Therapy for Depression

Living With the Weight of Low Mood

Depression can feel like a heavy blanket over everything. Interest fades, energy drops, and even simple tasks start to feel like too much. You may notice an emptiness that is hard to name, or a sense that nothing you do makes much difference.

It often changes sleep and concentration, and it can lead to a quiet pulling away from people. Many people describe going through the motions of the day while feeling far away from the moments and relationships that used to matter most.

How Therapy Helps You Reconnect

Our main approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Together we notice the patterns of self-criticism and withdrawal that keep depression in place, and we begin, gently, to loosen them.

We start small: one routine brought back, one habit of thought examined at a time. Because low mood and anxiety often arrive together, we can work on both.

Beginning at Your Own Pace

Reaching out can be the hardest part. When you call (928) 774-7997, our intake specialist, Alethea Braun-Dunagan, M.A., LPC, will talk with you about what is happening and guide you through getting started. You may work with Dr. Della S. Lusk, our clinical director, or with Ms. Braun-Dunagan, depending on what feels like the best fit.

Sessions are unhurried and collaborative. Each week we look at what felt manageable and what did not, and agree on one or two small steps that fit the energy you actually have.

Where We Meet

Depression therapy is available in our quiet Flagstaff office and by secure video. Video sessions reach more than 40 states, and our state pages show which clinician is available where you live. Since 2002 our practice has hosted Flagstaff's free National Depression Screening Day, covered by the Arizona Daily Sun.

Questions people ask

I'm already taking medication. Will therapy still help?

Many people combine therapy with medication prescribed by their physician. Therapy adds skills and support that medication alone does not, and with your permission we are glad to coordinate with the clinician who prescribes for you.

How do video appointments compare with in-person sessions?

Both follow the same structured CBT approach. Video lets you meet from a private space at home, which can matter on the days when getting out the door is hard.

How can CBT help when I have very little energy?

CBT breaks the day into small, realistic actions, so you can have moments of accomplishment without becoming overwhelmed. We plan around the energy you have, not the energy you wish you had.

Do you help with depression after having a baby?

Yes. Ms. Braun-Dunagan has a particular interest in postpartum mood concerns and supports parents through the emotional changes that can follow childbirth. Our guide to postpartum mood disorders is a good place to start.