What we treat
Therapy for Depression in Natick, MA
Depression therapy at Aurora Counseling Associates is for the teenager whose mood has been off for months in a way the family cannot quite name, the parent who has been functioning through a fog, the adult who is no longer enjoying the things that used to matter, and the person sitting with the awareness that something is wrong but unsure whether it qualifies.
Recognizing it
Does this sound like you?
Depression is not always sadness. Often it is the absence of everything else.
- The things you used to look forward to still happen, and you feel nothing much about them.
- Getting through the day is possible. It just takes everything you have, and nobody can tell.
- The dishes, the email, the appointment you keep not making. Small things have become heavy.
- You are functioning well enough that saying "I am struggling" out loud feels like an exaggeration.
- Sleep is either the only place you want to be, or the one place you cannot get to.
- You have caught yourself thinking that everyone would manage fine without you.
That last one is worth saying out loud to someone this week, whether that is us, your doctor, or 988. Depression is one of the most treatable things we see, and it is very good at convincing people otherwise.
What depression can look like
Depression is more than sadness, and for many people it does not look like sadness at all. It can look like:
Flatness
Not crying, not laughing. Things that used to land emotionally now do not.
Loss of interest
Activities, people, projects, food, sex. The previous version of you cared about these. The current version is going through the motions.
Fatigue that sleep does not fix
Waking up tired. Pushing through the day on willpower.
Irritability
Especially in teens and men, depression often shows up as a short fuse before it shows up as sadness. Snapping, withdrawal, social conflict.
Concentration and memory disruption
Brain fog. Forgetting things. Difficulty making decisions.
Physical symptoms
Aches, GI issues, headaches, appetite changes, weight changes in either direction.
Hopelessness about the future
A sense that nothing will get better, sometimes accompanied by thoughts of not wanting to be here.
Disrupted sleep
Insomnia, early waking, or sleeping much more than usual.
Depression also lives next door to other concerns: anxiety, trauma, grief, postpartum experience, alcohol or substance use, chronic illness, the burnout that is not technically depression but is hard to distinguish from it. We treat what is present.
How we approach depression at Aurora
Our depression work draws on what the research supports for depressive disorders:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and behavioral activation
A core part of treating depression is changing the relationship between what you do and how you feel. Behavioral activation, structured carefully and matched to where you are, is one of the most reliably effective elements of depression treatment.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Working with the values that matter to you and building movement toward them, even when motivation has gone offline.
Psychodynamic approaches
For depression that has roots in early relationships, identity, or patterns that have lasted a long time.
Mindfulness-based approaches
Particularly useful for recurrent depression, where staying out of relapse is the work.
Family or couples involvement
Depression often does not stay in one person; it ripples. When that is the case, we may bring in partners or family members.
What to expect
The first session is about understanding what kind of depression you are working with, how long it has been here, what has been tried, what is keeping you afloat, and where the pressure points are. We will talk about safety: any thoughts of self-harm or suicide need to be on the table early, not because asking creates risk (it does not) but because we want to plan together.
Sessions are 45 to 55 minutes, typically weekly to start. Many clients see meaningful change within 12 to 20 sessions for a depressive episode. Recurrent or chronic depression often benefits from longer-term work and from continued maintenance work after acute symptoms lift.
Depression narrows what feels possible. The work of therapy is widening that back out, one workable step at a time.
What we do not treat
We do not treat eating disorders, paranoia, or schizophrenia as primary presentations. If depression is part of one of those, we will help you find a practice that can hold the full picture.
Insurance and rates
Self-pay is $200 to $250 per session. We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tufts Health Plan, Tufts Health Direct, Harvard Pilgrim, Point32Health, Optum, United Behavioral Health, Mass General Brigham Health Plan, and Health Plans Inc. Some clinicians also accept Aetna and United Healthcare. HSA, FSA, and out-of-network superbills available. See rates and insurance.
Who you would work with
Clinicians who offer Therapy for Depression
Read how each person works before you reach out. If you are not sure who to ask for, we will help you choose.
Ruth Hanning, LMHC
Marcia Lowry, LMHC
Ben Levenson, MA
These clinicians list this as a specialty. Most of our team works with it in some form, so if you have someone in mind, ask and we will tell you whether the fit makes sense.
Questions
Common questions
Do I need medication, or will therapy be enough?
What if I am having thoughts of suicide?
How long does depression therapy take?
Can my teenager come on their own?
What if I feel better and want to stop, but I am not sure it is the right time?
Is depression a chemical imbalance?
Where to next
Related areas we work in
Get started
Ready when you are
If depression is shaping your days in ways you want to change, reach out or call (508) 650-0991. We will talk through what is happening and help you start.