Depression therapy
When everything feels heavy, you do not have to carry it alone.
Susan Robens, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Oregon. About Susan
- Trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Certified in Somatic Trauma Therapy
Has the heaviness become more than you can carry?
Maybe it started slowly: less energy, less interest in things you used to enjoy, a creeping sense that nothing matters. Or maybe it hit all at once, after a loss, a move, or a change that knocked the wind out of you.
Depression can make the simplest tasks feel impossible: getting out of bed, returning a call, showing up for the people who need you. On top of that, there is often a voice saying you should be handling this better.
That voice is not telling you the truth. Depression is not a character flaw or laziness. It is a real condition, and it can be treated.
Teens and depression
In teens, depression can look like irritability, withdrawal, slipping grades or spending hours alone in their room. If you are worried about your teen, a free phone consultation is a good place to start: child and teen therapy.
How therapy helps with depression
I use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness. CBT helps you identify the negative thought patterns depression creates, like “nothing will ever get better,” “I am a burden” or “what is the point,” and develop more accurate, compassionate ways of seeing yourself.
Mindfulness helps you reconnect with the present. Depression tends to pull you into the past (rumination) or the future (hopelessness). Mindfulness brings you back to now, where small moments of peace are still possible.
I also pay attention to context. Long, gray winters can weigh on mood, and if seasonal patterns are part of your experience, we factor that in. If your depression is connected to a transition, a loss or a traumatic experience, we work on those roots alongside the symptoms.
Sessions are at my office in King City, a few minutes from central Tigard, or by telehealth anywhere in Oregon for teens, adults and parent sessions. For adults, see also counseling for adults. For insurance, see insurance and fees.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I am depressed or just going through a hard time?
Everyone has difficult periods. Depression tends to persist. If you have felt low, unmotivated or disconnected for a while and it is affecting daily life, it is worth talking to someone. You do not need a diagnosis to benefit from therapy.
Can therapy work without medication?
For many people, therapy alone helps. For others, therapy and medication together are the better fit. I can work alongside your prescribing provider if medication is part of your plan.
Does Oregon’s weather make depression worse?
It can. Many people notice their mood dips in the darker months. If that is part of your experience, we build strategies for it into your plan.
Ready to talk?
There is a way through this. Call 503-495-5072 or send a message for a free phone consultation.
Send a message
I will get back to you to arrange a free phone consultation.
