Depression Therapy
Boutique East Bay Therapy in Orinda, CA
Relational, integrative depression therapy that goes deeper than symptom relief.
Supporting adults who appear capable on the outside, yet feel low, disconnected, or emotionally worn down inside.
Depression therapy for adults in Orinda and the East Bay,
with in-person and online sessions available throughout California.
When It Feels Like Too Much
Understanding Depression, Emotional Disconnection, & Inner Emptiness
You’re getting through the days, but something feels off.
Life keeps moving, and you keep showing up—without the same sense of presence or meaning.
On the outside, you may still appear capable. Inside, everything feels heavier.
Your energy is low. Motivation comes and goes. Things that once mattered don’t land the same way, and activities you used to enjoy feel distant or out of reach.
How Depression Often Shows Up
Depression does not always look the way you expect.
It often shows up quietly, in your body, your emotions, or the way you move through your days.
Rather than intense sadness, it may feel like numbness, heaviness, or a gradual loss of connection to yourself and your life.
You might notice yourself:
→ Feeling emotionally flat, numb, or distant—like you’re moving through life without fully being in it
→ Going through the motions while presence, meaning, or enjoyment feel out of reach
→ Losing interest in relationships, hobbies, or things that once mattered to you
→ Carrying a mental or physical heaviness, with foggy thinking or slowed energy
→ Feeling alone or disconnected, accompanied by guilt, shame, or a quiet sense of emptiness
For many people, these experiences don’t appear all at once—they slowly weave into daily life.
When These Patterns Begin to Shape Your Daily Life
You take care of responsibilities and meet expectations, yet feel disconnected from yourself. Joy feels muted, if it appears at all. At times, you feel empty, numb, or emotionally shut down without knowing why.
You may find yourself pulling back from people or interests you once cared about—not because you don’t value them, but because everything takes more effort than it used to.
Others may notice you’re quieter or less engaged. You may wonder what’s wrong with you, or why things feel so hard when your life looks “fine” on the outside.
At Bountiful Health, we offer depression therapy in the East Bay for adults who think deeply, feel deeply, and feel worn down by how hard it is to be in their own minds.
In-person sessions are available in Orinda, with online depression therapy offered throughout California.
How Depression Therapy Can Support You
At Bountiful Health, depression therapy isn’t about forcing positivity or pushing yourself to feel better before you’re ready.
Instead, we work together to understand what your depression may be responding to, how emotional withdrawal, numbness, or heaviness developed, and what has helped you get through periods of disconnection or loss.
Therapy becomes a space to gently explore emotional patterns, beliefs, and relational experiences that may be contributing to feelings of being stuck or depleted. The work unfolds at a pace that feels steady, supportive, and respectful of your energy and inner world.
A Note About This Work
This work is not about fixing you, motivating you, or pushing through emotional heaviness.
Depression often develops as a protective response to pain, overwhelm, or long-standing emotional strain. Therapy honors this with care rather than judgment.
You don’t need clarity, energy, or a clear goal to begin, only a willingness to show up as you are.
What Sessions Are Like
Sessions are conversational, collaborative, and intentionally paced.
You’re not expected to have the right words, insight, or momentum. Therapy begins wherever you are, whether that’s feeling numb, tired, uncertain, or quietly overwhelmed.
Together, we slow things down enough to notice what your depression may be communicating and respond with curiosity, warmth, and compassion rather than pressure or urgency.
In Therapy, You May Begin To:
Feel less weighed down by emotional heaviness or self-criticism
Reconnect with your emotions at a pace that feels safe and manageable
Experience more moments of presence, meaning, or vitality
Loosen patterns of withdrawal, shutdown, or self-blame
Develop a kinder, more supportive relationship with yourself
What Clients Often Notice Over Time
Clients often describe:
A renewed sense of emotional aliveness and clarity
Less numbness and heaviness, with more access to feeling
Greater self-compassion and understanding of long-standing patterns
Relief from guilt, shame, or the sense of “not being enough”
More connection—to their bodies, their relationships, and their inner truth
Over time, the emptiness may begin to soften. Moments of joy can feel more possible. Change is gradual, but often deeply meaningful.
Who This Therapy Is For
This work is well-suited for adults who are thoughtful, self-reflective, and seeking deeper understanding rather than simply managing symptoms.
Many clients come to therapy appearing capable on the outside, yet feeling emotionally low, disconnected, or quietly stuck inside. Some feel weighed down by heaviness or numbness; others struggle to find meaning, motivation, or a sense of vitality despite functioning well in daily life..
Frequently Asked Questions About Depression Therapy
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No. You don’t need a diagnosis to begin therapy. Many people seek support because something feels heavy, numb, or disconnected, even if they wouldn’t describe themselves as “depressed.” Therapy starts with your experience, not a label, and we’ll explore together what feels most accurate and meaningful for you.
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That’s very common. Many people arrive in therapy with a felt sense that something is off, without clear reasons or words. Therapy offers space to gently explore what may be contributing to these feelings, at a pace that feels supportive, without pressure to have answers right away.
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Yes. While symptom relief can be part of the work, this approach focuses on understanding deeper emotional patterns, relational experiences, and coping strategies that may underlie depression or emotional disconnection. The goal is not just to manage symptoms, but to support deeper awareness, meaning, and lasting change.
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Absolutely. Many people who seek therapy are outwardly capable — working, caring for others, and meeting responsibilities — while feeling disconnected, depleted, or unseen internally. Therapy can be especially helpful when you’re functioning on the outside but struggling on the inside.
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This approach may be a good fit if you’re looking for therapy that is relational, collaborative, and focused on understanding your inner experience rather than fixing or rushing change. A consultation can help you get a sense of whether this feels like the right next step, and we can talk through any questions you have.
Ready to Take the
First Step?
If any part of this resonates, even if you’re unsure where to begin, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
I invite you to schedule a free 20-minute consultation to explore what’s going on and see if this approach feels like the right fit.
