For the exhaustion sleep doesn't fix
Depression therapy for a kind of tired talk alone won't lift.
For days that blur into each other, motivation that's gone missing, and a flatness that doesn't always look like sadness. Evidence-based therapy at a pace that doesn't ask you to perform wellness you don't feel yet. Telehealth across California, plus in-person in Walnut Creek with Tina.
Good fit if
- Things you used to enjoy feel like effort now
- You're moving through days on autopilot, going through motions you can't feel
- Sleep is either too much or not enough — and neither helps
- You're functional on the outside and quietly empty inside
- You're noticing hopeless thoughts or self-critical patterns you can't reason yourself out of
- Recent loss, transition, or chronic stress has tipped you into something heavier
Not a fit if
- Active suicidal crisis — we're not a 24/7 service; call 988 or go to an ER, then we can support you stepping down from crisis care
- Severe treatment-resistant depression that's already required multiple medication trials — you may benefit from a specialty clinic alongside therapy
Not sure which column you're in? Book a free consult. If we're not the right fit, we'll help you find someone who is.
What the work looks like
How we actually work together.
Depression therapy doesn't start with 'think positive.' It starts with understanding what's maintaining the current state — ruminative thoughts, behavioral withdrawal, disrupted routines, unprocessed losses, or body-level depletion. From there, we use the tools that actually work.
Behavioral activation gets the body moving again before the mood catches up. CBT interrupts the self-critical thought patterns that depression feeds on. ACT helps you take small actions aligned with what matters to you even when motivation is offline. And for depression that's trauma-rooted, EMDR and IFS work directly on the underlying material rather than the symptoms alone.
Expect the work to feel slow at first — depression flattens everything, including the sense that therapy is doing anything. We'll track small shifts and recalibrate together. If therapy alone isn't enough and medication would help, we'll refer and coordinate.
Modalities we draw from
Wondering if this is the work you need?
Free 15-minute call. We'll figure out together if we're the right starting point.
Book a Free ConsultWho on our team does this work
4 therapists who specialize here.
Christina Mathieson
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) #115093
Human sexuality, couples work, ADHD and neurodiversity-affirming therapy, and affirming care for individuals navigating relationships, identity, and life transitions.
Michelle Cortez
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) #146795
Supervised by Christina Mathieson, LMFT #115093
Couples work grounded in attachment theory and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT); anxiety and OCD using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP); cultural identity, relationship challenges, and the weight of carrying trauma quietly. Relational and culturally responsive at heart.
Tina Masoudi
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) #155851
Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) #19568
Supervised by Christina Mathieson, LMFT #115093
Trauma-informed therapy for young adults navigating anxiety, grief, identity, and life-stage transitions, with previous clinical experience at a college counseling center. Also works with couples, families, first responders, and clients impacted by the justice system. Optional Christian counseling for clients who want faith to be part of the room.
Jalyse Stewart
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) #153712
Supervised by Christina Mathieson, LMFT #115093
Trauma-informed therapy for women healing from childhood sexual abuse, complex trauma, and what a lifetime of carrying other people's weight does to the nervous system. I also work with neurodivergent clients and trauma that intersects with grief, anxiety, or chronic overcompensation.
FAQ
Common questions about depression therapy.
I don't feel like talking. Can therapy still help?
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Yes. A good therapist doesn't require you to produce insight on command. Early sessions can focus on small behavioral experiments and basic regulation — showing up is the hardest part and that alone is a useful start.
Do I need to be on medication for therapy to work?
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No. Therapy alone is effective for many forms of depression. For severe depression, combining therapy and medication is often more effective than either alone — we'll refer if that's indicated.
What if I've tried therapy before and it didn't work?
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Tell us what didn't work. The approach matters, the therapist fit matters, and the time it's happening in your life matters. Different tools work for different people; previous therapy not helping doesn't mean therapy won't work.
Can therapy help if my depression is from a specific life event?
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Yes — and often faster. Situational depression (grief, divorce, job loss, chronic stress) typically responds well to targeted work on the specific event and its meaning.
References & further reading
- NIMH — Depression — National Institute of Mental Health
- APA Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Depression — American Psychological Association
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — SAMHSA / 988 Lifeline
- Man's Search for Meaning — Viktor Frankl — Viktor Frankl
Last clinically reviewed: April 24, 2026 by Christina Mathieson, LMFT #115093.
Free monthly workshop
It's Not Just the Fight: How Trauma Shows Up in Your Relationship
Thursday, April 30, 2026 · 6:00 PM PT · Zoom · Free
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Learn moreReady to talk it through?
Free 15-minute call. We'll figure out if depression therapy is the right work for where you are, and match you with the right person on our team.
Book a Free Consult