What to Expect from Therapy When Treating Depression

Daniel Flores
15 hours ago
5 min read

When you are struggling with depression, even reaching out for help can seem exhausting. Florecer Family Counseling is here for you to help you through difficult times in your life. Whether you're struggling with depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, or any other concern, we are reading and willing to help you. Don't wait another day to seek help, give us a call or contact us today to schedule your first session.

Seeking therapy can seem intimidating and exhausting, especially when you are struggling with depression. This blog will walk you through what therapy treatment for depression looks like and how it can help you heal. This blog will also provide clear timelines as well as offering other advice relating to relationships and medication.

Understanding the Symptoms of Clinical Depression

Clinical depression is not simply a season of sadness that goes away with just time, but rather it's a medical condition that affects how you think, feel, and function in daily life. Recognizing the signs is the first step toward getting help. Below are a few symptoms that are common with clinical depression:

Common symptoms of clinical depression include:

Chronic sadness or emptiness that won't go away
Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
Changes in sleep such as too much or too little sleep
Changes in appetite leading to weight fluctuations
Fatigue and low energy, even after getting rest
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
Physical aches and pains with no clear cause
Suicidal thoughts or thoughts on death

This is a list of common symptoms associated with clinical depression, but you do not need to have all of them to be depressed. If several of these signs have lasted for two weeks or more and are interfering with your daily life, then you should reach out to a therapist for help. Florecer Family Counseling can provide you with depression therapy in California, including options for online depression therapy.

The First Session

During your first visit, you will get to know your therapist and get comfortable sharing with them everything that is on your mind. You will talk about what brought you into therapy, such as your current struggles, symptoms, and what you hope to achieve through treatment. Your therapist will gather background information about your personal history, relationships, work or school life, and any previous mental health treatment. They'll explain how therapy works, describe their approach, and answer any questions you have about the process. Together, you'll begin developing a treatment plan by identifying goals and determining the best path forward.

The first session is also your chance to see if this therapist feels like a good fit. Make sure you feel heard and that you feel like you can trust and open up to your therapist.

Treatments for Depression

For treatment of clinical depression, different methods and treatment options are available beyond the regular sessions of therapy. Below are a few examples of such treatments

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective treatments for depression. It focuses on the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. CBT works by:

Identifying negative thought patterns that fuel depression
Challenging distorted thinking and replacing it with balanced perspectives
Teaching practical skills to change behaviors that maintain symptoms
Providing tools you can use long after therapy ends

For example, if you constantly think "I'm a failure," CBT helps you examine the evidence for and against that belief. More often than not, people discover that they are being much harder on themself than they would be with anyone else.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) recognizes that depression often develops or worsens in the context of relationships and life changes. This approach addresses grief and loss, role transitions like becoming a parent or losing a job, relationship conflicts, and social isolation. IPT helps you understand how your relationships affect your mood and helps you communicate more effectively to develop stronger relationships.

Trauma-Informed Therapy is specialized for depression related to past traumatic experiences. Many people with depression have experienced trauma, whether recent or in childhood. This approach creates a safe environment for understanding how past trauma affects present mood and behavior, processing traumatic memories at your own pace, and building coping skills to manage your depression. Your therapist will never push you to discuss trauma before you're ready. Healing happens when you feel safe, supported, and in control of the process.

Timeline of Therapy

Progress and healing takes time and does not come right away. Understanding when and how healing happens can help you stay motivated and on track for recovery.

Weeks 1-4: Building a Foundation

Establishing trust with your therapist
Identifying specific goals
Learning about your depression patterns and symptoms
Starting to learn coping skills

Weeks 5-12: Active Work

Practicing new skills and strategies
Challenging negative thought patterns
Noticing small improvements in mood
Adjusting treatment approaches as needed

Weeks 13-24: Consolidating Gains

Experiencing more consistent improvements
Handling setbacks with new coping strategies
Spacing out sessions as you grow more confident

Some people start feeling better within a few weeks. Others need several months or longer, especially if depression is severe or long-standing. Just because you may take longer to heal than others does not mean you are doing bad or that therapy is not working. What's important isn't how fast you improve, but that you keep moving in the right direction.

Depression and Relationships: Couples Therapy Support

Depression doesn't just affect you—it affects your relationships too. With depression, your partner can struggle to know whats going on with you and communication breaks down, weakening the relationship.

Couples therapy creates a space where both partners can be heard and understood. In couples therapy, your partner can better understand how depression is affecting you, reducing blame and increasing empathy. You can both develop better communication skills to express needs, fears, and frustrations more effectively.

Sometimes depression can stem from issues within relationships, and other times, relationship problems develop because of depression. Either way, couples therapy can help both partners feel less alone and more connected during a difficult time. You don't have to choose between individual therapy and couples work—many people benefit from both.

Finding the Right Therapy for You

Whether you're looking for in-person depression treatment in Woodland Hills or prefer online depression therapy from the comfort of your home, what matters most is taking that first step. Seeking therapy and help for your mental health can be exhausting and intimidating, but your mental health is worth the effort. At Florecer Family Counseling, we're here to walk beside you as you face the challenges that life throws at you. We are committed to providing therapy services that will help you rediscover hope, connection, and joy in your life. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and appointment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I need medication in addition to therapy?

Your therapist will help you decide if medication might be helpful for your depression. If your symptoms are severe or therapy alone isn't enough, they may suggest talking to a doctor or psychiatrist about medication options.

What if therapy isn't working or I'm not improving as quickly as the timeline suggests?

Everyone heals at their own pace, so it's okay if you're taking longer than expected. If you feel stuck after several months or aren't seeing any progress, talk openly with your therapist about trying a different approach or considering whether a different therapist might be a better fit.