Depression doesn’t always look like what people expect. You may still be going to work, showing up for others, and getting through your day—but inside, something feels off. Things that used to feel meaningful now feel flat. Even small tasks can take more effort than they should.
What Depression Can Feel Like
Depression often shows up as:
- A persistent sense of heaviness or low energy
- Losing interest in things you used to care about
- Feeling disconnected from yourself or others
- Difficulty focusing, deciding, or following through
- Being hard on yourself or feeling like you’re falling short
At times, it can feel like:
- You’re going through the motions
- You “should” feel better, but don’t
- Something is wrong, but you can’t fully explain it
High-Functioning Depression
Many people I work with don’t appear depressed from the outside. They are responsible, capable, and often hold themselves to high standards—but internally feel:
- Drained
- Unmotivated
- Disconnected
- Stuck in cycles of self-criticism or pressure
Because they’re still functioning, their experience often goes unnoticed—by others and sometimes even by themselves.
When Depression Becomes Stuck
Depression isn’t just about mood—it often reflects deeper patterns. You may:
- Withdraw from others without fully realizing it
- Feel stuck in certain roles or expectations
- Struggle to access or express your emotions
- Feel disconnected from what you want or need
Even if you understand some of this, it can still feel hard to shift.
How Therapy for Depression Helps
In therapy, we look beyond symptoms and begin to understand what’s contributing to the depression. This includes exploring:
- Emotional patterns that may feel blocked or difficult to access
- Internal expectations and self-criticism
- Relationship patterns and experiences of connection or disconnection
- Earlier experiences that shaped how you relate to yourself
As these patterns become clearer, people often begin to feel:
- More emotionally engaged
- Less weighed down
- More connected to themselves and others
A Deeper Approach to Depression
Some approaches to depression focus primarily on symptom relief—and those can be helpful.
At times, we may incorporate:
- Practical strategies to support energy and structure
- Ways to reduce self-critical thinking
- Tools to help you re-engage with daily life
But we won’t stop there. We’ll also work to understand what’s underneath the depression, so that change feels more meaningful and lasting—not something you have to constantly manage.
One mistake, setback, or negative feeling can lead to catastrophic thoughts and feelings that may result in isolation, substance use, or suicidal thoughts. I will teach you how to interrupt those thought spirals and negative thought patterns. I have trained in the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), a therapeutic framework for suicide-specific assessment and treatment of suicidal risk. Beyond merely assessing suicidal risk, CAMS is a proven clinical intervention that effectively treats patient-defined suicidal drivers while leading to reductions in symptom distress, depression, and hopelessness.
What It’s Like to Work Together
I provide online therapy for depression to adults in Houston and across Texas. My approach is insight-oriented, grounded in psychodynamic and relational therapy. I pay attention not only to your thoughts, but to your emotional and relational experience. Together, we begin to make sense of patterns that may have felt confusing, automatic, or difficult to change. This is not a quick-fix approach—but it is one that can lead to deeper and more lasting change. If you’re looking for therapy that goes beyond surface-level coping and helps you understand the deeper patterns behind how you’re feeling, this may be a good fit.
We can start with a brief conversation and see if working together feels like a good fit.