Depression Therapy

Finding Light and Meaning Again

Depression can make even simple things feel heavy — getting out of bed, connecting with others, finding motivation or joy. It can leave you feeling numb, disconnected, or stuck in a fog you can’t explain.

You’re not alone, and you’re not broken. Depression is not a personal failure — it’s a signal from the mind and body that something needs care, understanding, and attention.

I offer Depression Therapy in Santa Barbara to help you gently reconnect with yourself, uncover what’s beneath the sadness, and begin to rediscover hope and vitality at your own pace.

Understanding Depression

Depression can take many forms — from chronic sadness or loss of pleasure, to irritability, exhaustion, or emptiness. It may follow a loss, trauma, or life change, or seem to appear without clear reason.

Therapy helps you understand how your thoughts, emotions, and nervous system are responding to the challenges in your life — and how to begin shifting out of survival mode into a place of safety and connection.

Common symptoms include:

  • Persistent sadness, fatigue, or loss of motivation

  • Changes in sleep, appetite, or energy

  • Feelings of guilt, shame, or worthlessness

  • Difficulty concentrating or finding pleasure

  • Withdrawal from friends or activities

  • Feeling hopeless about the future

You don’t have to go through this alone — healing begins with being seen and understood.

My Approach to Depression Therapy

Depression often thrives in isolation and silence. Therapy offers a space where your feelings can be safely spoken, witnessed, and explored without judgment.

My approach integrates Humanistic, Person-Centered Therapy, Trauma-Informed Care, and Evidence-Based tools like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and somatic awareness.

Together, we’ll explore the emotional, physical, and relational aspects of your depression — not just to manage symptoms, but to restore meaning and vitality in your life.

Trauma and Depression

Many people experiencing depression are also living with unresolved trauma or grief. A trauma-informed approach helps you understand how early or ongoing stress may have shaped your nervous system and patterns of coping.

We’ll work gently to:

  • Build safety and stability first

  • Explore root causes of emotional pain

  • Reconnect you with your body and emotions

  • Develop coping tools for day-to-day resilience

This process helps you move from “just surviving” to feeling more grounded, alive, and capable.

Somatic and Mindfulness-Based Approaches

Depression can cause your body to feel heavy, numb, or disconnected. Through Somatic Therapy, we help you tune into physical sensations and signals of emotion — reconnecting the mind and body.

Mindfulness offers tools to observe thoughts and feelings without being consumed by them, helping you experience greater peace and presence.

Animal-Assisted Support

Sophie, my certified therapy dog, often participates in sessions to bring comfort and connection. For many clients, her calm and nonjudgmental presence eases feelings of loneliness and helps open the heart to healing.

Animal-Assisted Therapy provides a gentle bridge for emotional expression when words are difficult.

What You Can Expect

Depression therapy is not about forcing positivity — it’s about learning to be with what’s real, and finding hope within that truth.

Together, we’ll uncover what your depression might be trying to tell you about your needs, boundaries, and life direction. Over time, you’ll notice:

  • A lighter emotional load

  • Better energy and focus

  • A greater sense of purpose

  • Renewed ability to connect with others

There is a way forward — and you don’t have to walk it alone.

Next Step

If you’re seeking Depression Therapy in Santa Barbara, I would be honored to walk alongside you. Healing begins when your pain is met with compassion. Together, we’ll work to help you feel more alive, connected, and at peace.

JAMIE FORTIN