In-person in west linn & online across oregon
therapy for depression
Depression’s like wading through wet cement — everything takes effort, and no one else seems to notice. Or worse - they judge it.
It’s not about forcing joy — it’s about finding your way back to yourself.
Depression has a way of convincing you that nothing’s ever going to change — that the heaviness, the disconnection, the “what’s the point?” feeling is just who you are now. Sometimes it’s sadness, sometimes it’s numbness, sometimes it’s staring at the same wall for 45 minutes because everything feels too hard. You might still be showing up for work or school, cracking jokes, doing all the “right” things — and still feel completely empty inside.
Therapy isn’t about pretending you’re okay or chasing constant happiness. It’s about understanding where that heaviness comes from, making sense of what your mind and body are trying to communicate, and finding small ways to reconnect — to life, to people, to yourself. Because you don’t have to stay stuck in the dark to prove how strong you are.
what i do
therapy is about:
Getting curious about what the heaviness is trying to tell you — not just pushing it away.
Slowing down enough to notice patterns, pain, and what actually helps.
Remembering that numbness is a kind of protection, not proof that you’re broken.
Finding moments of connection and meaning that don’t feel forced.
what i don’t do
therapy isn’t about:
Forcing gratitude or “choosing happiness.”
Telling you to “just get up and move more.”
Pretending motivation appears out of nowhere when you “think positive.”
Treating your symptoms without understanding their story.
Skipping over the pain to get to a fake version of “better.”
together, we will:
learn
We’ll create space to actually feel what’s been numbed out — without judgment or rush. You don’t have to perform or produce here.
understand
Your lack of motivation, shutdowns, or irritability aren’t flaws — they’re signals. Together, we’ll explore how your nervous system is protecting you, and what it might need instead.
connect
We’ll build small, sustainable ways to reconnect with yourself and your world — the things that make you feel even a little spark of okay. It’s not about pretending the dark doesn’t exist — it’s about remembering there’s still light.
THE PROCESS
Depression dims connection; therapy helps you find your way back to it.
01
Reach out: Click the link to schedule a consult or send me a message. We’ll talk through what’s going on and what you’re hoping to get out of therapy — no pressure, no scripts.
02
Slow down: We’ll create space to actually feel what’s been numbed out — without judgment or rush. You don’t have to perform or produce here.
03
Make sense of the stuck: Together, we’ll untangle what’s been keeping you shut down and start rebuilding the pieces of connection — to yourself, to others, to life.
04
Reconnect with the part of you that still wants more: It might be quiet, but it’s there. Therapy helps you hear it again — and start building a life that feels like yours.
You don’t have to feel ready — we’ll start from where you are.
Even when you can’t see it, the part of you that wants to keep going is still there.
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That’s actually one of the most common symptoms of depression — it’s not surprising to feel that way. You don’t have to show up full of energy or motivation; you just have to show up. We’ll move at a pace that fits where you are, not where you think you should be.
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It’s possible - for some people struggling with Major Depressive Disorder, the right treatment leads to full remission. By understanding what your depression is trying to protect you from, learning to care for yourself differently, and slowly rebuilding connection — to yourself, others, and life — it can start to feel more manageable, instead of suffocating.
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That’s okay. A lot of people with depression feel foggy, detached, or like words don’t come easily. I have coloring books, sandtray, and other ways of working that don’t require so much talking — you don’t have to perform or plan. Some days, it’s just sitting with your therapist to cry and color. That’s okay.