Anxiety & Depression
Healing from within:
Expert Care for Depression & Anxiety
Depression and anxiety can feel debilitating. Even if there are areas of your life where you’ve experienced fulfillment or success, depression and anxiety can rob joy, erode hope, and dangerously damage your sense of well-being.
If you’re currently coping with depression and/or anxiety, please know there is real hope and help available. Depression and anxiety are highly treatable mental health conditions, and seeking professional support is a courageous step toward healing.
Whether you are seeking in-person therapy at our Atlanta offices or online counseling in Georgia, our compassionate, expert therapists are here to support you on your journey to emotional wellness.
Understanding the difference between depression and anxiety
Depression and anxiety are distinctly different yet often co-occurring conditions that can have a severe impact on not just mental and emotional wellness but also physical and relational health as well.
Depression is more than just feeling sad. It’s a persistent, pervasive experience of deep hopelessness or emotional numbness that can make even daily tasks feel overwhelming. Depression manifests itself in many different ways. For instance, people with depression may not always feel ‘numb.’ Instead, they may feel emotions with deep intensity. Additionally, individuals with depression may be highly functional, and may appear to manage day-to-day life stressors with ease – all while suffering on the inside.
Symptoms of depression vary greatly, however common symptoms of depression typically include:
- Intense feelings of emptiness, despair, or hopelessness
- Loss of interest in activities you previously enjoyed
- Chronic sleep issues (insomnia, sleeping too much, sleeping too little, nightmares, etc.)
- Low self-worth, poor self-esteem, or feelings of worthlessness
- Change in appetite (weight loss or weight gain)
- Internal sense of purposelessness or meaninglessness
- Extreme brain fog or difficulty concentrating
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicidal ideation
Anxiety is a mental health condition where chronic worry, fear, or unease invade your inner world. It’s characterized by restless emotions, even when there’s no immediate threat. People with anxiety often experience physical symptoms such as racing, uncontrollable thoughts, muscle tension, increased heart rate, stomach pain, or difficulty sleeping. People with anxiety find it difficult to concentrate, rest, or relax – even in safe or familiar environments.
Common symptoms of anxiety include:
- Severe exhaustion
- Excessive or compulsive worry
- Feeling ‘on edge’ constantly
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty breathing
- Spiraling, catastrophic thoughts
Types of therapy we offer
If you struggle with depression and/or anxiety, please know – there is good reason to hope! Depression and anxiety are well researched, highly treatable conditions, and psychotherapy has proven to be effective at reducing or resolving the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Our compassionate, trauma-informed clinicians are trained in a variety of evidence-based modalities to help hurting individuals manage complex emotions, address the underlying trauma, and develop effective coping strategies. While our integrative approach to depression and anxiety counseling combines many different evidence-based modalities, all our clinicians provide therapy through a trauma-informed lens.
Therapeutic Modalities We Specialize In
THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES WE SPECIALIZE IN
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Somatic Experiencing
- Attachment-Based Techniques
- Polyvagal-Grounded Interventions
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
When to seek professional support
Sadness and nervousness are a normal part of being human and are emotions we all experience from time to time. However, sadness becomes clinical depression when it’s persistent and accompanied by multiple symptoms. And when occasional bouts of anxiety become more frequent, intense, or hard to control, it may be time to consider therapeutic support. As a general rule, whenever intense, complex emotions become consistent or interfere with your sense of wellbeing, seeking professional help is encouraged.
Signs You May Benefit From Therapy
- You feel persistently sad, hopeless, or overwhelmed.
- Your emotions are interfering with your daily activities or relationships.
- You are experiencing physical symptoms like fatigue, sleep disturbances, or appetite changes.
- You find it difficult to manage stress or cope with life’s challenges.
- You have a history of trauma impacting your emotional well-being.
If anxiety or depression is interfering with your relationships, work, health, or overall well-being, please don’t wait until things get worse. Psychotherapy has proven to be an effective way to help individuals coping with depression and anxiety find the relief they need to enjoy life again.
What to Expect in Therapy
Signs You May Benefit From Therapy
Our client-centered process is designed to provide you with the safe, supportive environment you need to experience healing and growth. We see our role as the professional guide, but you remain in full control the entire time.
Step 1: Choose a therapist.
The first step is to find a therapist. Having a good fit with your counselor is a crucial element to the therapeutic process, so please review our clinician’s bios and see if any resonate with you. Alternatively, our administrative team will be happy to speak with you and make recommendations for a therapist who may be a good fit. If you would like help with being matched to the right counselor, please call our office at: 770-575-9393 Otherwise you can browse our therapists’ profiles via the link below.
Step 2: Schedule an appointment.
Once you’ve selected a counselor, the next step is to book an appointment. You can schedule either a complimentary 15-minute discovery call first or proceed to schedule your intake session.
Step 3: Attend your first appointment.
Your first official therapy session with a counselor is what’s called an ‘intake session.’ During an intake session, your counselor will work with you to understand your reason for seeking therapy and your mental health goals. They will also explain how the therapy process works, answer your questions, and begin getting to know you. The goal of this first session is to establish a connection with your therapist, so please don’t be shy and feel free to bring your questions.
Step 4: Receive ongoing support.
After the first couple sessions, your therapist will collaborate with you to develop a personalized, solution-focused plan to address your concerns. This treatment program simply acts as a guide to ensure your therapy sessions meet your unique needs and preferences. You remain in full control over your healing experience, and we can alter this plan at any time for any reason.
Step 5: Explore routine care or discontinuation.
Step 5: Explore routine care or discontinuation.
Many clients wonder, “How long does therapy take?” The simple answer is, as long as you want. While our goal is always to equip you with emotional tools to help you start feeling better from the first session, therapy is an evolving process that is designed to progress at your pace. For some clients, a handful of therapy sessions is enough for them. Other clients choose to go deeper into the therapy process beyond symptom management to get to the root cause of their struggle.
Whether you want 5-7 sessions over the course of a few months or weekly sessions for 6-12 months, we are honored to walk as deep into your story as you wish. Whenever you are ready to step into a new season of your journey, simply tell your therapist so we can ensure you are provided with the closure you need to move on with clarity and peace.
Is therapy right for me?
If symptoms of depression and anxiety are causing you to feel overwhelmed, please don’t wait.
Seeking help is a courageous next step to reclaiming your emotional health and well-being. If you are ready to develop tools for managing complex emotional experiences and/or explore the root of your symptoms with expert care and compassion, please contact us today. Our trauma-informed therapists are standing by to provide you with the support you need to go from surviving to thriving.
To learn more about our depression and anxiety therapy services or to schedule a discovery call with one of our counselors, please contact us via the link below or by calling us at: 770-575-9393