You know this story. You’ve got things to do, but the motivation or energy isn’t there. Every task and responsibility feels like a mountain to climb. You procrastinate. You might find yourself withdrawn from friends or family, feeling like you’re just going through the motions everyday. It may have started with some new stressor or a feeling of being overwhelmed, or perhaps these feelings have been there awhile. Either way, you wound up feeling stuck – maybe even a bit helpless, and defeated -- and caught in a loop of negative thinking. People around you might not understand, and if they do, they may not know how to help.

Depression can feel like it’s draining away all of your energy, and when you feel like you’re on a sinking ship far from land, it’s difficult to know what to do or where to turn. The good news is that effective treatment is available. I provide individual therapy for adults in St. Louis, looking to address depression and other mental health concerns. Therapy would start by exploring more about what elements of your life may be contributing to these challenges. We would work together to identify areas where we can find some relief for you, and develop skills to improve your mood, enhance your relationships, rediscover the things you enjoy in your life, and build strong skills of self-awareness to reduce future problems.

What does depression look like?

Although many people have a perspective as to what depression may look like, it can show up in a variety of diverse ways. The stereotypical image of depression is of someone who is laying in bed much of the day, struggling with lack of motivation for many (or perhaps all) activities and responsibilities, perhaps feeling very sad and tearful much of the time. Although this can indeed describe someone with depression, there are numerous other ways that depression can show up.

Some people describe a vague and perhaps broad dissatisfaction with life; there’s just not much that really excites or interests them, even perhaps things that they used to really enjoy. Some people find themselves vacillating between scrambling to take care of various needs and tasks, only to then feel a crash in their motivation; they find themselves just scrolling on their phone and perhaps waiting to go to bed only to repeat this same pattern again tomorrow. Still others may struggle with irritability, annoyance, or negative thinking (about themselves, others, the past, the future, and/or the world at large), and all those things are creating momentum for more negative feelings and thoughts.

Generally speaking, some people with depression have what is called an “episodic” version, and some have more chronic symptoms. For those with depressive "episodes," this simply means that there will be periods of time (typically several weeks or longer) where they encounter significant depression symptoms, and after a period of time their symptoms may improve (often assisted by treatment and/or certain life changes or resolution of stressors). Many people may return to what feels like a more natural mood state for them, while some others may feel some ongoing ups and downs.

For those with chronic depression or longstanding mood difficulties, they often describe symptoms that have gone on for years. People with chronic depressive symptoms describe consistently feeling low in energy and motivation, often times feeling numb or broadly disinterested or unenthusiastic about various things in life. They may feel distant in relationships, have chronic and ongoing negative thoughts about themselves or others, and struggle with low self-esteem or feelings of pessimism or powerlessness. Some individuals can actually struggle with both “episodic” and chronic depression at times. The important thing to know from all this is that there are many ways that depression can show up, and there are a wide range of ways in which depression can be treated and addressed successfully.

How common is depression?

Depression is very common. Each year in the United States, the rate of depression in adults typically is around 7 to 8 percent of the population, with some age groups experiencing rates as high as 18 to 19 percent. There are estimates that up to 20 percent of adults in the United States will experience a period of depression at some time in their life. If you ever feel alone in the struggle, it is important to know that depression affects millions of people in the United States and the rest of the world every year. However, as I’ve stated above, it can be successfully managed and treated, to help you start building or reclaiming a greater sense of peace in your life.

Do I need to be on medication in order to participate in or benefit from therapy for depression?

If you are considering medication for depression, it is important that you speak with a psychiatry or other medical provider about the recommendations they may have for you. Many clients can benefit from utilizing medication in addition to therapy services, and some clients experience improvement in their symptoms and functioning with therapy alone. There is no requirement that someone take medication in order to participate in therapy, though some clients may benefit from one or both of these interventions.

What would treatment for depression look like?

I am trained in and offer various interventions for treating depression. Both Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) have significant support for treating depression and related difficulties. These and other treatments can integrate mindfulness and other strategies to provide additional tools to address depression, and in some cases can help to prevent future episodes of depression.

Treatment would typically start with building an understanding of what is feeding the depression you are experiencing in your life. Once we know more about where and how it is showing up for you, we are in a better position to address those symptoms and prevent further difficulties. Treatment can help people to build skills of monitoring their thoughts, feelings, and overall experience more clearly. Once the barriers that are getting in your way are more visible, you are in a better position to make progress on the goals that matter most to you.

Depression can trick you into feeling defeated and helpless, and therapy is designed to fight off those perceptions, and to help you feel more skillful and empowered. The more we notice both short- and long-term patterns that have been contributing to depression or low self-esteem, the more we are positioned to cultivate new and positive perspectives and skills that support long-term wellness. Therapy for depression can be helpful, whether you are new to therapy, or have been in therapy before. Therapy can help you become aware of and build on your strengths, and establish new areas of growth, change, and improvement.

If you are interested in reading more about how Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness-Based approaches can help with depression, you can read more here: https://www.apa.org/depression-guideline/adults.

How can I get started?

If you are on the fence, not ready to commit, or are interested in more information, please feel free to reach out! I am happy to answer questions and provide the information you need in order to make a decision. If you are ready to get started, please make contact to schedule an initial consultation with me. I look forward to hearing from you!