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Depression is more than feeling sad — it is a serious but treatable medical condition that affects how you think, feel, and function in daily life. It can make even simple tasks feel exhausting, drain the joy from activities you once loved, and make it hard to see a path forward. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Depression affects more than 21 million adults in the US each year, and with the right support, most people recover. At Guzman & Baker, our therapists are here to walk alongside you through that recovery.

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What is depression?

Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness that last for weeks, months, or longer. Unlike ordinary sadness — which tends to be temporary and connected to a specific event — depression lingers and affects nearly every area of your life. There are several forms of depression, and your therapist will help identify which type you are experiencing so that your treatment plan fits your specific needs.
Major depressive disorder involves one or more depressive episodes lasting at least two weeks. During an episode, you experience a depressed mood or loss of interest in activities most of the day, nearly every day, along with several other symptoms. MDD can range from mild to severe and can significantly impair your ability to work, maintain relationships, or care for yourself.
Persistent depressive disorder involves a chronically depressed mood that lasts for at least two years, though the symptoms are often less severe than a major depressive episode. People with PDD sometimes describe it as feeling like low-grade sadness has always been their baseline — they may not realize things could feel different. Because it develops slowly over time, PDD is often underdiagnosed.
Seasonal affective disorder follows a seasonal pattern, most commonly beginning in the fall or winter when daylight hours shorten and lifting in spring. If you find your mood, energy, sleep, and appetite changing significantly with the seasons each year, SAD may be worth exploring. Light therapy, psychotherapy, and other approaches can all be effective.
Postpartum depression goes well beyond the “baby blues” that many new parents experience in the first few weeks after birth. It involves persistent depression, anxiety, exhaustion, or difficulty bonding with your baby that can begin during pregnancy or in the months after delivery. Postpartum depression is not a character flaw or a sign that you are a bad parent — it is a medical condition, and it is treatable.

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Common symptoms

Depression affects people differently, but common symptoms include:
  • Persistent sad, empty, or hopeless mood
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed (anhedonia)
  • Significant changes in appetite or weight
  • Sleep difficulties — either sleeping too much or too little
  • Fatigue and low energy, even after rest
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions
  • Feelings of worthlessness, excessive guilt, or shame
  • Physical aches, pains, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause
  • Moving or speaking noticeably more slowly than usual, or feeling restless and agitated
  • Thoughts of death or suicide
Depression affects your body as well as your mind. Unexplained physical symptoms — chronic pain, headaches, or digestive issues — are common in people with depression and often improve as depression is treated.
You do not need to experience every symptom to have depression. Even a few of these symptoms, when persistent and impairing, are worth discussing with a mental health professional.

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How Guzman & Baker approaches depression treatment

No two people experience depression in exactly the same way, so our therapists take time to understand your history, your strengths, and what is most meaningful to you before designing a treatment plan. We use approaches that have strong research backing and that have helped many people move from surviving to thriving.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is one of the most extensively studied treatments for depression. It works by helping you recognize and shift the negative thought patterns that fuel low mood — thoughts like “I’m worthless,” “nothing will ever get better,” or “it’s all my fault.” At the same time, CBT helps you gradually re-engage with activities and behaviors that bring a sense of accomplishment, connection, or pleasure.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

MBCT is especially effective for people who have experienced multiple depressive episodes. It combines mindfulness practices with cognitive therapy to help you recognize early warning signs of depression and respond with awareness rather than slipping back into depressive thought patterns. Research shows MBCT can cut the risk of relapse in half for people with recurrent depression.

Person-Centered Therapy (PCT)

PCT offers a warm, non-judgmental space to explore your feelings and experiences at your own pace. The relationship with your therapist is itself therapeutic — feeling genuinely heard, accepted, and understood can begin to counter the self-criticism and isolation that depression often brings. PCT is particularly valuable for people who benefit from a more open, exploratory approach to healing.

Behavioral Activation

A core element of CBT for depression, behavioral activation is based on the insight that depression and inactivity create a self-reinforcing cycle. When you are depressed, you tend to withdraw and stop doing things you enjoy — which deepens the depression. Behavioral activation helps you break this cycle by scheduling meaningful activity, even when motivation is low. It is practical, concrete, and highly effective.

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What to expect in treatment

Your first sessions are about getting to know you and understanding the full picture of what you have been experiencing. You will not be rushed. Your therapist will ask questions about your mood, history, daily life, and what you hope therapy will help you achieve.
Depression can make it hard to see the point of doing anything — including starting therapy. If getting to your first appointment feels like climbing a mountain, know that many people feel exactly that way at the start. That difficulty is part of what you are treating, not a sign that therapy will not help.
Over the course of treatment, you and your therapist will work on practical skills, deeper self-understanding, or both, depending on what resonates with you. Many people notice meaningful shifts in mood and functioning within 8–16 sessions, though the timeline varies.

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When to seek help

Reach out to Guzman & Baker if you have been experiencing:
  • Low mood, emptiness, or hopelessness most days for two weeks or more
  • Loss of interest in activities or people that used to matter to you
  • Difficulty getting through work, school, or daily responsibilities
  • Changes in sleep, appetite, or energy that are noticeably different from your norm
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or like a burden to others
  • Thoughts of death, dying, or suicide
If you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please reach out immediately. You can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or go to your nearest emergency room. Your therapist at Guzman & Baker can also help you build a safety plan.
Starting therapy is an act of courage, not weakness. Whatever has brought you to this point, we are here to help you find your way forward.