Depression Therapy
Has Depression Left You Feeling Hopeless?
Are you slowly losing interest in the things you once cared about most? Have you found yourself withdrawing from the people closest to you? Does it feel like you're carrying a weight that keeps joy just out of reach?
Depression Can Lead To A Loss Of Meaning In Life
You might carry a sadness that never quite lifts. Or perhaps you feel numb and disconnected from things that you once cared about. Even when life is objectively going well, contentment stays just out of reach.
Depression can leave you feeling as though you've lost your sense of purpose, moving through each day on autopilot. You may notice your concentration slipping at work or school, or a fatigue so persistent that even routine tasks feel like more than you can manage. You might find yourself questioning whether the effort is worthwhile when nothing on the horizon feels worth looking forward to.
Depression's effects often extend beyond mood into the body. You may struggle to fall or stay asleep, or notice a change in appetite like eating far less than usual, or turning to food for comfort more than you'd like.
With the right treatment, you can reclaim the parts of yourself depression has dimmed. Therapy can help you move beyond your symptoms, rediscover the pursuits that once brought you fulfillment, and rebuild closeness in the relationships that matter most.
Depression Is One Of The Most Common Mental Health Disorders
When you’re coping with depression, you might feel like you’re utterly alone - but depression is actually a widespread problem. At some point in life, everyone will be faced with difficult circumstances that leave them feeling down. But some people experience long periods of low moods and profound sadness that constitute major depressive episodes and interfere with their ability to function in everyday life. Sometimes, these symptoms arise without any clear connection to upsetting circumstances or events.
According to the 2021 federal survey data published by the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 21.4 million U.S. adults (which accounts for roughly 8.2% of the adult population) experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year.¹ Depression is also one of the most treatable mental health conditions. Research shows that people who receive evidence-based therapy see meaningfully greater symptom improvement than those who go untreated.
Depression is also one of the most treatable mental health conditions. The American Psychological Association's clinical guideline for depression identifies Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as the most well-supported, evidence-based treatment.²
Biological, Psychological, and Social Factors Can Contribute To Depression
There is no single cause of depression—multiple factors can lead to this disorder. People might start experiencing symptoms after facing an adverse event, such as a life transition, trauma, or the loss of a loved one. Living with high levels of chronic stress can lead to depression as well. There is also a genetic component, as people with a family history of depression are more likely to develop this condition.
Depression can affect anyone, regardless of their background. No matter the cause, getting professional help is crucial, as the stress of living with untreated depression can actually worsen your symptoms over time. But people may decide against seeking help because they believe they simply need to “toughen up” and deal with their symptoms, or because they assume that the problem will eventually go away on its own.
Sometimes, people don’t even realize that they’re depressed until a loved one points out that they haven’t been acting like themselves. But there is no shame in reaching out to a therapist for help. In counseling, you can address your depression symptoms, heal your emotional pain, and create a life that brings you genuine happiness.
Therapy For Depression Can Help You Find Your Way Back To Joy
When you’re living with depression, it can be hard just to muster up the energy to meet with a therapist. But opening up to a therapist in a safe, relaxed environment can bring you a sense of relief. At Foothills CBT, you can share whatever is on your mind without judgment. Your therapist will help you develop helpful skills to reduce the severity of your symptoms so that you can re-engage with life in a meaningful way.
What To Expect In Depression Therapy
Throughout sessions, you’ll work closely with your therapist to understand your symptoms and their impact on different areas of your life, from your relationships to school or your career. You’ll explore how your thoughts, patterns, and behaviors can exacerbate your symptoms, and you’ll learn new strategies and tools to manage depression and cultivate a more helpful mindset. Overall, your therapist will guide you as you clarify your most important values and build habits that align with these values so that you can experience joy, gain a sense of accomplishment and build a life you love living.
Treatment Approaches For Depression Therapy
Your psychologist will work with you to draw up a customized depression treatment plan, incorporating techniques from different evidence-based therapies. For example, through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression, you can explore the links between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and how these patterns affect your mood. Rather than simply trying to “think positive,” your therapist will help you build new thought patterns that better serve you so that you can shift your behavior over time.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a specific form of CBT that helps people practice mindfulness, cultivate acceptance, become less “stuck” in ineffective thought patterns , and improve their quality of life. Additionally, you can pick up new tools for distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness through Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). This modality can teach you how to let go of harmful habits and implement lifestyle changes that benefit your mental health.
Your therapist will also emphasize a treatment strategy called “behavioral activation”, where they’ll guide you as you engage in meaningful activities to increase opportunities for joy and mastery, without pushing you to make changes that you aren’t ready for just yet. You’ll explore how depression has influenced your worldview and re-evaluate your perspectives and beliefs. Finally, you’ll practice mindful self-compassion and learn how to treat yourself with kindness throughout the healing process.
Living with depression can leave you feeling hopeless. But with support, you’ll be able to understand exactly what’s causing your depression and learn beneficial coping skills so that you can reconnect with your purpose.
But You May Still Have Questions About Depression Therapy…
Can therapy really help me overcome depression?
If you've been experiencing the fog of depression, it can be hard to believe there's a light at the end of the tunnel. With professional support, you can make significant progress and find freedom from your symptoms. Research supports Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as effective, evidence-based treatments for depression. Many clients also benefit from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, such as distress tolerance and emotion regulation, particularly when depression occurs alongside difficulty managing intense emotions.
How long will it take before I start feeling better?
While we cannot predict exactly how long it will take before you notice a reduction in your depression symptoms, we generally recommend attending sessions regularly for two to three months to notice an initial improvement. Some clients see improvements sooner, and others benefit from longer-term therapy for more severe depression or ongoing maintenance once symptoms have improved.
Do I have to attend therapy in person, or can I book virtual sessions?
We offer a hybrid treatment model for our clients. Our providers are available for in-person or virtual sessions using a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform, so you can choose whichever format works best for you.
What to Expect in Depression Therapy
1) Your first session
We'll talk through what you've been experiencing — your symptoms, how long they've been present, and how depression has been affecting your relationships, work, or daily routines. We'll set clear goals and a plan for moving forward.
2) Early sessions
You'll start to understand the connections between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and begin learning tools to manage symptoms and build a more helpful mindset.
3) What we work on
Depression often affects motivation, self-esteem, and engagement with life. We'll work on behavioral activation — reconnecting you with meaningful activities — alongside cognitive tools to shift unhelpful thought patterns.
4) Progress & timeline
Many clients begin noticing changes within a few sessions, with meaningful improvement typically emerging over two to three months of consistent care.
5) In-person or virtual
Sessions are available in Boulder, CO or online across Colorado.
Frequently Asked Questions
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If low mood, lack of interest, fatigue, irritability, sleep/appetite changes, or difficulty concentrating has lasted 2+ weeks and is affecting work, school, or relationships, therapy can help. You don’t need to be “at your worst” to start.
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We’ll talk about what you’re experiencing, what’s been going on recently, and what you want to change. We’ll review history (briefly), set goals, and outline a plan. You’ll leave with a clear next step.
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CBT helps you identify unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that keep depression going, then build practical skills to improve mood—like behavioral activation, healthier coping, and more balanced thinking. It’s structured and goal-focused.
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It depends on severity and goals. Many people notice improvement in 8–12 sessions, while others prefer longer-term support. We’ll check progress regularly and adjust the plan as needed.
With Support, You Can Reconnect With Your Purpose
You can recover from depression and find happiness in your everyday life again. With support, you'll be able to understand exactly what's causing your depression and learn beneficial coping skills so that you can reconnect with your purpose. To learn more about our practice and if we're a good fit, email us at intake@foothillscbt.com or call our office at 720-432-7061 to schedule a session or connect with a provider for a free, 10-minute consultation.
[1] National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Major depression. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression
[2] American Psychological Association. (2019). Clinical practice guideline for the treatment of depression across three age cohorts. https://www.apa.org/depression-guideline
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