Depression Specialist

Brighter Life Therapy, PLLC -  - Clinical Psychologist

Brighter Life Therapy, PLLC

Clinical Psychologist & Therapists located in Cambridge, MA serving greater Boston, MA area. Now accepting Telehealth appointments

If you’re one of the 16 million American adults who live with depression, you might feel like you have a dark cloud following you everywhere you go. Michael Koren, PsyD, and the team of licensed mental health professionals at Brighter Life Therapy, PLLC, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, offer personalized psychotherapy services to help you cope with and recover from depression. Call Brighter Life Therapy, PLLC, or schedule a consultation online to learn how the team can help restore your quality of life.

Depression Q&A

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What is depression?

Depression, known clinically as major depressive disorder, is a mental health condition that causes pervasive feelings of sadness and hopelessness that affect your thoughts and actions. 

For example, in addition to feeling hopeless, you might have other symptoms, including:

  • No longer enjoying hobbies or social interactions
  • Appetite and weight changes
  • Disrupted sleep habits
  • Increased irritability
  • Fatigue 
  • Feeling like you don’t matter
  • Reduced focus and memory
  • Aches and pains
  • Abusing alcohol or other substances to self-medicate

Some people with depression think about self-harm or suicide. If you feel you are going to hurt yourself, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room for immediate help.

Depression can sometimes develop after a significant life change or trauma. In other cases, the condition might not have a discernible cause. Whether or not you know what triggered your depression, help is available. 

How is depression different from grief or sadness?

Everyone feels sad occasionally and experiences grief after a loss. You might have intense feelings of sadness and other depression symptoms. 

One of the indicators that you have major depressive disorder is that your symptoms last for two weeks or longer. Sadness and grief pass with time while depression persists until you get help. 

Depression is pervasive and affects many aspects of your life. For example, it can interfere with your performance at work or disrupt your relationships with friends, family, and loved ones. 

Depression feels like you’re looking at life through a veil, and you don’t even have the interest or energy to lift the veil. 

How can psychotherapy help with depression?

At Brighter Life Therapy, PLLC, the team works with you in personalized psychotherapy sessions to help you understand how your depression is affecting your life. 

As you explore your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, they help you develop the skills you need to cope with depression as your symptoms arise. 

Your therapist offers compassionate, nonjudgmental support when you need it most. They help you identify the root of your depression and help you build concrete strategies to reclaim your life. 

The team can collaborate with your physician, as in many cases, medication is a critical piece of managing and treating depression. Medication can often provide symptom relief and mental clarity that allows you to thrive in therapy. 

Call Brighter Life Therapy, PLLC, or make an appointment online today for personalized psychotherapy for depression.