Therapy for Depression

Find Relief from Depression with Attachment-Based Therapy

Part of Our Comprehensive Counseling Services in Reno, NV

Do I Have Depression?

Depression is more than just feeling sad. It’s a heavy emotional state that can affect your thoughts, relationships, and daily life. Common symptoms include:

• Difficulty finding joy in activities you used to enjoy.
• Persistent fatigue or low energy.
• Trouble focusing or making decisions.
• Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness.

Talk with one of our therapists in Reno to decide on the right course of treatment for you.

How Attachment Influences Depression?

Numerous leaders in mental health research, such as Dr. John Bowlby, Dr. Mary Ainsworth, and Dr. Daniel Siegel, point to the influence of attachment on the mood we experience.

Depression often starts when we disconnect—from ourselves, our loved ones, or the sense of safety we need to thrive. Attachment science helps us understand why these disconnections happen and how we can heal them. Dr. Sue Johnson’s work shows that the quality of our emotional bonds directly affects our mental health. When these bonds are secure, we feel supported and resilient. When they are strained or broken, we struggle emotionally.

Dr. Alan Shore’s research highlights how early relationships shape our nervous system and our ability to manage emotions. When we experience disconnection or unmet attachment needs, our ability to manage emotions suffers, often leading to depression. Therapy helps create new, positive experiences of connection that support emotional balance.

Barry Schwartz’s insights into human fulfillment remind us that meaning and connection are key to well-being. Depression often reflects a loss of this sense of meaning, a disconnection from what makes life fulfilling. Through EFIT, we help you restore meaning in your life by reconnecting with your true self and those around you.

How Does Attachment-Based Therapy Help Depression

Using Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy, we explore:

Creating Emotional Safety

We start by building a secure, supportive therapeutic relationship where you feel safe to explore your emotions. This foundation is crucial for working through difficult feelings.

Understanding Depression as Disconnection

Depression often comes from being disconnected from parts of yourself or important relationships. We explore how unmet attachment needs or emotional blocks contribute to feelings of hopelessness and numbness.

Transforming Emotional Patterns

Through corrective emotional experiences, we work together to foster reconnection—with yourself, loved ones, and a sense of purpose—creating space for healing and growth.

Patterns of Disconnection

We identify how emotional blocks or unmet attachment needs contribute to cycles of depression. This includes exploring how past attachment wounds may still affect your emotional life.

Reconnection and Healing

Through therapy, we help you create inner security and build stronger connections with others, leading to greater emotional freedom and resilience.

What to Expect in Therapy

When you start depression therapy with us, we create a safe, compassionate space to explore your experiences. Sessions may include:

• Exploring the attachment-based roots of your depression and how they affect your well-being.
• Experiencing healing emotional moments that build inner security and connection.
• Developing tools to transform negative cycles into moments of self-compassion and growth.
• Building awareness of unmet emotional needs and learning healthier ways to meet them.
• Developing skills to turn negative patterns into moments of reconnection and self-compassion.

The Benefits of Therapy

Through EFIT, you can:

• Find relief from persistent sadness and emotional numbness.
• Gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your needs.
• Build stronger, more supportive relationships.
• Rediscover a sense of meaning and purpose in your life.
• Learn how to manage difficult emotions and feel more grounded.

Take the First Step Toward Healing

Starting therapy is a brave step. Our therapists are here to support you in a caring environment where you can heal from depression. Learn more about our team and approach here.

References

1. Bowlby, J. (1988). A Secure Base: Parent-Child Attachment and Healthy Human Development. New York: Basic Books.
2. Ainsworth, M. (1978). Patterns of Attachment: A Psychological Study of the Strange Situation. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
3. Siegel, D. J. (2012). The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are. New York: Guilford Press.
4. Johnson, S. (2004). The Practice of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy: Creating Connection. New York: Brunner-Routledge.
5. Schore, A. N. (1994). Affect Regulation and the Origin of the Self: The Neurobiology of Emotional Development. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
6. Schwartz, B. (2004). The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.