Depression Therapy

You may know that you’ve been depressed for a long time. You feel depression like a heavy fog that oozes into your mind and emotions, clouding your thoughts, and darkening any light or hope ahead. You feel depression like drowning in an ocean of sadness, with no sight of the shore, no buoy to hold onto, and no path to resurface for fresh air. Maybe your depression is so persistent that you don’t remember life without it. 

Or, maybe you’re not sure if you’re depressed. You may just feel “bleh” - emotions don’t feel big and life doesn’t seem interesting. You may wonder why you’re tired all the time; why you can’t just get started on things; why you’re sad. You may feel like you can’t be depressed because nothing is that bad and you should feel grateful for what you have. You may feel like you’re annoying your friends, that no one likes you, or no one understands you. 

Changes in mood can be challenging to navigate, whether it’s the first time you’ve ever felt this way or it’s a cycle that you’ve experienced off and on your whole life. There are several different types of depression and each type can affect your life in significant ways. 

Recognizing depression can be the first step towards seeking help. While the experience of depression varies, some common signs include:

• Persistent feelings of sadness or emptiness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• Feeling numb or disconnected
• Unexplained physical problems, like back pain or headaches
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
• Feeling lonely, isolated, or misunderstood
• Fatigue 
• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
• Changes in appetite and weight
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Existential dread
• Thoughts of death or suicide

While just having one or two of these symptoms doesn't necessarily mean you're suffering from depression, all of these symptoms can be supported in therapy. The longer you try to just get over it, push through on your own, or ignore it, the harder it can be to sort through and heal from all the unresolved pain.

At Relational Psych, we understand that every individual is unique, which is why we offer personalized therapy sessions tailored to your needs. Whether you're an adult, teenager, or child grappling with depression, our experienced psychodynamic therapists are here to help you navigate your emotional landscape.

• Changing at the root: We want you to experience life-long transformation so we will delve into the roots of your depression. We will help you explore the source of your pain and work through all that may be unacknowledged and unresolved. This may look like processing childhood events, identifying triggers, exploring elements of your identity, healing trauma, and understanding your body chemistry. It’s courageous to take this step.
• Specialists in diagnosing depression: Your clinician has extensive training in the different types of depression and can provide you with an accurate diagnosis. They can explain what’s happening in your brain, body, hormones, and relationships with your depression. If there's significant complexity, you may consider a psychological assessment.
• Strong therapeutic alliance: Again and again, research shows that the most impactful aspect of therapeutic change is the therapeutic relationship. We believe change happens in relationships and will be intentional to build a strong, trusting relationship with you at your pace. 
• Long-term therapy: We don’t expect to cure the depression you’ve had for 15 years in 6 short weeks of therapy. We understand that it’s taken you a long time to get here and it may take a while to sort through it all together. We won’t rush you to get better, even when we may challenge you to expand in a way you didn’t know you were ready for. And, we’ll be with you in your frustration if you’re not changing as fast as you wish you were. 
• Skills & coping: We can help you develop effective coping mechanisms and emotional regulation skills to manage and mitigate depressive symptoms. And, if we only focused on taking away your symptoms it could be like using a bandaid when surgery was needed. If you are primarily looking for skills building instead of in-depth transformation, we’d love to refer you to another therapy practice who specializes in behavioral therapy. 

Reach out to us at Relational Psych, and let's embark on your healing journey together.