Start Feeling Better Now – Call (650) 461-9026 or Text (650) 461-9026
Clients often describe depression as feeling like they’re constantly wearing dark sunglasses, with everything seeming dim and muted. At Palo Alto Therapy, we specialize in helping you lift that emotional fog. Our skilled therapists use evidence-based approaches like CBT to help you feel better, often without the need for long-term counseling.
Call us (650) 461-9026 or Text us (650) 461-9026 today to get started, or book an appointment online – in-person and video appointments available!
Depression isn’t just about sadness. Instead, it’s a heavy, exhausting weight that can make it hard to get out of bed, focus at work, or feel connected to the people you care about. It often shows up as numbness, guilt, irritability, or a deep sense of emptiness that doesn’t seem to lift.
Whether you’ve been feeling this way for weeks or you’re stuck in cycles of low motivation and self-criticism, therapy can help. You don’t have to carry this alone. With the support of a compassionate therapist, you can find relief, rebuild confidence, and begin to feel like yourself again.
While depression is often associated with sadness or low mood, it can take many different forms. Understanding the type of depression you’re experiencing helps guide the best course of therapy:
No matter the form, depression is treatable. Our experienced therapists at Palo Alto Therapy are trained to recognize and address all types of depression using proven methods like CBT, helping you find clarity, confidence, and relief.
At Palo Alto Therapy, we use proven techniques tailored to your specific needs. Our therapists are trained in evidence-based methods, such as:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective treatments for depression. It helps identify and shift the negative thought patterns and behaviors that keep you feeling stuck.
Derived from evidence-based practices, CBT has consistently demonstrated its capacity to uplift one’s mood and fundamentally reshape one’s perspective on life. Numerous clinical trials back its efficacy, setting it apart from other therapeutic interventions.
One of CBT’s distinct advantages is its relatively shorter duration compared to other therapeutic approaches. When this method is synergized with our deeply personable, empathetic, and grounded approach, the results can be nothing short of transformative, ushering in life-changing rewards for those who embrace it.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an effective treatment for depression, especially for those struggling with intense emotions, mood swings, or self-destructive behaviors. DBT helps individuals develop skills in emotional regulation, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Rooted in evidence-based practices, DBT has been shown to reduce emotional distress and increase emotional resilience, providing individuals with practical tools to navigate difficult emotions and challenging situations. It offers a structured approach to help individuals balance acceptance and change, leading to improved coping mechanisms and healthier relationships.
One of DBT’s strengths is its focus on teaching clients to manage emotional pain without resorting to harmful behaviors. With DBT’s evidence-backed strategies, clients can experience long-term improvements in their emotional well-being and overall quality of life.
Helping Kids with Depression, One Play Session at a Time
Play Therapy is a specialized approach for children and younger teens struggling with depression. Since children may find it difficult to express their emotions verbally, Play Therapy allows them to communicate and process their feelings through creative and expressive activities such as drawing, role-playing, and storytelling.
Based on well-established therapeutic principles, Play Therapy helps children identify and express emotions in a safe and supportive environment. It offers children a non-threatening way to work through complex emotions, reduce anxiety, and build coping skills that will serve them well into adulthood.
One of the key advantages of Play Therapy is that it meets children at their developmental level, allowing them to engage with therapy in ways that feel natural and empowering. This approach helps build emotional resilience, encourages self-expression, and fosters a sense of agency in young clients.
If you’re tired of feeling down or emotionally drained, know that healing is possible. Our supportive therapists are here to guide you every step of the way.
Call us (650) 461-9026 or Text us (650) 461-9026 ,or book an appointment online to get started today.
With convenient office locations in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and San Jose, we proudly serve the entire Silicon Valley community – from Stanford University and the Peninsula to the South Bay, offering easy access for tech professionals, students, and families.
Everyone is different. Many clients notice improvements within a few sessions, while others benefit from ongoing support. We tailor therapy to your goals. That said, we utilize approaches like CBT that can often offer results within just a few sessions.
Not at all. Whether or not you’ve been formally diagnosed, therapy can help if you’re feeling persistently down or overwhelmed.
If your mood is interfering with your daily life, therapy is worth exploring. You don’t need to meet a clinical threshold to benefit from support.
Yes. Depression can affect children and teens just as deeply as adults, though it may show up differently, such as through increased irritability, withdrawal, or changes in school performance. Our therapists are trained to work with young clients using age-appropriate strategies, including CBT, play-based approaches, and family involvement when helpful. Early support can make a big difference.
Many people experience overlapping mental health conditions, and our therapists are experienced in treating depression alongside ADHD, autism, or OCD. We tailor therapy to your unique needs, using flexible and structured approaches that work well across neurodiverse populations. Therapy can help you manage symptoms holistically and improve overall well-being.
Yes. Depression therapy is not one-size-fits-all. We use tailored, evidence-based approaches like CBT, and our therapists work collaboratively to adjust your treatment until you find what works. If you’ve struggled in the past, we’ll help you try a new path forward.
Choose from three locations:
All locations offer free parking and are easily accessible from major highways and Caltrain.
Specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, we provide effective & caring counseling. Our therapists are passionate in delivering high-quality therapy & enhance their skills through the latest trainings.
Our relationship with you is valued & of highest importance. We are compassionate, respectful, & honest. Our professional counseling includes working side by side with you towards YOUR goals.
Our active therapists use tailored homework exercises to help you find relief in a timely manner. By keeping our meetings on track & targeting specific concerns we help you enjoy life again, usually in a matter of months not years.
Appointments after 5pm & Saturdays, friendly administrative staff, & three locations: Palo Alto, Menlo Park, & San Jose. We help children, teens & adults, couples, & families. Video therapy available!
I found the homework exercises to be very helpful to me. I’ve been able to use techniques I have learned from those exercises to slow down my thoughts when problems arise and work through whatever the issue may be, OCD or otherwise.
I liked the emphasis on doing concrete things to get results-writing down negative thoughts, trying to say things to counter those thoughts…Thank you for helping me make my life better.
Palo Alto Therapy does not just provide talk therapy, but focuses on teaching skills to maintain therapy. You have a genuine interest in the client’s well-being and you offered a new way of thinking about or means of addressing my issues.
