THERAPY FOR
Depression, Sadness, and Low Mood
Are you struggling with depression symptoms that leave you feeling heavy, numb, and disconnected from your life?”
Depression does not just affect your mood. It often shows up as a loss of interest in things you once cared about, a sense of emptiness even when life looks “fine” on the outside, or a constant heaviness that makes it hard to get through the day. But it’s also a whole-body experience that affects energy, focus, sleep, appetite, and the ability to feel joy or motivation.
Most importantly, depression isn’t a character flaw. It’s a natural human response to overwhelm, imbalance, or pain.
Everyone’s experience looks different, but common signs include:
- Persistent low mood, emptiness, or irritability
- Numbness or feeling “shut down”
- Loss of interest in hobbies, sex, or social connection
- Fatigue or low energy, even after rest
- Changes in sleep (too little or too much)
- Changes in appetite (forgetting to eat or stress-eating)
- Brain fog, trouble concentrating, or slowed thinking
- Self-criticism, shame, or hopeless thoughts
- Withdrawing from people or obligations
- Feeling like you’re going through the motions
What triggers depression symptoms?
Depression doesn’t come from one single cause—it’s usually the result of many factors working together. Stressful life events, unresolved trauma, loss, or ongoing challenges in relationships or work can all play a role. At the same time, depression is linked to changes in the brain and nervous system that affect mood, energy, and motivation. Genetics, hormones, and even physical health conditions can also contribute.
While the causes for each individual are complex, depression is often rooted in a mix of factors:
- Past experiences or trauma that taught your nervous system to protect by shutting down
- Family patterns and early environments (e.g., criticism, emotional neglect, role overload)
- Biological sensitivity and nervous-system wiring
- Chronic stress from work, caregiving, school, health, or finances
- Cultural pressures that reward overworking, comparison, and perfectionism
HOW THERAPY CAN HELP
Even when depression feels endless, it’s not permanent—and you’re not powerless.
Sometimes the body “hits the brakes” when life has been too much, for too long. Depression can be a protective response—not the enemy—just a strategy that needs updating.
Understanding why depression happens is the first step toward healing—and with the right support, change is possible.
Together, we’ll work to:
- Map the patterns keeping you stuck (habits, beliefs, relational cycles)
- Learn body-based tools to shift out of shutdown and reconnect with energy
- Practice skills for motivation, focus, and self-care that actually fit your life
- Strengthen self-compassion so the inner critic doesn’t run the show
- Re-engage desire, pleasure, and purpose—on your terms
HOW WE APPROACH DEPRESSION
Depression impacts your whole self—not just your mood.
Depression shows up in both the mind and the body, so our work at Moongate Therapy and Wellness is holistic and trauma-specialized. Together, we explore the root causes of depression by looking at your nervous system, relationships, identity, culture, and environment—so healing goes deeper than just managing symptoms.
During our work together, we may use a range of modalities, keeping your therapeutic goals and preferences at the forefront. Depending on your unique needs and experiences, together, we’ll draw on methods such as: