depression

Depression is a mood disorder marked by persistent sadness, low motivation, and a loss of interest or pleasure in everyday life. In therapy, it is understood not only as a brain-chemistry issue but as a complex interaction of biology, history, relationships, and meaning.

Symptoms can include fatigue, sleep and appetite changes, tearfulness, hopelessness, self-criticism, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and thoughts of worthlessness or death. Depression often traces back to unprocessed grief, chronic stress, unmet attachment needs, childhood trauma, or long-term self-abandonment. Clinical work combines approaches such as CBT, psychodynamic therapy, somatic and trauma-informed care, lifestyle support, and, when appropriate, medication—all with the aim of restoring connection, agency, and felt aliveness.