Depression Therapy in Indianapolis
Depression does not always look like lying in bed unable to function. Sometimes it does. But sometimes you are still working, parenting, answering emails, making dinner, showing up for people—and wondering why every ordinary thing suddenly requires an unreasonable amount of effort.
You may feel sad. Or you may not feel particularly sad at all. You might feel numb, irritable, disconnected, exhausted, unmotivated, or simply less like yourself.
At High Thrive Counseling, we provide depression therapy in Indianapolis for adults, young adults, and teens who want to understand what is happening and figure out what actually helps.
“I'm functioning. So can I really be depressed?”
Yes. One of the reasons depression can go untreated for so long is that people often imagine it has to look dramatic.
You can have depression and still get out of bed. You can have depression and still laugh. You can have depression and have a successful career, a good marriage, wonderful children, people who love you—and still feel profoundly unlike yourself.
Sometimes depression looks less like obvious sadness and more like:
You do not need to have every symptom. And you do not have to wait until your life falls apart before getting help.
“Other people have it worse. I should be able to handle this.”
Depression is more than having a bad week.
Everyone has periods when they feel sad, depleted, discouraged, or completely over it.
Depression is different.
Clinically, depression involves a pattern of symptoms that lasts at least two weeks and causes meaningful changes in how you feel, think, function, relate to other people, or move through daily life.
But diagnosis is not simply checking enough boxes on a symptom list.
A good assessment also looks at:
A screening tool can be helpful. It is not the same thing as a full clinical assessment.
What kind of depression are we actually treating?
“Depression” describes a group of symptoms. It does not tell us the entire story.
Two people can meet criteria for depression and need very different things from therapy.
Major Depression
Major depressive episodes can involve persistent sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, sleep and appetite changes, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and a sense that normal life suddenly requires enormous effort.
For some people, depression appears once during a particularly difficult period. For others, depressive episodes recur. Understanding your pattern helps us make better decisions about treatment.
Read: How Long Does Depression Last? → Read: How Long Do Depressive Episodes Last? →High-Functioning Depression
You might not look depressed.
That is part of what makes this difficult.
You keep going because people depend on you. You work. Take care of your family. Make appointments. Pay bills. Respond when someone needs something.
And privately think:
“Why does everything feel this hard?”
Being functional does not mean you are feeling well.
And being able to push through depression does not mean you should have to keep pushing through it indefinitely.
Depression, Burnout & Overwhelm
Sometimes it is difficult to tell where burnout ends and depression begins.
You may feel exhausted, cynical, detached, unmotivated, or like your emotional battery has been sitting at 4% for several months.
Therapy can help us sort out whether you are dealing primarily with depression, chronic stress, burnout, grief, anxiety, ADHD, a major life transition—or some combination of them.
Because treating the wrong problem exceptionally well is still treating the wrong problem.
Depression After Loss or Major Life Changes
Not every painful emotional experience is a disorder.
Grief can follow death, divorce, betrayal, infertility, retirement, children leaving home, changes in health, career transitions, or the loss of the future you expected to have.
Sometimes grief and depression overlap.
Sometimes a major life change exposes questions that were easier to ignore when life was busy:
Who am I now?
What happens next?
Why am I not happier than I am?
Therapy gives those questions somewhere to go.
Depression Connected to Trauma
Sometimes depression develops alongside trauma.
You may feel shut down, disconnected, ashamed, hopeless, or emotionally numb after experiences that overwhelmed your ability to cope.
In those cases, simply challenging negative thoughts may not address the entire problem.
When depression is connected to trauma or distressing past experiences, treatment may also include trauma-focused therapy or EMDR.
Explore Trauma & EMDR Therapy in Indianapolis →Depression therapy should involve more than talking about how depressed you feel.
Talking matters. Feeling understood matters. Having somewhere you don't have to pretend you're fine matters.
But eventually therapy should help something change.
We want to understand what is maintaining the depression and where we actually have leverage.
Understanding your depression cycle
When did this start? What makes it worse? What makes it slightly better?
When you feel low, do you isolate, stay in bed, stop exercising, cancel plans, scroll, drink more, work more, become highly self-critical, or wait until you “feel motivated” before doing anything?
Often the things we understandably do when we're depressed provide temporary relief while quietly making depression more powerful.
Behavioral activation
Depression frequently tells you:
Wait until you feel better. Then do things.
Unfortunately, the nervous system often works in the opposite direction.
Behavioral activation helps you gradually reintroduce activity, connection, pleasure, accomplishment, movement, and structure.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Depression has a way of making thoughts sound like facts.
Nothing is going to change.
I'm failing.
Everyone else handles life better than I do.
I should be able to fix this myself.
CBT can help you notice patterns of thinking, examine them more accurately, and change how much authority you give them.
The goal is not positive thinking. The goal is more accurate and more useful thinking.
Working with self-criticism
Some people experience depression alongside an incredibly harsh internal voice.
You aren't simply tired. You're lazy.
You didn't make a mistake. You're a failure.
Therapy can help you recognize the difference between accountability and shame—and develop a relationship with yourself that is considerably less brutal.
Addressing relationships and isolation
Depression tends to pull people inward.
You stop answering texts. Cancel plans. Talk less. Have less energy for your partner. Feel guilty that you aren't more engaged.
And then you become even more isolated.
Therapy can help you rebuild connection, communicate what is actually happening, and stay connected without feeling like you have to perform being cheerful.
If depression is strongly connected to trauma, painful memories, shame, loss, or experiences that still feel unresolved, trauma-focused therapy or EMDR may also be appropriate.
Learn About EMDR Therapy →
What might a depression treatment plan include?
There isn't one universal treatment plan for depression because there isn't one universal reason people become depressed.
Your treatment plan may involve goals such as:
Treatment should evolve as you do.
We want to know not only whether you understand yourself better—but whether your actual life is starting to feel different.
Sometimes depression isn't the whole story.
Depression frequently overlaps with other concerns. Part of good treatment is figuring out what is actually happening rather than assuming every symptom belongs to one diagnosis.
Depression + Anxiety
You can absolutely feel anxious and depressed at the same time.
Your brain can somehow manage to tell you both:
Something terrible is about to happen.
and
Nothing will ever change.
Very efficient.
Treatment may need to address both the anxious activation and the depressive shutdown.
Depression + ADHD
ADHD can create years of frustration, unfinished tasks, missed expectations, overwhelm, criticism, and the sense that things that seem easy for everyone else require enormous effort from you.
Sometimes what looks like a motivation problem is partly ADHD. Sometimes it is depression. Sometimes it is both.
Explore ADHD Therapy in Indianapolis →Depression + Trauma
Trauma can contribute to emotional numbness, withdrawal, shame, difficulty trusting people, irritability, and hopelessness.
If trauma is part of your story, treatment may need to address more than the depressive symptoms themselves.
Explore Trauma & EMDR Therapy →Depression + Relationship Problems
Depression affects relationships. And relationships affect depression.
You may become quieter, more irritable, less affectionate, less interested in sex, or more likely to withdraw.
Individual therapy can help you understand what is happening and communicate it more clearly.
Depression counseling for adults, young adults & teens in Indianapolis
Depression does not belong to one age group, and it does not look exactly the same at every stage of life.
Adults
Maybe this is the first time you've felt this way. Maybe depression has come and gone for years.
Or maybe you are functioning perfectly well on paper while privately thinking:
Surely life isn't supposed to feel like this much work.
Therapy can help you understand what changed and decide what needs attention.
Young Adults
Your twenties can involve an odd combination of enormous freedom and the constant suspicion that everyone else received instructions you somehow missed.
College. Careers. Money. Dating. Friendships. Independence. Identity.
Depression may show up as withdrawal, low motivation, disrupted sleep, anxiety, hopelessness, or feeling stalled while everyone else seems to be moving forward.
Teens
Depression in teenagers does not always present as obvious sadness.
Sometimes it looks like irritability, sleeping constantly, dropping grades, quitting activities, pulling away, low motivation, or simply seeming unlike themselves.
Therapy can help clarify what is happening and create a plan that makes sense for the teen and family.
Therapy should be more than an expensive place to hear yourself talk.
We like insight. Insight is lovely.
But eventually insight should help you do something differently.
Our therapists are active, curious, collaborative, and willing to tell you what we're noticing.
We want to understand the why underneath what is happening—and then help translate that understanding into your actual life.
You can ask questions. You can disagree with us. You can be frustrated. You can cry. You can laugh at something objectively inappropriate.
You do not have to arrive knowing exactly what is wrong.
And you are definitely not auditioning for the role of Excellent Therapy Client.
Come as the person who actually needs the appointment.
Depression therapy in Indianapolis, Indiana
High Thrive Counseling is located in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis.
Indianapolis, IN 46220
Our Broad Ripple office serves clients throughout Indianapolis and surrounding communities, including Carmel, Fishers, Zionsville, Brownsburg, Avon, Meridian-Kessler, and nearby areas.
We also offer online depression therapy throughout Indiana, which can be especially useful when getting dressed, driving somewhere, and making pleasant conversation in a waiting room sounds like three additional tasks you absolutely did not request.
Prefer in-person therapy?
Our office is in Broad Ripple with convenient access from Indianapolis and surrounding communities.
Get Directions to High Thrive Counseling →Prefer online?
Online therapy is available throughout Indiana, with Florida telehealth availability depending on the therapist.
Questions about depression therapy
How do I know whether I'm actually depressed?
Depression can involve persistent sadness, but it can also show up as loss of interest, fatigue, irritability, withdrawal, sleep changes, difficulty concentrating, low motivation, hopelessness, guilt, appetite changes, or simply feeling unlike yourself.
A depression screening can be useful, but a screening questionnaire is not the same as a clinical assessment.
If symptoms have lasted for several weeks or are affecting your work, relationships, sleep, school, or ability to enjoy your life, talking with a mental health professional is reasonable.
You do not have to determine whether you “qualify” for therapy before making the appointment.
How long does depression last?
There isn't one universal timeline for depression.
How long depression lasts can depend on the type and severity of depression, what is happening in your life, whether you've experienced previous episodes, your physical health, and whether you receive treatment and support.
Some depressive episodes improve within months. Others last considerably longer.
Having been depressed for a long time does not mean you will always feel this way.
Read the full article: How Long Does Depression Last? →How long does a depressive episode last?
A depressive episode must last at least two weeks to meet diagnostic criteria for major depression, but many episodes last much longer than that.
The duration varies considerably from person to person. Treatment, severity, previous episodes, stress, medical factors, and other mental health concerns can all influence the course of an episode.
Read: How Long Do Depressive Episodes Last? →Will depression eventually go away on its own?
Sometimes depressive symptoms improve without formal treatment.
But “it might eventually go away” is not necessarily a compelling treatment plan.
Depression can last for months or longer, and untreated depression can significantly affect relationships, work, physical health, and quality of life.
Effective treatments exist. You do not need to wait until things become severe before seeking help.
What type of therapy works for depression?
Several approaches can be effective for depression.
Treatment may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), behavioral activation, interpersonal work, mindfulness-based approaches, trauma-focused therapy, EMDR when appropriate, and other individualized interventions.
Medication can also be helpful for some people and may be used by itself or alongside psychotherapy.
The best treatment depends on the individual rather than simply the diagnosis.
Do I need medication for depression?
Not necessarily.
Some people improve significantly with psychotherapy alone. Others benefit from medication. Many people do best with a combination of therapy and medication.
Therapists at High Thrive do not prescribe medication, but we can collaborate with your physician, psychiatrist, or other prescribing provider when appropriate.
How long will I need therapy?
It depends on what you are working on.
Someone experiencing a first depressive episode connected to a particular stressor may need something very different from someone experiencing recurrent depression, trauma, ADHD, grief, or long-standing relationship difficulties.
We generally begin with enough consistency to build momentum and then reassess based on how you are doing.
The goal is not therapy forever. The goal is therapy that is actually useful.
Do you offer online depression counseling?
Yes. High Thrive Counseling offers online therapy for clients throughout Indiana in addition to in-person appointments at our Broad Ripple office in Indianapolis.
Depending on the clinician, telehealth may also be available for clients in Florida.
Do you take insurance for depression therapy?
High Thrive Counseling is primarily a private-pay/out-of-network practice.
Depending on your insurance plan, you may be able to submit a superbill and receive out-of-network reimbursement.
Because therapist fees differ, visit our FAQ page for current pricing, insurance, and payment information.
View Fees & FAQs →You are allowed to get help before everything falls apart.
There is a peculiar thing people do with depression.
I still have a job.
My marriage isn't terrible.
I should be grateful.
I should be able to handle this.
None of those statements answer the question that actually matters:
You don't have to prove that things are terrible enough.
If you're functioning but miserable, that matters. If you've stopped feeling like yourself, that matters. If everything feels harder than it should, that matters too.
Our Indianapolis depression therapists can help you understand what is happening, identify what is keeping you stuck, and build a treatment plan aimed at helping your life feel like yours again.
In-person depression therapy in Broad Ripple + online throughout Indiana.