01 / Depression

Depression therapy.

Depression looks different in different lives. Some people describe it as heaviness; others as numbness, or a low-grade fog, or losing interest in things that used to matter. There’s usually a story underneath it — sometimes a specific loss or change, sometimes patterns built up over years. We work with what’s actually there, not a textbook version of it.

02 / Who this is for

You might recognize some of this.

Persistent sadness, heaviness, or numbness that's lasted more than a couple of weeks

Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy

Sleep changes, appetite changes, or fatigue that doesn't ease with rest

Withdrawal from people and activities

Irritability or short fuse — depression doesn't always look like sadness, especially in teens

Grief that's gotten stuck, or hopelessness that's settled in

03 / What sessions look like

The shape of the work.

The first sessions are for you to tell me what’s been going on, what’s changed (or hasn’t), and what you notice makes it better or worse. Depression usually has more than one piece — what happened, what you’re telling yourself about it, what you’ve lost access to along the way.

Then we build back, slowly. Sometimes that’s naming and shifting patterns of thinking. Sometimes it’s re-introducing small things that used to be sources of meaning. Sometimes it’s working through old material that’s been weighing on you.

04 / How I approach it

Models I draw from for this.

I draw from CBT for working with the thinking patterns that keep depression in place, emotionally focused therapy when there’s relational pain underneath, psychodynamic and narrative approaches for tracing how the story you tell about yourself shapes how you feel, and mindfulness-based work when skills for the present moment are part of what’s missing.

See the full list of therapeutic approaches I use on the services overview, or fees & insurance for accepted panels.

05 / Common questions

How long does depression therapy take?

It depends on what’s underneath. Some clients see meaningful change in a few months of weekly sessions; others want longer-term work, especially when depression has been around for a while. We’ll set realistic expectations together.

What if I'm already taking antidepressants?

Therapy alongside medication is common and often the most effective setup. I don’t prescribe; I can coordinate with your prescriber so the two sides of treatment know what each other is doing.

What if I'm having thoughts of harming myself?

If you’re in immediate danger, please call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or call 911. For clients I’m working with, suicidal thoughts are something we talk about openly. They’re common in depression and they don’t scare me. We make a plan together for when they show up.

Can teens have depression?

Yes. Depression in teens often looks like irritability, withdrawal, school struggles, sleep changes — not always the “sad” presentation adults expect. I work with teens individually and often involve parents to varying degrees depending on what’s helpful.

06 / Related services

Reach out when you’re ready.

Give me a call or send an email — whichever feels easier.

Contact me (210) 504-8263 vanessa@peace-therapy.com

Depression therapy.

You might recognize some of this.

The shape of the work.

Models I draw from for this.

Anxiety therapy

Grief counseling

Trauma & PTSD

Reach out when you’re ready.

Depression therapy.

You might recognize some of this.

The shape of the work.

Models I draw from for this.

Common questions

You might also want to read.

Anxiety therapy

Grief counseling

Trauma & PTSD

Reach out when you’re ready.