Online Therapy for Depression

How therapy for depression works

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Identifying and testing the thoughts that keep you stuck
• Behavioral Activation Rebuilding routines and rewarding activities step by step
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Acting on your values even when your mood is low
• Couples or family sessions With select clinicians, when depression is straining relationships

Therapy and medication. Our clinicians provide therapy. For moderate to severe depression, combining therapy with medication is often recommended, and we’re happy to coordinate with your doctor or psychiatrist.

Psychological Healing has 40 clinicians, offering weekly sessions by secure video in 44 states, or in person at offices throughout the US in 20+ states.

Signs it may be time to talk with someone

Everyone has low days. Depression is different because it tends to linger and spread into many parts of life. You may want to reach out if you notice several of these for most of the day, most days, over a couple of weeks or longer:

• Feeling down, empty, or numb
• Losing interest in people or activities you used to enjoy
• Sleeping much more or much less than usual
• Feeling tired or slowed down, even after rest
• Harsh self-criticism or feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Pulling away from friends, family, or work

Depression can also look like irritability, restlessness, or physical aches rather than obvious sadness, and it often appears alongside anxiety, grief, stress, or major life changes. You don’t need a diagnosis to start. A clinician can help you sort out what’s going on and what kind of support fits.

Reaching out early often makes the work feel lighter. Depression tends to make tasks feel bigger and hope feel smaller, so getting support sooner, before things pile up, can help you regain momentum more quickly.

What depression therapy sessions look like

• Getting started Early sessions focus on your story, your current symptoms, and what you’d like to feel or do differently. Together you set a few realistic goals.
• Small, doable steps Using approaches like CBT and Behavioral Activation, you plan small actions that gradually bring back energy, structure, and a sense of accomplishment.
• Working with thoughts You learn to notice the self-critical or hopeless thinking that depression feeds on, and practice kinder, more balanced ways of seeing yourself and your situation.
• Staying well As you feel better, sessions shift toward spotting early warning signs and building a plan to protect your progress over time.

Most people meet weekly. Sessions by secure video can make it easier to keep showing up on days when leaving the house feels hard, which matters when depression saps your energy and motivation.

Progress with depression is rarely a straight line. Good weeks and harder weeks are both part of the process, and a setback doesn’t mean therapy isn’t working. Your clinician will help you learn from the harder stretches so they feel less overwhelming over time. Research reviews have found that a strong, trusting relationship with your clinician is linked with better results in therapy, so if the fit doesn’t feel right, let us know and we’ll help you find a better match.