Common signs of depression include: Consistent low mood, Fatigue, Irritability, Oversleeping or difficulty sleeping, Changes in diet (eating much more or less), Withdrawal and isolation, Feelings of guilt or worthlessness, Feelings of hopelessness, Loss of interest in previous hobbies or activities, Excessive substance use

What is your go-to approach for depression counseling?

When working with clients who come to therapy for help with depressive symptoms, I start with a comprehensive assessment to help determine factors contributing to the symptoms. While depression is often related to neurochemical reactions, there are other factors, such as trauma, grief, stages of psychosocial development, stressors, etc. that contribute to symptoms. From there, I use interventions from various modalities of care to address the identified factors. I use cognitive behavioral therapy to help a client learn ways to address unhelpful thoughts that interfere with their well-being and fuel feelings of sadness and hopelessness. I engage them in narrative therapy to help shift some of their internalized narratives of self toward the positive. I use other behavioral approaches to help them increase their engagement in activities that will inspire change, such as building routines, engaging in healthy activities like exercise, increasing social connection, and helping them find ways to fulfill their need for a sense of purpose. In some cases, when depression is moderate to severe and a client's functioning is impaired in various areas of their life, I help them connect with additional resources.

What tools do you teach in depression counseling?

Some tools that I introduce to help clients who experience depression are CBT skills, such as cognitive restructuring (adapting negative thoughts so that they are more functional), thought-stopping (interrupting unhelpful thoughts that contribute to distress and focusing them on positive anchoring thoughts), and thought journaling (diagraming cognitive processes to increase awareness of self and provide opportunities for perspective shift). I also introduce self-reward as a means of incentivizing change.

How do you know when a client is making meaningful progress in depression counseling?

I know when a client is making meaningful progress when they present with a more positive affect, when they can more easily engage in self-affirmation, and they consistently meet their treatment goals and objective. An increase in social engagement and engagement in interests can also serve as metrics for treatment progress.

What can clients do in their personal time to supplement depression counseling?

With depression, the most important thing a client can do is âfake it until you make it.â The âtaking oppositive actionâ skill serves to redirect a client away from maladaptive behaviors that can contribute to depression, such as excessive sleep, substance use, social isolation, and inactivity.

What should someone do to prepare for starting depression counseling?

Someone coming to seek counseling for depression can prepare for therapy by committing to the process and recognizing that change may be slow, but is possible nonetheless.

Offered in-person & online

Our therapists provide depression counseling in Philadelphia, PA

Get in-person or online care, and cover the majority of the costs with your insurance.

Find a provider Call (267) 440-7066

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Counseling approaches & specialties

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) ADHD therapy Anger management therapy Anxiety therapy Christian counseling Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) Depression counseling Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) Eating disorders EMDR therapy Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) Grief & loss counseling Humanistic therapy Insomnia therapy LGBTQIA+ counseling Life transitions counseling Motivational interviewing Obsessive-compulsive disorder therapy (OCDT) Person-centered therapy (PCT) Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) Strength-based therapy Stress management therapy Trauma/PTSD therapy
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Philadelphia, PA therapy

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66,617 people sought depression counseling help in Pennsylvania in the last year

Discover how starting therapy with a depression counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

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Common approaches to Depression counseling

Starting Depression counseling

What can counseling do for those who suffer with depression?

Depression counseling can help those with major depression, minor depression, postpartum depression, persistent depressive disorder, and more. The providers at Thriveworks in Philadelphia, PA will develop a unique treatment plan based on your specific experience, needs, and goals.

Is it worth going to therapy for depression?

It is absolutely worth going to therapy for depression — depression counseling helps people better manage their symptoms and get back to living happier lives again.

How does depression counseling work?

Depression counseling works by helping people pinpoint life problems, distorted thought patterns, and other causes of their depression, then process and work through them in order to mitigate the negative effects those factors have on their lives.

Signs of depression

Common signs of depression include:

Consistent low mood
Fatigue
Irritability
Oversleeping or difficulty sleeping
Changes in diet (eating much more or less)
Withdrawal and isolation
Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
Feelings of hopelessness
Loss of interest in previous hobbies or activities
Excessive substance use

Is depression counseling conducted in person or online?

Thriveworks depression counseling in Philadelphia, PA is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.

How often should you attend depression therapy sessions?

Depression counseling can last for a few weeks, months, or longer, dependent on the severity of one’s depression as well as their needs and preferences.

How much does depression counseling cost?

At Thriveworks, we take most major forms of insurance, which means that many of our clients only pay a $0-$50 co-pay per session. However, there are also self-pay options that sit around $200 per session, depending on the service and location, for those who are out-of-network.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurances. We accept 585+ insurance plans, and offer self-pay options, too.

Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling services at Thriveworks.

Insurance options

Self-pay costs

Our Pennsylvania therapists and counselors accept 1 insurance plans

See my self-pay options

Self-pay costs at Philadelphia

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

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★★★★★

My therapist appointment was great and has been since I have been seeing him once a week. His name is David Harmon and he is really good listener and has given me some a great tools to begin healing from past trauma. I highly recommend him.

Read more My therapist appointment was great and has been since I have been seeing him once a week. His name is David Harmon and he is really good listener and has given me some a great tools to begin healing from past trauma. I highly recommend him.

Leigh Feb 2024