Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps identify patterns of thinking that may reinforce depression, such as self-criticism, hopelessness, or negative beliefs about yourself and the future. Together, we work to challenge unhelpful thought patterns, strengthen coping skills, and build healthier ways of responding to difficult emotions.

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT supports you in developing a different relationship with difficult thoughts and emotions rather than feeling trapped by them. Through mindfulness, values-based work, and self-compassion, therapy can help you move toward a more meaningful and fulfilling life even while navigating emotional challenges.

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

EFT helps explore the deeper emotions and relational experiences that may be contributing to depression, fostering greater self-understanding, emotional healing, and connection. Through a compassionate, supportive process, EFT can help people feel less alone and more connected to themselves and the relationships that matter most.

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

IFS helps us understand the different “parts” of ourselves that may emerge during depression — such as the inner critic, overwhelmed parts, hopelessness, shame, or protective coping strategies. Rather than fighting against these experiences, therapy helps foster greater self-understanding, compassion, and healing from the inside out.

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic Therapy helps uncover deeper roots of emotional pain and build greater self-awareness, healing, and emotional resilience. Sometimes depression is connected to unresolved grief, relationship wounds, childhood experiences, or emotional patterns that developed over time.

Depression Therapy in Santa Cruz and across California

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Depression Therapy

We offer compassionate care for those navigating depression. We help you understand what you’re experiencing and heal the underlying roots of your depression.

We're Here for You

We believe everyone deserves to feel supported, connected, and hopeful. Depression can make life feel heavy and isolating, but you do not have to navigate it alone. Our approach is compassionate and personalized, recognizing that every person’s experience is different.

Together, we work to better understand what you’re going through, support healing, and help you reconnect with yourself and what matters most. We also explore the underlying experiences and patterns that may be contributing to depression, drawing from evidence-based approaches tailored to your unique needs to foster relief, healing, and lasting change.

Depression is more than sadness — it can affect how you think, feel, relate to others, and move through everyday life. You may notice changes in mood, energy, motivation, sleep, concentration, or a sense of disconnection from yourself and the things you once enjoyed. While depression can feel overwhelming and isolating, it is also one of the most common and treatable mental health challenges, and healing is possible with the right support.

1 in 5
adults will experience depression at some point in their lifetime

Most people improve with treatment
Research consistently shows that therapy and other evidence-based supports can significantly reduce symptoms of depression

Many people begin noticing changes within 4–8 weeks
While healing looks different for everyone, many clients begin to experience relief, greater clarity, and improved coping over time

Understanding Depression

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Signs & Symptoms of Depression

You don't need to experience every symptom to be struggling with depression. If several of the following have been present for a couple of weeks or longer and are affecting your daily life, reaching out for support can be an important first step.

Changes in sleep — sleeping too much or too little, difficulty falling asleep, or waking feeling unrested
Persistent fatigue — low energy or feeling emotionally and physically depleted, even with rest
Loss of interest — activities and relationships no longer feel meaningful or enjoyable
Difficulty concentrating — trouble focusing, making decisions, remembering things, or feeling “foggy”
Hopelessness - feeling stuck, discouraged, or overwhelmed
Self-criticism — Being overly critical or hard on yourself
Changes in appetite — eating significantly more or less than usual or changes in hunger
Withdrawal — pulling away from loved ones or feeling emotionally distant from others
Physical symptoms — headaches, heaviness, digestive issues, or physical symptoms connected to mood

Depression Looks Different for Everyone

While many people think of depression as feeling sad, it can also show up as exhaustion, numbness, irritability, disconnection, or simply feeling unlike yourself. Understanding the type of depression or pattern of symptoms you may be experiencing can help guide treatment that feels most effective and personalized to your needs.

Major Depression
Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, or loss of interest that significantly impact daily life, relationships, work, or school.

Persistent Depression (Dysthymia)
A longer-lasting, lower-grade form of depression that may feel like an ongoing heaviness, low motivation, or difficulty experiencing joy over time.

Seasonal Depression (SAD)
Depression that tends to follow seasonal patterns, often worsening during fall and winter months when daylight decreases.

Postpartum Depression
Emotional struggles following childbirth that go beyond the typical “baby blues,” often including sadness, anxiety, overwhelm, guilt, or difficulty feeling like yourself.

Situational Depression
Depressive symptoms that emerge following difficult life experiences such as grief, divorce, burnout, illness, job stress, relationship struggles, or major transitions.

Treatment-Resistant Depression
If previous therapy, medication, or other treatments haven’t brought relief, a more integrative and individualized approach may help uncover new pathways toward healing.

Types of Depression

Our Approach to Treating Depression

There is no single path to healing from depression. Because depression affects each person differently, our approach to treatment is personalized to your unique experiences, symptoms, history, and goals. We offer practical tools for relief and deeper support for understanding and healing the underlying causes of what you’re experiencing.

Whether you are experiencing persistent sadness, emotional numbness, burnout, grief, or a loss of motivation and connection, we believe healing is possible. Our goal is to help you better understand yourself, strengthen coping tools, and reconnect with a greater sense of hope, purpose, and emotional well-being.

Our therapists draw from evidence-based and integrative approaches to support meaningful, lasting change.

For many people, depression is connected to life stress, trauma, or attachment wounds. EMDR therapy works by helping individuals process and reframe traumatic or distressing experiences that often contribute to depressive symptoms. Through guided eye movements and structured sessions, our trained therapists assist clients in reducing the intensity of negative emotions and beliefs, promoting healthier thought patterns and emotional resilience.

When depression makes it difficult to put feelings into words, Expressive Arts Therapy can offer another path toward healing. Through creative exploration such as art, writing, music, or other forms of expression, this approach can help access emotions, deepen self-understanding, and reconnect with parts of yourself that may feel distant or lost. No artistic experience is needed—only curiosity and openness to the process.

Depression can affect not only how we think and feel, but also how we experience ourselves in our bodies. Somatic Therapy helps increase awareness of the connection between mind and body, supporting healing through greater nervous system regulation, grounding, and connection to emotions that may feel difficult to access. Through gentle body-based awareness, this approach can help reduce feelings of disconnection and support greater balance and wellbeing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Depression

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Schedule a Free Consultation

If you’re struggling with depression and curious about our approach, we invite you to reach out and get started with a free 30min consultation. Ask questions, explore your needs, and see whether our practice feels like the right fit for you.