Depression & Mood Disorders

Depression doesn’t always look like collapsing or shutting down. For many high-achieving adults, depression shows up quietly and internally. On the outside, you may look like you’re managing life just fine—showing up to work, handling responsibilities, being dependable, keeping everything moving. But on the inside, even the smallest tasks feel heavy. Your energy is low. You might feel numb, unmotivated, detached, or like you’re simply going through the motions.

This internal disconnection is one of the most painful parts of depression for high performers: the outside world sees competence, while internally you feel depleted, overwhelmed, or emotionally flat. Many adults who function at a high level also carry a deep sense of guilt—believing they “shouldn’t” feel depressed because their life looks OK, or because others rely on them. This mismatch between appearance and reality often creates isolation. You may find yourself withdrawing, feeling misunderstood, or pushing harder to appear “fine,” even as things feel more difficult.

Depression is not a lack of strength. It’s a signal that your mind and body are overwhelmed, exhausted, and in need of care.

In our work together, we take a compassionate and evidence-based approach to understanding the patterns contributing to your low mood. Using a blend of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), we explore the thoughts, behaviors, and emotional experiences that keep you stuck in survival mode. This approach is especially effective for high achievers and over-functioners because it offers clarity, structure, and actionable skills—not vague advice or pressure to “just think positively.”

 

Why this approach works so well for depression

High-performing individuals tend to approach depression the way they approach everything else: by trying to push through, accomplish more, stay busy, or keep emotions neatly tucked away. Over time, these strategies create emotional burnout and deepen the sense of disconnection. My approach helps break this cycle by offering tools that align with your strengths—insight, dedication, and problem-solving—while also teaching the emotional and behavioral skills that may not come naturally.

• CBT helps you identify the cognitive patterns that fuel depression: self-criticism, harsh internal narratives, minimizing your accomplishments, and the belief that nothing you do is “good enough.” High achievers often hold themselves to impossible standards, and when they inevitably can’t meet them during depression, they feel even worse. CBT provides concrete strategies for challenging these thought patterns, shifting black-and-white thinking, and creating a more balanced, compassionate inner voice.

• ACT helps you move toward meaning, purpose, and values even when your mood is low. Depression often pulls people away from the activities and relationships that matter, reinforcing numbness and withdrawal. High achievers in particular may lose contact with pleasure, rest, creativity, or connection because their identity becomes tied to productivity. ACT helps you reconnect with who you are beyond achievement. You’ll learn how to make space for difficult emotions without shutting down, how to unhook from depressive thoughts, and how to take small, values-based steps that rebuild motivation and vitality.

• DBT offers practical skills for managing emotional pain, reducing overwhelm, and increasing resilience. Many high-functioning individuals never learned how to regulate their emotions because they were busy being the responsible one, the caretaker, or the high performer. DBT teaches mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation skills that help you navigate depressive episodes without spiraling. You’ll also learn how to identify your needs, set boundaries, and communicate effectively—especially when you’re feeling depleted.

Together, these approaches help you create a more grounded, effective, and compassionate framework for healing depression. They address the cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and relational aspects of the experience—not just the symptoms.

 

What this looks like in therapy

In therapy, we explore the patterns that keep your depression going:

• Pushing through exhaustion because slowing down feels unsafe or unproductive

• Feeling guilty for resting or needing support

• Avoiding joy or connection because it feels undeserved or effortful

• Using perfectionism or overworking to distract from low mood

• Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected

• Losing interest in activities that once brought meaning

• Difficulty expressing vulnerability because you’re used to being the strong one

• Suppressing emotions until they become overwhelming

• Raising your expectations of yourself when you’re already depleted

These patterns are not failures; they’re coping strategies developed over years of trying to be capable, responsible, and high-functioning in all areas of life. Understanding where they come from helps release shame and makes change possible.

 

As we work together, you’ll build:

• Awareness of your emotional landscape, even when things feel numb

• Greater understanding of the thought patterns that maintain depression

• Behavioral strategies to rebuild motivation and pleasure

• Tools for reducing self-criticism and internal pressure

• Skills for calming your nervous system and managing emotional overload

• The ability to reconnect with values, meaning, and purpose

• Practices that support sustainable mood improvement—not temporary relief

In this process, many clients experience a subtle but powerful shift: rather than surviving their days, they begin re-engaging with their lives. Moments of connection, ease, and authenticity return. You may find yourself rediscovering interests, asking for help without guilt, or feeling more present in your relationships. You begin to recognize that worth isn’t tied to productivity—and that allowing yourself to rest, feel, and receive support is an act of strength, not weakness.

Therapy becomes a space where you can stop performing and start healing. There is no pressure to “fix it quickly” or show up as the polished version of yourself. Instead, we work collaboratively, step by step, to help you reclaim the parts of life that feel meaningful, fulfilling, and aligned with who you truly are—not just the parts you manage for others.

 

My goal is to help you move from numbness to connection, from emotional exhaustion to steadiness, and from survival to genuine engagement with your life. Through the integration of CBT, ACT, and DBT, you’ll gain the insight, skills, and support needed to navigate depression with clarity and compassion.

 

You don’t need to carry this alone. Healing is possible—and together, we can help you feel like yourself again.