Depression Treatment
Are You Feeling Sad But Don’t Know Why?
Do you struggle with chronic feelings of sadness or low mood?
Is it difficult to feel connected, energized, and motivated?
Have you lost interest in the activities and relationships that, at one time, provided joy?
Unlike many health conditions, depression is difficult to see. You may have noticed a change in your mood or energy levels but never thought of these symptoms as being associated with depression. It’s possible that depression has slowly crept into your life and taken over, causing you to feel generally low and uninspired.
Depression can also manifest as physical symptoms. Maybe there has been a dramatic shift in your energy levels and sleeping patterns. Perhaps you oversleep or struggle with insomnia. Similarly, you may have noticed changes in your appetite or weight.
Feeling drained, it is probably difficult to keep up with daily tasks. Instead of wanting to engage with your work, hobbies, and relationships, you may feel a desire to withdraw or numb the general feelings of sadness you experience on a regular basis.
For many people struggling with depression, a zest and appreciation for life get overshadowed by feelings of hopelessness. But it is possible to experience joy and a renewed sense of energy in your life. In depression treatment at Mindful Mental and Behavioral Health PLLC, you can receive tailored medication management and/or counseling services to help you overcome symptoms.
Depression Is A Common Response To Life’s Challenges
Depression affects a wide range of people across racial, cultural, and socioeconomic lines. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) estimates that at least 8.4 percent of the global population suffered at least one depressive episode in 2020, while around 280 million people are diagnosed with clinical depression in any given year.
There are many factors that lead to the onset of depression, such as genetics, brain chemistry, and co-occurring diagnoses. However, losses, transitions, and stressors—including tragic events, unemployment, and financial insecurity—can also be contributing factors. Many of us feel disconnected and insufficiently supported amidst major life obstacles, causing us to feel helpless and hopeless at times.
Depression can impair our ability to function so much that treatment becomes necessary. If we can’t engage in our social, professional, academic, or daily obligations, then we are likely to develop negative associations and feel drained by the elements of life that might otherwise offer a sense of meaning and purpose. Once we are caught up in this cycle, it can be difficult to escape without the perspective of a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), therapist, or mental health professional who is specially trained to identify and treat depression.
The therapists and PMHNPs at Mindful Mental and Behavioral Health PLLC specialize in mood disorders of all kinds, including depression. Our blend of proven counseling approaches and personalized medication management services can help you reduce depression-related symptoms.
Depression Treatment At Mindful Mental And Behavioral Health PLLC
If you are living with depression, you may feel regularly depleted of your mental and emotional energy. Treatment provides you with a valuable opportunity to build your coping strategies, develop protective mechanisms, and minimize the potential for future episodes of depression. As you are equipped with new skills and perspectives, you will be able to restore your motivation to tackle life’s obstacles.
What To Expect
Our therapists and PMHNPs are welcoming, nonjudgmental providers who are specially trained in depression treatment. We provide gentle guidance and support in helping you to understand and manage your emotions. As we learn more about your history and experience with depression, we can individualize the treatment process to develop solutions that will work for you.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) will also be a helpful tool in treatment for depression, as this method will help you learn to restructure your thoughts. Using CBT, you can better understand your unique triggers and techniques for behavioral activation, paving the way for daily lifestyle changes that can ultimately support your mental and emotional wellbeing.
Medication Can Be A Helpful Treatment Intervention
In addition to CBT skills and other effective counseling techniques, psychiatric medications may be used in depression treatment if you are working with one of our PMHNPs. There are many different kinds of antidepressants to include Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) that are recommended for treating symptoms. We will work with you to determine the proper medication and dosage for you.
Though depression may have taken over your sense of control and motivation, treatment can be an empowering experience. Working with our dedicated PMHNPs for medication management, you can regain a sense of energy and satisfaction in your life.
Still Unsure If Depression Treatment Can Help You?
I’m feeling very hopeless and having difficulty seeing past my depression—can treatment actually help?
We have worked with many clients who feel hopeless that relief from depression is possible. However, as these clients begin treatment, they often notice a dramatic shift in their energy levels and desire to re-engage with the world around them.
Research shows that a combination of psychiatric medications and therapy is the most effective approach to treating depression. Even if you are doubtful that anything can help ease the pain of depression, we encourage you to work with our therapists or PMHNPs who use verified counseling techniques and/or medication management services to help our clients thrive.
I have so much to be grateful for—I don’t understand why I feel depressed.
Understanding the why behind our depression can be very difficult—especially in the absence of identifiable stressors like loss or trauma. However, if we decide that our feelings are somehow not justified, it can lead to further experiences of guilt and sadness.
It’s important to keep in mind that depression does not always stem from external factors that we can identify. Sometimes genetics and brain chemistry lead to an imbalance that causes symptoms of depression.
If you are struggling with depression, you deserve support.
How long does it take for antidepressants to reduce symptoms?
The effect of psychiatric medications varies from person to person—some people may notice improvements within two weeks of starting a medication, while others may not see a reduction in symptoms until about four to six weeks.
If you are prescribed psychiatric medications, our PMHNPs will check in with you regularly to track your response to medications and monitor for side effects, and we can adjust medications and dosages as needed.
Anxiety Treatment At Mindful Mental And Behavioral Health PLLC
In sessions with your provider, you will actually be able to slow down and adjust your thought process. Instead of feeling constantly stressed and panicked, you can improve your mindset in a way that makes your worries more manageable.
Once your therapist or PMHNP has a strong idea of your specific anxiety symptoms and goals for treatment, they will incorporate customized counseling techniques to help you establish effective coping mechanisms. Elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) may be used to help you identify and adjust the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, while relaxation and mindfulness skills will help you calm the nervous system. Through treatment, you will be able to recognize when you are becoming anxious or catastrophizing so that you can course-correct and self-soothe.
Medication May Be A Helpful Treatment Intervention
In addition to proven therapy techniques, psychiatric medication management may be a foundational element of anxiety treatment at Mindful Mental and Behavioral Health PLLC. If you are interested in exploring medications, we will work to understand your short- and long-term goals for symptom reduction as we determine the proper medications and dosages for you.
It is possible to get through your day without excessive worry and feeling out of control. Through treatment for generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic attacks, you can pave the way to a life that is not overshadowed by fear and self-doubt.
Still Not Sure If Anxiety Treatment Is Right For You?
Everyone deals with anxiety—why do I need treatment?
It’s true that we all encounter situations that trigger worry and stress. However, our responses should be proportionate to the situation. When our responses are disproportionate, it can significantly impair our ability to function and make decisions.
Treatment is an opportunity to address anxiety disorders of all kinds, including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic attacks. Moreover, treatment can significantly improve your overall mental health and well-being.
Talking about my anxiety with a therapist or PMHNP will just make my worries and ruminations worse.
This is a very common concern, but our providers have actually found that the opposite is true. Identifying and verbalizing anxiety is a huge step toward resolving symptoms. You are likely to see that the more you discuss and recognize specific sources of anxiety, the more you can manage the thoughts and emotions associated with your fears.
The idea of receiving anxiety treatment increases my anxiety.
We understand that discussing your fears and worries with a provider you don’t know may be uncomfortable at first. As a result, our clinicians create a safe and nurturing space to explore your concerns. We recognize that being exposed to challenging situations will ultimately help you reduce the experience of anxiety in your life. By stepping outside of your comfort zone with a gentle and highly trained therapist or PMHNP, you can begin to grow and identify your strengths.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Practice
Sessions are conducted primarily online via telehealth. If you are interested in meeting with a provider in-person, please contact our office at (207) 316-2609 to discuss availability for in-person sessions.
In general, we accept Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield (Anthem, Premera, Regence, etc.), Cigna, PacificSource, and Providence. That said, the insurances our providers work with can vary from provider to provider. To learn what insurances a provider accepts, please visit their About page or contact our office at (207) 316-2609. In addition, we recommend that you check with your insurance company prior to initiating services to ensure we are in-network and to determine your patient responsibility for sessions. If at any time we discover we are not in-network with your insurance, you will be responsible for the full costs of all sessions (past and future).
We do not accept Medicaid and Medicare.
We do not work with EAPs.
In addition to the accepted insurances listed above, our services are available to self-pay clients and those with out-of-network benefits.
For individuals using insurance to cover appointments, the cost of appointments is determined by each insurance’s contracted rates with our organization. Thus, the cost of appointments may be notably different than the cost of appointments for individuals who are self-pay. Furthermore, the cost of appointments may vary from session to session depending on several factors to include the length of the appointment and the complexity of the appointment. If you plan to use insurance, our office can provide a better estimate of costs once you provide your insurance information. Please contact us at (207) 316-2609 if you require further assistance.
For individuals who are self-pay:
Rates vary depending on type of service (therapy vs. medication management) and length of session. Please contact our office for additional information.
Payments are completed through our patient portal. Payments can be made using major credit/debit cards (American Express, Visa, Mastercard, etc.) as well as FSAs and HSAs.
Our policy is to collect payments before rendering services. However, we cannot always predict the cost of sessions in advance because services and length of sessions may vary from appointment to appointment. For clients using insurance, you will likely be responsible for either a co-pay or for paying the full costs of sessions until your deductible is met. Please ensure you fully understand your insurance benefits to prevent future billing concerns.
Regardless of your insurance status and payment method, we will always be as up-front with you as possible about the cost of treatment.
We have therapists with immediate availability. To schedule an intake assessment with one of our therapists, please visit our scheduling page.
To inquire about medication management services with our PMHNP, please contact our office at (207) 316-2609.
Clients must cancel or reschedule appointments at least 48 hours before their appointment. If appointments are not canceled or rescheduled with at least 48 hours’ notice, or if clients do not show to their appointment, they will be charged a late cancellation fee of $150. To ensure we treat all clients consistently and ethically and to be respectful of our providers’ time, we must enforce our late cancellation and no-show policy. Fees incurred for late cancellations and no shows are out-of-pockets expenses. They cannot be billed to insurance.
Just Because You Cannot See The Pain, It Doesn’t Mean It’s Not There
Depression treatment at Mindful Mental and Behavioral Health PLLC includes therapy techniques and/or psychiatric medication management to help clients address feelings of sadness, numbness, and pain. To get started with one of our therapists or PMHNPs, schedule an appointment today or call (207) 316–2609 with any questions.