Depression Therapy & Counseling in the San Francisco Bay Area
Depression Therapy
Not just an “extreme version of sadness”.
Some degree of sadness or grief is a normal part of life, but when it starts to get in the way of living your daily life, or doesn’t go away, getting help can be a good option.
“Maybe I’m just sad.”
“Am I actually depressed?”
“But I have nothing to be sad about.”
“It’s getting harder and harder to get out of bed in the mornings.”
“I think it’s starting to affect my work…”
“All these negative thoughts are feeling debilitating”
“I’m exhausted no matter how much I sleep”
“I just feel empty and numb”
“I can’t handle this much longer…”
The thing is, depression is not just an extreme version of sadness. It doesn’t mean you’re “mentally weak”, and it’s not always tied to a circumstance.
We know if you could find a way out of feeling this way...you would.
But here’s the deal, when you’re struggling with intense emotional pain, difficult thoughts that won’t just “go away”, chronic fatigue and/or anxiety, and feelings of being stuck or unmotivated...it makes it extremely difficult to want to do just about anything.
We understand, and we can help.
We don’t view depression as a form of ‘lingering sadness’, we know it’s much deeper.
As Alena Hall in the Huffington Post said: “Sadness is a passing emotional state, whereas depression is a chronic emotional condition in which emotional states themselves are warped, entrenched, and accompanied by other severe symptoms.”
Other signs of depression can include:
Loss of interest in activities or work
Sleeping less or sleeping more
Increased or decreased appetite
Weight gain or weight loss
Unexplained aches and pains
Mood swings
Extreme irritability over seemingly ‘minor things’
Increased substance use
Frequent or unprompted crying
Difficulty concentrating
Fixation on the past or regrets
Suicidal thoughts
If you want to overcome depression, you’re in the right place.
Curious if you meet the criteria for depression?
Here are the definitions of the main depressive disorders from the National Institute of Mental Health.
If you feel like you currently have depression, you’re not alone. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression.
The good news is, although it may not feel like anything can help, depression is proven to be very treatable with psychotherapy, specifically utilizing therapies including EMDR, IFS Therapy, Somatic Therapy, and Brainspotting.
In a recent study, it was found that psychological therapies are highly effective in the treatment of depression, have longer-lasting effects than drugs, are preferred by the majority of patients, and can be applied flexibly with different formats (like online therapy).
It’s important to reach out for help if you feel like you may have depression. If left untreated, depression can lead to extremely negative effects on your emotional and physical health.
If left untreated, depression can lead to:
Alcohol or drug use issues
Aches and pains that won’t go away
Phobias, panic disorders, and anxiety attacks
Work issues
Isolation
Excess weight gain
An increased risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes
Self-harm
Family and relationship problems
Attempted suicide or suicide
At Calm Again Counseling, we’ll help you cope with the immediate challenges in your life, while also helping you prepare for a brighter, more fulfilled future.
We help people beat depression using evidence-based approaches only, which means treatments that have been repeatedly supported by academic studies.
Things are tough right now, but they don’t have to get worse.
Reach out for a free consultation and start depression counseling today.
FAQs
What is depression therapy?
Therapy for depression is tailored to the specific client’s needs, but can include modalities like CBT, DBT, ACT, Mindfulness, Pyschodynamic, and more. Depression therapy will help you to feel like yourself again and return to the things you love.
How does therapy help depression?
Therapy helps depression by changing destructive thought patterns that contribute towards negative emotions. Therapy can help with getting to the root of depression, whether that is a biological basis, traumatic origins or both. Your therapist will ‘resource’ you with tools to use when depressive symptoms are negatively impacting your life.
What is the best therapy to treat depression?
At Calm Again Counseling, we use evidence-based practices to treat depression. We combine CBT, DBT, ACT, Mindfulness, Psychodynamic, and more. You and your therapist will work to develop a specialized treatment plan of the best therapies for the way that you experience depression.
Can therapy cure depression?
In therapy, we prefer to conceptualize mental health in terms of recovery to describe a life free of negatively impactful symptoms. We cannot predict the course of your life and whether symptoms may arise later down the road during stressful life events. However, therapy can help you live a full life without experiencing depression.
How do I know if I’m depressed?
Depression can present itself differently depending on your culture, environment, sex, and age. Take a look at the signs and symptoms listed on this page to see if any match your present experience. If you have reason to believe that you are depressed and have been negatively impacted by the symptoms, we recommend an evaluation from a mental health professional.
How do I schedule an appointment?
You can call us directly and get in touch with our client coordinator, or fill out our contact form on our website and get a response in less than 24 hours.