How We Treat Depression

Sadness is something we all cope with, but when that sadness is a symptom of full-blown depression, it’s not something we can always handle on our own. Often we turn to work, substances, or the problems of others to find escape from our own sense of melancholy and worthlessness. Instead of turning towards others, our depression often causes us to isolate, which further intensifies our pain. How do we create more room for our sadness to exist without letting it consume us?

Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say “My tooth is aching” than to say “My heart is broken.” C. S Lewis

Do I Have Symptoms Of Depression? 

Because our minds and bodies are inextricably connected, unfortunately the symptoms of depression are both mental and physical. Although the roots of our depression are in our prior experiences, circumstances, and feelings, these roots can quickly branch out into thoughts, behavior, and yes, even physical symptoms.

• Fatigue. You might feel tired no matter how much you rest, as though your energy has been drained before the day even begins.

• Hopelessness. It can feel like the light at the end of the tunnel has gone out, leaving you unsure whether things will ever get better.

• Lowered appetite. You may notice that food doesn’t taste the same, meals feel like chores, or you forget to eat altogether.

• Lowered sex drive. Your desire for intimacy may fade, not because you don’t care, but because your mind and body feel weighed down and distant.

• Avoiding social contact. Phone calls, texts, or plans you once enjoyed may now feel overwhelming, leading you to withdraw from people you care about.

• Unexplained aches or pains. Your body might express what your heart is carrying—tension, headaches, sore muscles, or heaviness without a clear physical reason.

How Does Therapy Heal Depression?

The right therapist can help you find relief from depression in therapy by creating a safe, supportive space to explore your emotions, patterns, and needs. Therapy offers both understanding and practical tools—helping you make sense of what you’re going through while also giving you new ways to cope, heal, and reconnect with yourself.

• CBT For Depression. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps you identify the negative thought patterns that fuel depression and gently shift them. Over time, you learn to challenge self-criticism, soften hopelessness, and build new ways of interpreting your experiences, creating more room for possibility and self-compassion.

• Somatic Therapy For Depression. Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between your emotions and your body. Instead of trying to “think your way out” of depression, somatic work helps you feel grounded, safe, and present by tuning into physical sensations, releasing stored tension, and learning to regulate your nervous system.
• Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy For Depression. For people who haven’t found relief through traditional methods, Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy can provide a powerful shift. Ketamine can help open emotional pathways that depression often numbs, while a specially trained therapist provides guidance, integration, and support—allowing insights to become lasting healing rather than temporary relief.

“Depression treatment is not always a one-size fits all approach. A depressive episode can happen suddenly or slowly crawl in after repeated events over time. Something that usually rings true, however, is an emerging lack of pleasure, a feeling of darkness, and severe fatigue. Oftentimes, what makes it grow is isolation. The incongruence of feeling horrible while trying to put on a happy face for the world causes a deep sense of loneliness. One of the best things a person can do is talk about how they are feeling. It is quite simple, but very important, because the burying of one’s feelings in isolation does not leave room for healthier perspectives which can often blossom out of supportive conversations with others.” –Quinn Smalley, LMHC, ATR-BC

In-Network Therapy For Depression

Beginning depression therapy marks the start of a new chapter—one filled with possibility, healing, and hope. When you’re living with depression, even small steps can feel heavy, and uncertainty is completely natural. But these moments of vulnerability are also invitations to move toward support. Every step you take toward finding the right therapist opens the door to relief, resilience, and the chance to build a life that feels steadier, brighter, and more connected.

When you schedule your intake at Integrative Counsel, you won’t be navigating this process alone. We’ll walk with you as you explore your insurance benefits—whether that means confirming in-network providers, understanding co-pays, using a superbill, or finding a therapist who is the right emotional and financial fit. Our aim is to make the beginning of your therapy journey feel calm and supported, so you can focus on the healing ahead.

Depression Therapists Who Accept Aetna Insurance

If you’re seeking therapy for depression using Aetna insurance, we’ll help you move forward with clarity and confidence. Affordable mental health care shouldn’t be out of reach—by using your insurance benefits, you can focus more fully on your emotional well-being and less on financial stress.

Depression Therapists Who Accept Cigna Insurance

Searching for a Cigna-covered therapist can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re already managing depression. At Integrative Counsel, our in-network therapists are experienced in treating depression and related emotional challenges. We handle the administrative steps, so you can focus on finding relief, rebuilding energy, and restoring hope.

Depression Therapy for People With Optum

Whether your coverage is through Optum Oscar, Optum Oxford, or United Optum, we’ll help match you with a therapist who meets your emotional needs and your insurance plan. Each step in this process is a chance to return to yourself—to rediscover resilience, to allow support in, and to see that change is possible even when it feels distant.

How Does Mindfulness Offer Depression Relief? 

Mindfulness is the act of sitting in the present moment without distraction or desertion. It teaches you to gently return your attention to what is actually happening, rather than getting pulled into spirals of worry or self-criticism.

• Full body awareness. Mindfulness helps you tune into what your body is experiencing—tension, heaviness, numbness—so you can understand how your emotions show up physically and respond with care instead of avoidance.

• Self-Soothing. Simple practices like deep breathing, grounding touch, or focusing on your senses create a sense of steadiness during emotional overwhelm, offering the nervous system a chance to settle.

• Finding the joy in everyday activities. Mindfulness helps you notice small, meaningful moments—warmth, beauty, connection—that depression often dulls, slowly rebuilding your capacity to feel pleasure and presence.

• Connecting with others.  “Your support system can help get you out of bed, back into activities, and remind you that you matter. Aim for at least two to three times a week where you get out and about, see family or friends, and feel connected through being seen and understood.” –Quinn Smalley, ATR-BC

Where Can I Find Therapy For Depression Relief In St. Petersburg? 

The therapists at Integrative Counsel can help you work through your depression, whether that be through traditional talk-based therapy, body-based somatic therapy, or expansive Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.  Our therapists love to think creatively and outside of the box, and will tailor a treatment approach that works specifically  for you and your needs. Sometimes, you need help building a map to navigate where you want to go. Depression can make it difficult to feel motivated to discover where you want to go and how to get there.

Our therapists can help you reignite your spark so that you can get from where you are to where you want to be.

Fill out the form here, and get scheduled with our intake specialist, who will match you with a right-fit therapist.

Sunny Ebsary is an educator, multi-modal artist, and writer specializing in the intersection of myth and mental health. Sunny’s writing walks the line between poetic and logical, giving readers a chance to interface with the mind and imagination. Sunny’s been putting pen to paper since he was a child, writing everything from albums, novels, and plays, to essays, interactive games, and of course, many articles! While studying both psychology and writing, he realized his real passion in life was helping others unlock their creative spark. Whether he’s leading a D&D game, directing a production, or diving deep into the brain, you can be sure Sunny will be ushering you toward finding meaning in your life.