Depression Therapy and Support

Key takeaways

• Depression impacts mood, energy, sleep, and everyday functioning, even when your life appears stable from the outside
• Experts at Montage Health provide personalized depression treatment in Monterey County with individual therapy, medication management, and care for co-occurring conditions
• For treatment-resistant depression, we offer advanced options, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and esketamine therapy

Summary

Find comprehensive depression therapy and support, including advanced treatment options when symptoms don’t improve.

Depression can slowly change how you move through the world. You may feel sad, numb, exhausted, or disconnected, even without an obvious trigger. And, some days, just keeping up with normal routines can seem impossible.

If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not broken. Depression is real, and it’s heavy. At Montage Health, our providers take the time to listen to your experiences and offer steady, meaningful support. We’re here to guide you back to feeling like yourself again. You won’t have to take the journey alone.

What does depression look like in adults?

Depression isn’t the same for everyone. Some people feel deep sadness, while others notice physical or mental changes. Symptoms may come and go, or they may linger for weeks or months. Common symptoms of untreated depression include:

• Persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability
• Loss of interest in usual activities
• Low energy or fatigue
• Sleeping too much or too little

What kinds of depression do you treat?

There are several related conditions within a depression diagnosis. Understanding your specific type can help guide your treatment. Some of the most common forms are:

• Major depressive disorder: Symptoms that persist and interfere with daily life, work, or relationships
• Persistent depressive disorder: A milder form of chronic (long-lasting) depression
• Postpartum depression: Depression following pregnancy and childbirth
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): Depression linked to seasonal changes, most often during fall and winter

Sometimes depression appears alongside other mental health concerns, such as anxiety or bipolar disorder. When depression occurs with substance use disorder, we call it dual diagnosis. Our team takes a comprehensive approach to treat overlapping conditions together.

What to do if you think you have depression

Noticing signs of depression can bring up new questions and self-doubt. A few simple habits can help bring some structure and relief back into your day:

• Add gentle movement, such as walks or stretches
• Break larger tasks into smaller, doable steps
• Maintain consistent sleep and wake times
• Practice being kinder to yourself
• Spend time outdoors or in natural light
• Stay connected with people you love

These strategies are a good starting point, but depression often needs more than self-care alone. If symptoms linger or start to feel heavier, it’s OK to ask for help and talk with a mental health professional.

How we treat depression

Depression treatment at Montage Health begins with a conversation. A provider will ask about your symptoms, health history, stressors, and goals. Then, you’ll work together to create a plan that fits your life, based on what you need right now. Your treatment may include:

• Group therapy, where you can share experiences and learn alongside others facing similar challenges
• Medication to regulate mood and energy
• Individual therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy, to shift thought patterns and build coping skills lifestyle support for sleep, exercise, nutrition, and other routines
• Holistic healing, including mindfulness and art therapy

Our team checks in regularly and adjusts your care as needed. If you need more structure, we can help you transition into our partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), or inpatient care programs.

What to expect from therapy for depression

Therapy provides a time to talk openly about your experiences and make sense of how depression is affecting you. We focus on your pace and your choices. Some people come in knowing exactly what they want to work on. Others just want to feel a little better each day. Both are valid places to begin.

Each visit builds on the last. Over time, your provider gets to know you and how to support you best. You’ll learn how to spot unhealthy patterns, set goals, and practice skills to use between sessions.

What if my depression isn’t getting better?

It can be discouraging to do all the right things and still feel stuck. If your depression hasn’t improved the way you hoped, you may need a different approach. Maybe your antidepressant medication isn’t working anymore, or therapy alone isn’t enough. When depression doesn’t respond to standard treatments, we call it treatment-resistant depression.

Our team takes the time to reassess what you’ve tried and whether anything may be complicating your recovery, such as other medical conditions. From there, we’ll discuss new treatment recommendations. We offer two advanced options for treatment-resistant depression: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and esketamine therapy.

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