Depression doesn't always look the way people expect. Sometimes it's deep sadness, but just as often it shows up as numbness, a heavy fatigue that sleep doesn't fix, or a quiet withdrawal from the people and things that used to matter to you. You might feel disconnected from yourself, going through the motions without really being present. You may have lost interest in things you once loved, and you're not sure when or why that happened.
If any of this resonates, I want you to know that depression responds to treatment. Not just coping with it better, but actually feeling different. Most people find that making contact is the hardest step. You've already done that.
How I Work with Depression
Depression often involves a deep disconnection from the body. You might feel flat, heavy, or like there's a wall between you and the rest of the world. That's why a somatic approach can be so effective. Rather than only talking about what's wrong, we also pay attention to what's happening in your body. We work gently to help you come back into contact with sensations, aliveness, and the parts of yourself that depression has muted.
Mindfulness practices play an important role as well. When you're depressed, the mind tends to pull you into rumination, replaying the past or telling you stories about how things will never change. Mindfulness helps you learn to be present without being overwhelmed by sadness or heaviness. Over time, you start to notice moments of lightness, curiosity, or connection that depression had been covering over.
I also draw on depth-oriented approaches to understand what's underneath the depression. Sometimes depression is a response to grief, unprocessed loss, or experiences where important parts of who you are had to be set aside. By exploring these deeper layers with care and at your own pace, we can begin to address the roots of the depression rather than just the surface symptoms.
What Progress Looks Like
In the beginning, therapy is about creating a space where you feel safe enough to be honest about what's really going on. From there, we work together to help you reconnect with your body, understand your patterns, and gradually rediscover a sense of meaning and vitality. Many people begin to notice small but real shifts in the first few weeks, like having a bit more energy, feeling slightly more present, or finding a moment of genuine interest in something again.
Sessions are 50 minutes, and I typically recommend starting with weekly sessions. We'll talk about what makes sense for you during the free consultation.
Why This Approach
Depression often makes you feel like you've tried everything. And maybe you have. Journaling, exercise, talking to friends, waiting it out. What I offer is different from all of those, including what most therapists provide. I work with your body as well as your mind, because depression lives in the body: the flatness, the heaviness, the sense of being muted. By working somatically, I can begin to reach parts of you that talk therapy alone often can't.
Approaches I Use for Depression
Somatic Psychology
Depression often creates a sense of disconnection from your own body. You might feel flat, heavy, or like there’s a wall between you and everything else. Somatic work gently invites you back into contact with yourself, helping you find aliveness and sensation that depression has muted.
Mindfulness Practices
A depressed mind tends to pull you into rumination and stories about how things will never change. Mindfulness helps you learn to be present with what’s actually here, without being overwhelmed by heaviness. Over time, you begin to notice small moments of lightness that depression had been covering over.
Depth-Oriented Approaches
Depression is often a signal that something deeper needs attention. Grief, unprocessed loss, or experiences where important parts of you had to be set aside can all show up as depression. Depth-oriented work explores these layers carefully and at your own pace, addressing roots rather than symptoms.
Questions About Depression Therapy
What does depression therapy look like?
Depression therapy starts with building a safe, supportive relationship where you can be honest about what you're experiencing. From there, we work together using somatic awareness, mindfulness, and depth-oriented exploration to help you reconnect with yourself and understand what's underneath the depression. Sessions are 50 minutes, and I typically recommend meeting weekly.
Is depression just feeling sad?
Depression is much more than sadness. It often shows up as numbness, exhaustion, loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, difficulty concentrating, withdrawal from people you care about, and a feeling of being disconnected from yourself and the world around you. Some people don't feel sad at all. They just feel empty or flat.
How long does it take to feel better?
Many people begin to notice small shifts within the first few weeks, like feeling a bit more present or having slightly more energy. Deeper and more lasting change typically unfolds over 3 to 6 months of weekly sessions. Everyone's pace is different, and we'll check in regularly about how the work is feeling for you.
Should I try therapy or medication first for depression?
Both can be effective, and for many people the combination works best. For mild to moderate depression, therapy alone often produces meaningful and lasting results. For more severe depression, medication can help create the stability that makes therapy more accessible. If you’re already working with a prescriber, therapy works well alongside medication. I’m happy to talk through what might make sense for your situation during a free consultation.
How to Get Started
Getting started is simple. Here’s how the process works.
Schedule a Free Call
Book a free 15-minute phone consultation. We’ll talk about what you’re experiencing and whether working together feels right. No obligation.
First Session
We’ll create a space where you can be honest about what’s really going on. No pressure to share more than you’re ready for. You set the pace.
Ongoing Work
Weekly sessions to help you reconnect with your body, understand your patterns, and gradually rediscover a sense of meaning and vitality.
What Clients Say
Aaron changed my life. He always had a way of calming me down. A master at breaking things down, he is truly the best of the best.
Peter F. · Portland, OR
Within 90 seconds of meeting Aaron, I knew there was an impalpable connection. He has this incredible way of making me answer my own questions. He really custom tailors each session in a natural way.
Kylie R. · Portland, OR