the depression improves other symptoms; sometimes each condition requires specific attention. A thorough diagnosis and treatment plan considers your complete health picture.

When to Seek Help for Depression

You don’t need to wait until depression becomes severe to seek help. If you’ve felt persistently sad or lost interest in activities for more than two weeks, or if depression symptoms interfere with your work, relationships, or daily functioning, it’s time to find a treatment that works for you. Many people wait months or years before seeking help, suffering unnecessarily.

Early intervention often leads to faster recovery and can prevent depression from becoming more entrenched. If you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors, seek help immediately. Depression may feel overwhelming right now, but with proper support, you can feel better.

Multiple factors can contribute to the development of depression. Brain chemistry plays a role; neurotransmitter imbalances affect mood regulation. Genetics matter; having family members with depression increases your risk. Life circumstances including trauma, loss, chronic stress, or major life changes can trigger episodes of depression. Medical conditions like thyroid disorders or chronic pain can cause depression as a side effect.

Some medications also list depression as a side effect. Often, depression results from a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors rather than a single cause. Understanding what’s contributing to your depression helps tailor treatment. The good news is that regardless of the cause, depression treatment works. You don’t need to identify every factor causing your depression to benefit from therapy and improve.

Understand Your Depression

Learn what’s really happening with your mood and why you feel this way. Therapy helps you recognize depression patterns, identify triggers, and understand how this condition affects your thoughts and daily life.

Process What You’re Carrying

Create space to explore painful experiences, losses, or transitions contributing to your depression. Therapy provides a safe place to express suppressed feelings and work through deeper issues beneath your symptoms.

How Depression Therapy Can Help You Feel Like Yourself Again

Depression therapy provides practical tools to break free from persistent sadness, hopelessness, and exhaustion. Through evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy, you’ll challenge negative thoughts, gradually re-engage with meaningful activities, and develop healthier patterns. Therapy addresses root causes while building skills for long-term wellness, helping you rediscover hope and reclaim joy.

Build Coping Skills

Develop practical strategies to manage low mood, challenge negative thinking, and function even on difficult days. Learn techniques to break the cycle of depression and rebuild motivation one step at a time.

Prevent Future Episodes

Learn your early warning signs and create a plan for maintaining wellness after you feel better. Therapy equips you with skills to recognize when depression might return and intervene early, reducing future episodes.

How Therapy Helps People with Depression Finally Feel Better

Evidence-based therapy provides powerful tools for treating depression, helping you feel better and preventing future episodes.

Rediscover Joy and Feel Like Yourself Again

As depression lifts, you reconnect with pleasure, interest, and enthusiasm you thought were gone forever. Activities feel meaningful again. Food actually tastes good. Music moves you emotionally. Laughter comes naturally instead of feeling forced. You start looking forward to things rather than dreading everything.

Small moments bring genuine happiness instead of emptiness. You remember who you are beneath the heaviness and begin recognizing yourself in the mirror again. This isn’t just about “feeling better” or having fewer symptoms; it’s about reclaiming the vibrancy, curiosity, and aliveness that depression stole from you.

You rediscover that life can actually feel good, not just tolerable. Colors seem brighter. Experiences feel richer. You realize you’ve been living in black and white and are finally seeing in color again.

Break Free from the Prison of Negative Thinking

Depression traps you in relentless negative thoughts about yourself, your life, and your future. Your mind becomes your worst enemy, constantly telling you you’re worthless, that nothing will improve, that you’re a burden to everyone.

Therapy helps you escape this mental prison by teaching you to recognize when depression is distorting your thinking. You develop the ability to pause, examine your thoughts objectively, and ask yourself if they’re actually true or just depression talking. This mental freedom dramatically reduces your daily suffering and helps you make clearer decisions based on reality rather than the lies depression tells.

You stop automatically believing every negative thought that crosses your mind. You learn to separate your depressed thoughts from your actual self. Over time, the volume of that critical inner voice gets quieter, and you can finally hear your own authentic voice beneath it. This cognitive shift creates space for self-compassion, hope, and seeing possibilities you couldn’t see before.

Rebuild Energy, Motivation, and Daily Functioning

Depression’s exhaustion makes everything feel impossible, from showering to going to work to maintaining relationships. Even small tasks feel like climbing mountains. As treatment works, you gradually regain energy to handle basic self-care, then build momentum toward bigger goals and activities.

Getting out of bed in the morning becomes easier instead of requiring heroic effort. Work feels manageable rather than overwhelming. You can make plans for next week, next month, even next year instead of just surviving day to day. Household tasks that piled up for weeks suddenly feel doable. You have bandwidth for hobbies, socializing, and taking care of yourself properly.

This restoration of functioning isn’t just about checking boxes on a to-do list or appearing productive to others. It’s about feeling genuinely capable and confident in your ability to navigate daily life and handle whatever comes your way. You stop feeling like a burden or failure and start experiencing yourself as someone who can manage challenges, make progress, and build the life you want.

Strengthen Relationships and End Isolation

Depression pushes people away, creating loneliness that worsens your symptoms in a vicious cycle. You withdraw because you feel like a burden, then feel worse because you’re isolated. You can’t show up for others or let them show up for you. Recovery helps you rebuild connections with people who matter to you.

You start communicating your needs instead of suffering silently or lashing out. You show up for friends and family again instead of canceling constantly. Relationships improve dramatically as you’re more emotionally present and engaged rather than going through the motions. You stop isolating in your room or home and start reaching out when you’re struggling. You learn that sharing your pain actually strengthens bonds rather than driving people away like depression told you it would.

This renewed connection provides support and meaning that protects against future depression while enriching your life with love, belonging, and community. You remember that you’re not meant to face everything alone and that accepting help is strength, not weakness. Your relationships become sources of joy again instead of just obligations or reminders of how you’re failing everyone.

Finding What Works for You: Our Approach to Depression Treatment and Personalized Treatment Options

At Relationship Counseling Center of California, we provide comprehensive, personalized depression treatment tailored to your unique needs and circumstances.

Thorough Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

Your treatment begins with comprehensive assessment to understand your depression symptoms, severity, duration, and impact on your life. We’ll explore what might be contributing to your depression, including life stressors, medical factors, and family history.

We’ll also assess for co-occurring conditions. This thorough evaluation leads to accurate diagnosis of depression and informs your treatment plan. We’ll discuss various treatment options available, including different types of psychotherapy, whether medication evaluation might be helpful, and lifestyle changes that support recovery.

Together we’ll create a personalized plan addressing your specific needs and goals.

Evidence-Based Therapy Approaches

We use therapy approaches with strong research support for treating depression. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy for addressing thought patterns, behavioral activation for increasing meaningful activity, interpersonal therapy for relationship issues, and other evidence-based approaches as appropriate.

We’ll match the type of therapy to your needs. Someone with mild depression might benefit from short-term CBT, while someone with chronic depression complicated by relationship problems might need longer-term interpersonal therapy.

The therapy can help you develop skills for managing current symptoms while also addressing underlying patterns that may have contributed to your depression.

Medication Consultation When Needed

For moderate or severe depression, research shows that combining therapy with antidepressant medication often works better than either alone.

While we don’t prescribe medication, we can help you understand different treatment options and connect you with a psychiatrist for medication evaluation if appropriate.

Many types of antidepressants are available, and finding the right one may take some trial. We’ll support you through this process and coordinate with your prescriber. For people with mild depression, therapy alone may be sufficient. We’ll have an honest conversation about whether you might benefit from considering antidepressants as part of your treatment plan.

Addressing Immediate Safety Concerns

If you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts or severe depression that puts you at risk, ensuring your safety is the first priority.

We’ll conduct safety planning, which might include identifying warning signs, developing coping strategies, removing access to lethal means, and creating a support network you can reach out to in crisis.

For some people, initial treatment might involve more intensive care like partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient programs before transitioning to regular outpatient therapy. We’ll work with you and, if appropriate, your support system to ensure you have the level of care you need.

Monitoring Progress and Adjusting Treatment

Depression treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all, and what works varies from person to person. We’ll regularly assess whether treatment is working by tracking your symptoms, functioning, and overall wellbeing.

If you’re not improving after a reasonable time, we’ll adjust our approach. This might mean trying a different form of therapy, increasing session frequency, or recommending additional interventions.

We’ll be honest with you about your progress and work collaboratively to find what helps. The goal is finding the current treatment approach that works best for you, not forcing you into a predetermined protocol.

Preventing Future Episodes

Once your depression symptoms improve, we focus on maintaining gains and preventing relapse. Many people with depression experience multiple depressive episodes throughout their lives.

However, therapy teaches skills that reduce recurrence risk. You’ll learn to recognize early warning signs, implement coping strategies quickly, maintain lifestyle habits that protect your mental health, and know when to seek help early. Some people continue occasional maintenance therapy sessions even after feeling better.

Education about depression helps you understand your condition and take active role in managing it long-term. Our goal isn’t just helping you feel better now but supporting your long-term wellness.

Who Benefits from Depression Therapy: A Wide Range of Situations

Depression therapy helps people from all backgrounds and circumstances who want to lift the weight of depression and reconnect with meaning, energy, and hope.

Persistent sadness or emptiness

Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed

Chronic fatigue and low energy

Difficulty getting out of bed or starting tasks

Feelings of worthlessness or guilt

Hopelessness about the future

Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

Social withdrawal and isolation

Sleep problems (too much or too little)

Changes in appetite or weight

Physical symptoms without medical cause

Irritability or anger covering sadness

Functioning but feeling empty inside

Struggling to manage work, school, or relationships

Not sure if this is right for you?

That’s completely normal.

Schedule a

free consultation

to talk through your specific situation with one of our therapists.

Is Depression Therapy Right for You?

YIf you’re reading this page, you’re probably wondering if what you’re experiencing counts as depression or if it’s serious enough for professional help. Depression often convinces you that nothing will help, that you should be able to handle this on your own, or that you’re just lazy or weak.

These thoughts are symptoms of depression itself, not accurate reflections of reality. If you’re struggling to function, feel persistently sad or empty, or have lost interest in things that used to matter, you deserve support regardless of whether you meet formal diagnostic criteria.

Depression therapy works for people at all levels of severity. Whether you’re barely getting out of bed or functioning but feeling empty inside, whether you’ve been depressed for years or weeks, treatment can help. Therapy provides tools for challenging negative thinking, rebuilding motivation and energy, and reconnecting with meaning and hope. Early intervention often prevents depression from becoming more severe and entrenched.

Many people benefit from therapy even if they don’t have clinical depression but are struggling with persistent low mood or life circumstances that feel overwhelming.
The best way to find out if depression therapy is right for you is to schedule a consultation. We’ll discuss what you’re experiencing, assess whether your symptoms suggest depression or another issue, and talk about how therapy could help. There’s no pressure or judgment, just an honest conversation about what support might look like for your situation.

Talk to a Therapist

What to Expect: The Course of Treatment for Depression

Understanding the therapy process can help you know what to expect as you begin treatment.

Step 1: Free Consultation (10 minutes)

Your journey begins with a free phone consultation where we discuss what brings you to therapy. You can describe your depression symptoms, how long you’ve been struggling, and what you hope to achieve. We’ll explain our approach to treatment of depression in adults and answer any questions. This conversation helps us both determine if we’re a good fit. There’s no pressure to commit; this is simply an opportunity for you to learn more and see if our approach feels right for you.

Step 2: Comprehensive Assessment

Initial therapy sessions focus on thorough assessment. We’ll explore your depressive symptoms in detail, when they started, how they affect your daily life, previous episodes of depression if any, family mental health history, current life stressors, and your strengths and support system. This helps us understand your specific experience and needs. We’ll arrive at a diagnosis and together create a treatment plan outlining goals and approaches. This collaborative planning ensures we’re working toward outcomes that matter to you.

Step 3: Active Treatment Phase

Therapy sessions typically occur weekly initially. The specific work depends on your treatment plan but might include learning cognitive skills to challenge negative thoughts, increasing behavioral activation and meaningful activities, processing experiences or relationships contributing to depression, developing coping strategies for difficult emotions, or addressing co-occurring issues. You’ll likely have homework between sessions to practice skills. This active phase continues until you experience significant symptom relief and improved functioning. Treatment usually lasts several months for an acute depressive episode.

Step 4: Consolidation and Skill Building

As depression symptoms improve, we shift focus toward consolidating gains and building long-term skills. You’ll practice applying techniques independently, identify and plan for potential triggers or warning signs, develop strategies for maintaining wellness, and prepare for therapy completion. Sessions may become less frequent during this phase. The goal is ensuring you feel confident managing independently while knowing you can return if needed. We’ll review your progress and celebrate how far you’ve come.

Step 5: Maintenance and Relapse Prevention

After completing active treatment, some people transition to occasional maintenance sessions, perhaps monthly or quarterly. These check-ins help you stay on track and address emerging concerns before they become major problems. Others complete therapy entirely but know they can return if depression symptoms return. We’ll discuss what makes sense for you. You’ll leave with a clear relapse prevention plan, understanding of your depression, confidence in your coping skills, and knowledge of when to seek help again.

Timeline and Duration:
How Long Does Depression Treatment Take?

The treatment of depression varies in length depending on severity, chronicity, your response to treatment, and your goals. Research on cognitive behavioral therapy for depression shows that most people benefit from 12-20 sessions for an acute depressive episode. People with mild depression sometimes improve in fewer sessions, while those with chronic or severe depression may need longer treatment.

The important thing is that depression usually responds to treatment, and most people experience significant improvement. Progress isn’t always linear; you may have setbacks along the way. What matters is the overall trajectory toward feeling better. We’ll regularly assess your progress and adjust our approach to help you improve the symptoms of depression and get back to living your life fully.

Therapists Who Specialize in Depression Therapy

Common Questions About Treatment for Depression

How do I know if I have depression or just normal sadness?

Everyone feels sad sometimes, but depression is different from normal sadness in several ways. Normal sadness is usually linked to a specific event and fades relatively quickly. With depression, the sadness persists for weeks or months regardless of circumstances. Depression also involves multiple symptoms beyond sadness, like loss of interest in activities, changes in sleep and appetite, difficulty concentrating, and feelings of worthlessness. If your low mood has lasted more than two weeks and interferes with work, relationships, or daily functioning, you may be experiencing depression rather than temporary sadness. A mental health professional can provide a proper diagnosis of major depressive disorder or other conditions.

Should I try therapy or take antidepressants for depression?

This is a personal decision best made with professional guidance. Research shows that for mild to moderate depression, therapy and antidepressants have similar effectiveness, and many people choose to start with therapy. For moderate or severe depression, combining therapy with medication often works better than either alone. If you take antidepressants, therapy can help you develop long-term coping skills that medication alone won’t provide. Some people prefer to avoid medication if possible and try therapy first. Others find relief from antidepressants that helps them engage more effectively in therapy. We can discuss the various treatment options and help you make an informed choice about what feels right for you.

How long will it take to feel better?

The timeline varies from person to person based on depression severity, how long you’ve been depressed, your response to treatment, and other factors. Some people with mild depression notice improvement within a few weeks of starting therapy. Those with moderate depression typically see significant progress within 2-3 months. Severe or chronic depression may require longer treatment, sometimes 6 months to a year or more. That said, most people notice at least some improvement relatively quickly, even if full recovery takes longer. Treatment usually includes both symptom reduction and skill building. Be patient with yourself; depression didn’t develop overnight and won’t disappear overnight, but with consistent effort, you will feel better.

What if I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t help?

There are several reasons previous therapy might not have worked. Perhaps you didn’t have a good connection with that therapist. Maybe the approach wasn’t a good fit for your type of depression. The timing might not have been right, or external factors interfered with progress. Or you might not have continued long enough to see results. The fact that one treatment approach didn’t work doesn’t mean you have treatment-resistant depression or that nothing will help. There are many types of psychotherapy and various treatment approaches to try. Finding the right therapist and the right type of therapy can make all the difference. We encourage you to give therapy another chance, especially if you haven’t tried cognitive behavioral therapy or other evidence-based approaches specifically designed for depression.

Can I stop taking antidepressants if I start therapy?

Never stop taking antidepressants without consulting your prescribing doctor or psychiatrist. Stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms and increase risk of depression returning. That said, many people successfully taper off medication once they’ve learned skills in therapy and maintained stable mood for a period of time. The decision about medication should be made collaboratively with your prescriber based on factors like how long you’ve been on medication, your depression history, current stability, and your preferences. If reducing or stopping medication is a goal, we’ll work with your prescriber to develop a safe plan. Some people continue medication long-term while using therapy to enhance their quality of life; others successfully transition to therapy alone.

What if my depression doesn’t improve with treatment?

While most people respond well to initial treatment, some experience treatment-resistant depression. If standard treatments don’t help, there are additional options. These might include trying different types of antidepressants or combinations, adding additional medications, more intensive therapy approaches, considering options like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for severe cases, or addressing medical factors that might be maintaining depression. Sometimes what seems like treatment-resistant depression is actually inadequate treatment, meaning not enough time on medication at adequate dose, or not enough therapy sessions. We’ll work persistently to find what helps, adjusting our approach based on your response. The vast majority of people with depression eventually find an effective treatment plan.

Is depression something I’ll struggle with forever?

Not necessarily. Many people experience a single depressive episode, receive treatment, recover, and never experience depression again. Others have recurrent episodes but long periods of wellness in between. With proper treatment and good self-care, you can significantly reduce the risk of future episodes. Learning skills in therapy, maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, staying connected to others, and seeking help early if symptoms return all protect against recurrence. While some people do experience chronic depression, even they can achieve significant improvement and better quality of life with ongoing treatment. Depression may be a part of your story, but it doesn’t have to define your entire life.

What about lifestyle changes and depression?

Lifestyle factors significantly affect depression and can enhance treatment effectiveness. Regular exercise has an antidepressant effect on depression comparable to medication for mild to moderate depression. Good sleep hygiene improves mood regulation. Nutrition affects brain chemistry. Social connection provides support and reduces isolation. Stress management techniques help. However, it’s important to understand that while lifestyle changes are helpful, they usually aren’t sufficient alone for treating major depressive disorder. Think of them as complementary to therapy and medication when needed, not replacements. We’ll work with you on implementing healthy lifestyle changes as part of your comprehensive treatment plan.

How do I talk to family and friends about my depression?

Deciding whether and how to share about your depression is personal. Some people find that opening up to trusted friends or family provides valuable support. Others prefer to keep it private. If you do choose to share, you might explain that depression is a medical condition, not something you can simply “snap out of.” You could describe specific symptoms you’re experiencing and how they affect you. Let them know what kind of support would be helpful, whether that’s having someone to talk to, help with practical tasks, or just understanding when you need space. Unfortunately, not everyone understands depression, and you might encounter unhelpful responses. We can work together on communication strategies and help you identify who in your life might provide the most supportive response.

Do you accept insurance, or what are the costs?

We understand that the cost of therapy is an important consideration. We accept most major insurance companies. You can check to see if we accept your insurance here. Many insurance plans do cover therapy. We also accept cash payments for clients who do not have or do not want to use insurance.

Ready to Feel Better? Help Is Available

You don’t have to struggle with depression alone. Whether you’re experiencing your first depressive episode or have lived with depression for years, whether your depression is mild or severe, effective help is available. Depression may feel overwhelming right now, but with proper treatment, you can absolutely feel better. You deserve to experience joy, connection, and meaning in your life again.

Take the first step today by scheduling a free consultation. We’ll discuss what you’re experiencing, answer your questions, and help you understand how therapy can help. This conversation is confidential, compassionate, and designed to give you hope. You’ve been strong for long enough. Now let us help you heal.

Complimentary 10-minute consultation. Let’s see if we’re the right fit for your needs.

Schedule Free Consultation

Call Us: 559-633-9030

All inquiries are confidential, and we typically respond within 2-3 business days.

Contact Us By Email

Fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you within 2-3 business days.
All inquiries are confidential.

Your Name

Email Address

Phone Number

Preferred Contact Method

How Can We Support You?

How can we help you?

I agree to RCCofCA’s privacy policy and understand all inquiries are confidential.

Crisis Support:

If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room.
Our practice is not equipped for crisis intervention.