We provide online and in person therapy for all in the Boston region and across Massachusetts. The primary goal of working with a professional and empathic professional depression therapist at Boston Evening Therapy Associates is to help you over time realize meaningful and lasting change, gain freedom from your depression and live your best life. We strongly believe that as vital as it is to mitigate the suffering that comes with depression, it is equally important to help you develop new insights, perspective and skills to make lasting change. We accept most major insurances and private pay. The best time to start the process is now!
We offer online depression therapy in order to make the process the most accessible to you. Online therapy is usually as effective as in person therapy but it comes with some distinct advantages. Travel time and expense is eliminated. The convenience to meet from your home office or elsewhere eliminates many causes of cancellation. The result is it is much easier to attend all of your sessions and to join on time. Consistency in therapy is vital. We believe that any tool that makes consistent participation more likely is helpful to better outcomes.
It is normal and expected to feel down and dejected periodically. Our culture can imply that we should be “having fun” and “enjoying our life” all the time. In a life fully lived, with its unpredictability and range of experiences, it is unrealistic to be “happy” day in and day out, and it can be harmful to hold on to that constant appearance of “happiness” as an ideal. But clinical depression is different than the usual ups and downs of life. It is a deep sense of despair, hopelessness and lack of meaning that can cause enormous suffering and contribute to poor decisions, up to and including suicide.
Depression is common and anyone who experiences it should know that it affects men, women, teenagers and even children. Each year depression affects about 16 million adults, or about seven percent of the U.S. population over age 18, according to the Over the course of a lifetime, approximately 20 percent of people in the U.S. will experience an episode of diagnosable depression, according to published in the journal Psychological Medicine by experts in the field Evelyn Bromet at Stony Brook University School of Medicine and Ronald Kessler at Harvard Medical School.
Our Boston and Massachusetts based online depression therapists recognize the particular challenges of being a college or graduate school student or recent graduate. Being a student and transitioning to a new phase of life can create stressors and as well as challenges to our personal identity. The transition from student to "real life" can feel sudden, jarring and disorienting. Our professional online depression therapists are knowledgeable, understanding and insightful and ready to work with you to make important change and improvement in your life.
• Persistent sad, anxious or “empty” mood
• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies or activities
• Decreased energy, fatigue, or being “slowed down”
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Appetite or weight changes
• Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts
• Restlessness or irritability
• Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause that do not ease even with treatment
Depressive disorders vary according to the cause and the duration of time it affects a person. These are some of the most common ones and their characteristics:
Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode
The person is in a depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, for two weeks or more; loss of interest in most or all activities, significant weight loss or weight gain or change in appetite, insomnia or sleeping more than usual, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, or thoughts of death.
Major Depression Recurrent
Repeated episodes of depression with no times of extreme mood elevation or “mania.”
Dysthymia
Also called Persistent Depressive Disorder, a continuous long-term form of depression. It is not as severe as major depression, but the person may still lose interest in normal daily activities, feel hopeless, lack productivity, have low self-esteem and an overall feeling of inadequacy. These feelings can last for years and may significantly interfere with relationships, school, work and daily activities. A person with dysthymia is sometimes described as having a gloomy personality, constantly complaining or incapable of having fun.
Bipolar Disorder
Formerly called manic depression, bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings, with emotional highs called mania or hypomania, and lows that are episodes of depression. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think clearly.
Anxious Depression (co-occurring)
Anxiety and depression frequently coexist. At least 85 percent of people with major depression also have significant anxiety symptoms. Antidepressants can treat both depression and anxiety, and it’s critical to have a mental health professional determine which type of medication may be suitable for the individual.
We are available to work with you in Boston and across Massachusetts. It is our singular mission to provide meaningful and effective care to help you face, manage and rise above your depression. Our purpose is not only to allow you to manage or eliminate the suffering that comes with depression, but also to help you develop new insight, perspective and skills to live your best life of meaning and peace. Reach us now and let's start together.
