Depression Therapy Boulder

Takeaway: For many folks we work with, depression has been a lingering presence off and on for their whole life. However, it doesn’t have to continue this way. With therapy for depression in Boulder, you can get to the root of your struggles and learn how to move through life differently. Together, we can help you find a greater sense of joy and connection. Start the process today.

therapy for depression boulder

Depression is a very common experience. If you are currently struggling with major depression, you are not alone. Almost 30% of adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with clinical depression at least once in their lifetime. Not only that, but the likelihood increases for women, young adults, and BIPOC. This percentage does not account for those who have never received an official diagnosis, nor those for whom stigma prevents them from reporting a diagnosis. It is very common to experience anxiety alongside depression.

You might be wondering:

Which therapy is considered best for depression?

Is it worth going to therapy for depression?

How long do people stay in therapy for depression?

In this article, we will cover these questions and more.

Does this sound like you?

Depression is one of the most common mental health issues. It negatively affects how you think, feel, and behave. It can also be associated with thoughts of suicide. If you think you might be currently experiencing depression, you may recognize yourself in some of the following scenarios.

Do you feel exhausted every day no matter how much rest you've gotten?

Are you checked out from the people and activities you usually love?

You feel frustrated and defeated. You have tried, but nothing seems to work.

It feels relentless trying to move out of this funk.

Do you have low self-confidence, self-esteem, or self-worth? Do you struggle to see yourself as lovable and can't imagine how others might?

Maybe you feel disappointed in yourself because you can't focus at work or motivate yourself to do errands.

Do you feel disconnected from your friends and family?

You sometimes feel like you are on an emotional rollercoaster. One minute you feel checked out and the next minute you are overreacting to a normal life stressor.

Are you struggling to get to sleep or stay asleep? Or are you sleeping more than usual?

If you relate to any of the above, you might benefit from depression treatment. Reaching out for help when you are depressed is one of the most positive steps you can take to alleviate suffering.

Therapy for depression in Boulder can help you feel lighter.

Everyone needs support when they feel sad. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, like hopelessness or suicidal ideation, there is no shame in asking for help from a therapist. Our office is located in Boulder CO and we are experienced in offering mental health support and treatment.

Depression is treatable. Individual therapy can be very helpful for building new skills, improving your relationships, and increasing overall positive feelings. You do not have to navigate your struggles alone. Consider taking the first step in your recovery by reaching out to a loved one and by seeking mental health treatment.

Whether you relate to our practice philosophy or you find a better fit elsewhere, we want you to know that you deserve to pursue recovery. It is possible to feel lighter, more satisfied in your relationships, and more fulfilled in your life.

Our approach to depression therapy in Boulder, CO

Every practice has a different philosophy and every therapist has a different approach. Finding the right fit for you is important.

Lunasa Counseling and Wellness is located in Boulder CO. We understand that receiving a mental health diagnosis can feel really helpful, and we are also non-pathologizing. This means that we do not see you as broken because you are struggling. In fact, we see you as a whole person. Because of this, we take a holistic approach to help you find your path to healing.

We believe that developing depression is a very reasonable response to a difficult world and life events. Often, adverse experiences can accumulate in the mind and body and result in a mental health disorder, sometimes as co-occurring disorders like addiction or anxiety.

Our clinicians use a variety of modalities to treat depression:

Mindfulness-Based

Mindfulness can help clients to stay with difficult symptoms, experiences and emotions, slowing down to observe them, tend to them, and learn from them, rather than getting caught up in them or using old habits to avoid them. Each therapist is informed by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), evidence-based therapies which are based on mindfulness.

Self-Compassion Training

Shame is a common experience in depression. It is often hidden so deeply that we don't even know it's there. That's because it is often too painful to touch. Some signs of shame include negative self-talk, feeling worthless, or worrying what others might think of you. Informed by Kristin Neff's Mindful Self-Compassion, our therapists can help you learn the tools and practices for gently tending to shame.

Somatic Therapy

Adverse experiences can build up and get stored in the body and mind, lodged in the nervous system which is intimately connected to the brain. For this reason, just talking about it doesn't tend to have lasting effects when used alone. Our therapists are informed by Polyvagal Theory and are self-educated in other somatic modalities which advise their approaches. We believe that bringing the body into the session increases the mind-body connection and allows for deeper, longer-lasting healing for our clients.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

ACT is a highly effective treatment for both depression and anxiety. It was born out of the CBT movement and incorporates thought pattern recognition, identifying avoidance strategies, mindfulness, personal values, self-compassion, goal setting, and active change. ACT helps clients to stop suppressing their difficult emotions, instead learning to accept that these emotions are a normal part of a well-rounded life and ultimately managing them in a self-compassionate way.

Internal Family Systems

IFS is a non-pathologizing, evidence-based treatment for improving client mental health. It teaches us to embrace all parts of us, even the parts we don't like, guiding us to a more loving relationship with ourselves. It integrates this healing within the mind, body, and spirit. Our therapists can help you to go deeper inside your own experience using this powerful model.

Substance Abuse Treatment

Depression is often an underlying cause of substance abuse issues. Substance abuse can also cause depression. Our therapists are experienced in taking a harm-reduction approach to substances while also incorporating trauma-informed care.

Who we help

We serve people from all backgrounds at our practice. It is important to us that all identities feel welcome by us. Here are some of the folks we treat:

  • Adults (25-65)

    It can feel like there is a lot of pressure to succeed in life. Working towards what you want out of life, on top of everyday stresses, can feel like an uphill battle at times. Feelings of sadness and depression can add extra layers of challenge to living a fulfilling life.

  • Young Adults (18-25)

    Being a young adult is a time of great transition. Many life changes are happening all at once. For some, this can also be a time that struggles with mental health can show itself for the first time.

  • Seniors (65+)

    Folks in this age group might struggle with retirement, grief and loss, loneliness, and adapting to changing needs. Depression can affect how a person copes with these issues.

  • Couples

    When one or more people in a relationship are depressed, it can hugely impact the relationship. Couples counseling in addition to individual depression treatment can help.

  • Ethical Non-Monogamy

    Practicing ethical non-monogamy can be tricky. When a mental health concern like depression is involved, it can make it trickier. Whether you are navigating this path for the first time, or have years of experience we can help support you.

  • LGBTQIA+

    Queer folks continue to face discrimination from family, friends, colleagues, employers, and healthcare providers. The cumulative effect of discrimination can cause mental health struggles for some people.

  • Folks with Complex Trauma

    Complex trauma is the accumulation of difficult experiences over a lifetime. Complex trauma can result in symptoms like difficulty regulating emotions, hyper-arousal, disassociation, sleep issues, low self-worth, relationship difficulty, physical health concerns, substance use, process addiction, excessive perfectionism, and people-pleasing. Chronic depression is a common manifestation of complex trauma.

  • Fat-Identified

    The societal expectation to feel shame towards your fat body is reinforced by discrimination from friends, family, colleagues, employers, and health care providers. The cumulative effect of discrimination can cause clinical depression and other mental disorders in some people. Our practice holds HAES (health at every size) values.

FAQs about mental health care for depression

You may still have lingering questions about depression treatment. You might be wondering if mental health treatment is the right route for you to take. You might be wondering if counseling can really help with your symptoms. We understand that it is a big step to take. We are here to support you on this recovery journey. If you have any questions, we would be happy to answer them. Please feel free to contact us.

  • Your mental health is important. If you are depressed, you deserve support. That support may be from a therapist or a loved one. Starting mental health treatment is a personal decision that only you can make.

    Here are some of the potential benefits of treatment for depression:

    • More pleasure in everyday activities and hobbies

    • Increased positive feelings

    • More energy

    • Learning skills to use when you are having difficult feelings

    • Less negative self-talk

    • More fulfillment in relationships

    • Feeling more like yourself

    • Increased ability to cope with negative thoughts

    • Better sleep

    • A feeling that you are more present

    • Increase in health-promoting behaviors

    While there are many potential benefits of treatment, every person is different and no outcomes are guaranteed.

  • There are many therapeutic modalities that are used to effectively treat depression. Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Self-Compassion Training, and Somatic interventions are all effective approaches that we use at our practice in Boulder CO.

    Our team works with clients to determine which approaches are right for them. You are involved in establishing the therapeutic goals every step of the way.

  • There is no magic number as to how long treatment will take. Most people start to feel some relief after 1-2 months. For sustained results and deeper healing, we recommend sticking with treatment for at least 3-6 months. Our clients are all unique and we will work with you to determine what treatment plan fits your needs.

depression therapy boulder

Depression therapy in Boulder can help you build a life you love.

Mental health treatment can help you to improve your focus, ability to be present, and behavior. It can help to decrease the depression and anxiety symptoms that often make life more difficult.

Depression treatment is available. Many of our clients have expressed relief after having reach out for help.

Lunasa Counseling and Wellness is located in Boulder CO. We do not see you as broken because you are struggling and we see you as a whole person. We take a holistic approach to treatment and strive to match you with the right therapist for you.

We believe that developing depression is a very reasonable response to a difficult world and life events. Often, trauma can accumulate in the mind and body and result in struggles with mental health. Depression is treatable. You do not have to deal with it alone.

If you are located in Boulder CO or in Colorado, please contact us to start the process.