Therapy for depression

Depression therapy is a space to understand what is underneath the heaviness, not just manage it. We combine talk therapy with Brainspotting, a brain-body approach that every therapist on our team is trained in, to work with the thoughts, emotions, and body-held exhaustion that come with depression. We also use Restoration Therapy to help you recognize the painful emotions underneath your reactions and build healthier ways of responding. Sessions focus on what is driving your low mood, rebuilding energy and connection, and developing a kinder way of relating to yourself

Stress usually eases when the pressure lifts. Depression tends to linger: low mood or numbness most days, losing interest in things you used to enjoy, changes in sleep or appetite, trouble concentrating, feeling worthless, or feeling like you are going through the motions. If this has lasted a couple of weeks or longer, or it is affecting your work, relationships, or sense of self, it is worth talking to a therapist who can help you sort out what you are experiencing.

Yes. High-functioning depression is common among high achievers. You may keep working, caring for others, and meeting expectations while feeling empty, exhausted, or disconnected on the inside. Many of our clients are professionals, executives, and children of immigrants who have learned to push through and hide how much they are struggling. Therapy gives you a place where you do not have to perform.

They overlap, and one can lead to the other. Burnout is typically tied to work or caregiving demands and may ease with rest and changes to your load. Depression tends to follow you into the parts of life that used to feel good and often includes hopelessness or a loss of self-worth. A therapist can help you tell the difference and address both.

This is very common, and we treat them together rather than one at a time. Constant worry can wear you down into exhaustion and low mood, and depression can fuel anxious thoughts. Your therapist will look at how the two feed each other and build a plan around both. You can also learn more on our anxiety therapy.

No. Our therapists provide talk therapy and do not prescribe medication. If you and your therapist feel medication could help, we can talk through that with you and coordinate with your primary care doctor or a psychiatrist, so your care stays connected.

Yes. Grief, a breakup, a career setback, a move, or becoming a caregiver can all trigger depression, even months later. Therapy gives you room to grieve what changed, steady yourself, and find your footing again without being told to move on before you are ready.

Yes. Many of our therapists are Asian American and children of immigrants. In many families, depression is not talked about, or it is called weakness or laziness, which makes it harder to ask for help. We help you make sense of those messages, honor your family and culture, and find support that fits. Therapy is available in English, Korean, and Mandarin.

Brainspotting is a brain-body approach that helps you process emotions and experiences held below the level of words, such as heaviness, shame, or grief. Many clients find it useful when talking alone has not been enough. Brainspotting is used alongside talk therapy, and your therapist will explain whether it fits what you are working on. You can read more on our our approaches to therapy.

Restoration Therapy helps you notice the painful feelings underneath your reactions, such as feeling unloved, unsafe, or not good enough, and the patterns you fall into when those feelings show up, like withdrawing, people-pleasing, or shutting down. You then practice new ways to calm yourself, say what is true, and respond in a way that move you toward the life and relationships you want. It is used alongside talk therapy and Brainspotting. You can read more on our approaches.

Yes. Depression during pregnancy and after having a baby has its own challenges, so we support it on our therapy for moms page, where you can see the therapists who work with postpartum depression and anxiety.

Yes. We see clients in person at our Pasadena, Highland Park, and Los Angeles office in Koreatown, and online for clients located in California. Many clients combine the two, meeting in person when they can and online when energy or schedules make it hard to leave the house.

If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, at any hour, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger. Therapy is not an emergency service, but you do not have to wait for a crisis to ask for help, and you can tell your therapist about these thoughts at any time.

Reach out through our contact page and share a little about what you are going through. We will offer a free consultation and match you with the therapist who best fits your needs, your schedule, and the office or online option that works for you.