Depression Therapy
Have You Been Feeling Hopeless Or Emotionally Numb?
Are you burdened by heavy sadness or doubting your self-worth?
Do you have trouble relating to other people, often withdrawing from social connections as a result?
Maybe you’ve even caught yourself thinking about death—not because you want to stop living, but because you’re desperate for relief from suffering and intense loneliness.
You might have difficulty concentrating, with brain fog that makes it hard to focus on any task or conversation. Changes in appetite, mysterious weight gain or loss, or altered sleep patterns may leave you wondering if you’re physically ill, yet there’s no medical explanation for your symptoms.
Life With Depression Can Seem Empty And Robotic
Whether you’re at home or at work, it seems like you’re simply going through the motions. Going to the office, having dinner with your family, walking the dog, and talking to your partner are all empty, mechanical activities.
At times, day-to-day life feels like sluggishly walking through cooling tar—everything is colorless and devoid of meaning. This road of unhappiness appears endless, and you wonder if there’s any point to it all.
If life seems flat and gray, you might feel trapped, yet you don’t know how to escape your circumstances. On the surface, it may look like there’s nothing “wrong” with your life, but you know that you can’t continue living like this. An empathetic counselor can help you heal from depression and find your way back to vibrancy.
Have any questions? Send us a message!
Our Modern Culture Contributes To Depression
Unfortunately, there is ample reason to feel depressed in modern society. It is becoming increasingly difficult for young adults, parents, and retirees to handle the rising cost of living while salaries remain stagnant. Racism, transphobia, misogyny, and white supremacy are rampant, but social media exploits our complex emotions through algorithms, rather than motivating people to address real issues.
In our hyper-individualist culture, people feel more disconnected from each other than ever before. When one lacks a strong community, it’s hard to know where to turn if depression sets in. Sometimes, feeling depressed without reason can fuel feelings of guilt and shame, which only exacerbate depression symptoms.
Many People With Depression Don’t Get The Help They Need
People with depression often feel as though they’re alone in their troubles, yet this is far from the truth. Research indicates that depression rates in the United States have increased by 60% over the past decade, but less than half of people with clinical depression attend therapy (1). Financial constraints and a stigma around seeking therapy can hold people back from pursuing the help they need.
Countless factors can lead to depression, from family conflicts to sociopolitical dynamics. Yet even if there is no readily apparent “reason” for your feelings, you still deserve guidance and compassion. Reaching out to a depression therapist could be the first step towards transforming your life and rekindling your inner spark.
Therapy Can Help You Uncover The Roots Of Your Depression
People often enter therapy hoping to eliminate their major depression symptoms so that they can better comply with the demands of their lives. But what if your depression is asking you to change something about your life?
In counseling, we’ll reflect on what might need to happen in your life for the depression to lessen, as well as how your mindset or perspective may be keeping you “stuck,” regardless of outside circumstances. We’ll also consider whether your recent depression episodes might feel similar to past experiences, and what these chapters of your life may have in common.
What To Expect During Depression Therapy Sessions
Depression can make it seem as though you’re emotionally “paralyzed.” Changing your life might be the key to genuine fulfillment, but you may be hesitant to let go of a particular relationship, job, creative pursuit, or city. Staying still can feel safer, and depression can function as a protective mechanism.
Sometimes, overcoming depression means undergoing a personal rebirth, and avoiding the short-term “costs” of change could be holding you back from living a life you truly love. During sessions, we’ll examine the potential consequences of committing to concrete changes, as well as the grief that can accompany major lifestyle shifts.
Treatment Approaches For Depression Therapy
As a psychodynamic clinician, I’m here to help you develop a deep, nuanced understanding of the roots of your feelings. I take a holistic approach to clinical depression treatment, taking the time to understand how your physical health and mental well-being influence each other.
Major depression might be covering up painful feelings like anger, helplessness, and grief, and in treatment, I’ll provide a safe environment for you to untangle and process these emotions. I’ll support you through mourning old dreams, ideals, or self-concepts and moving into a place of radical acceptance. When you feel safe enough to fully experience the emotions you previously suppressed, you open the door to healing.
Furthermore, I’ll walk you through whole body scans so that you can identify the physical sensations and patterns that signal emotional distress and create a “holistic map” of how your body displays symptoms. You’ll be equipped with strategies to address these symptoms if they arise again in the future.
In addition to our work in sessions, we may integrate other helpful practices like exercise, healthy nutrition, mindfulness and meditation techniques, improved sleep hygiene, and more targeted therapies. I can provide referrals to external practitioners, including physical therapists, acupuncturists, nutritionists, and more.
If your depression is severe, we can also combine psychotherapy treatment with medication management to help you find relief. Depending on your symptoms, I might recommend further medical testing to rule out physical causes.
People usually assume that the opposite of depression is happiness. But happiness is often a byproduct of other feelings, such as pride or satisfaction. Depression can drown out any other feelings that could make our world feel lively again. In therapy, our goal is to quiet the depression and cultivate space for other emotions.
But You May Still Have Questions About Depression Therapy…
-
If you’ve been struggling for a long time, or if you’ve tried therapy in the past without much success, it’s normal to feel apprehensive about giving it another go. Our holistic approach focuses on healing both the mind and body, rather than simply treating the symptoms. Furthermore, research shows that online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy, and is often better attended, with higher completion rates and total number of visits (2).
-
Not necessarily! Sometimes, the combination of therapy and medication is the best option, but this isn't always true. Many people can find symptom relief without certain types of medications. If you have concerns about taking medication, we can explore this fully to understand what troubles you and how you would like to address your symptoms in therapy.
-
Confidentiality, privacy, and technological security are top priorities at Alviva. We uphold strict professional and legal standards to protect your personal information. All communication and video sessions are conducted through HIPAA-compliant systems to maximize privacy. While no internet system is 100% secure, Alviva goes above and beyond to provide secure interfacing.
Depression Counseling Helps You Foster A Colorful, Vibrant Life
If you’re curious about depression therapy, I invite you to get in touch and find out more about my practice. To book a free 15 to 30-minute consultation session, please give me a call at 202-656-1488 (DC area) or 720-990-4988 (Denver area). You can also complete the contact form or schedule through the online portal.
