Depression & Mood Disorders
Depression can affect your energy, motivation, relationships, and ability to enjoy the things that matter to you. You may feel stuck, disconnected, overwhelmed, or unable to get yourself moving, even when you know what you want to do.
At Wise Mind Counseling, I provide depression therapy in Green Bay, Door County, and tele-health throughout Wisconsin. Treatment is individualized based on your symptoms, needs, and goals. I use evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Behavioral Activation, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help you understand patterns that contribute to depression and make meaningful changes in your life.
Types of Depression & Mood Disorders
Persistent Depressive Disorder: A long-lasting, lower level of depression that may include low energy, loss of interest, hopelessness, negative thoughts, changes in sleep or appetite, or feeling isolated.
Major Depressive Disorder: A more severe period of depression that can affect mood, energy, interest, sleep, appetite, concentration, and daily functioning.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Depression that occurs during particular seasons, most commonly during the fall and winter months.
Bipolar Disorder: A mood disorder involving episodes of depression and periods of unusually elevated or irritable mood, which may include increased energy, decreased need for sleep, or changes in thinking and behavior.
Cyclothymic Disorder: A condition involving ongoing fluctuations between periods of depressive symptoms and elevated or irritable mood that do not meet the full criteria for major depression or mania/hypomania.
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD): A childhood condition involving persistent irritability, frequent intense temper outbursts, and difficulty managing strong emotions.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): Severe mood and behavioral symptoms that occur in the time before menstruation and improve after the period begins.
Postpartum Depression: Depression that develops during pregnancy or after giving birth and can affect mood, energy, interest, sleep, and the ability to cope with daily life.
Depression Therapy
Depression can lead to patterns of withdrawing from activities, avoiding responsibilities, isolating from others, or putting things off. Unfortunately, these patterns can make depression worse and make it harder to reconnect with the things that give your life meaning and satisfaction.
Therapy can help you:
- Recognize thoughts and behaviors that contribute to depression
- Increase engagement in activities that support your mood and quality of life
- Break down overwhelming tasks into manageable steps
- Improve motivation and follow through
- Develop healthier ways of responding to difficult thoughts and emotions
- Increase connection with people and activities that are important to you
- Build skills for managing stress and difficult emotions
- Develop greater self-compassion and a sense of hope
Behavioral Activation for Depression
Behavioral Activation is an evidence-based, exposure-based CBT treatment for depression. It focuses on increasing meaningful and rewarding activities, building and maintaining routines, and increasing opportunities for mastery and accomplishment. You learn to build a life aligned with your values and goals and take purposeful action rather than waiting for your mood or motivation to improve first.
Over time, you learn to reduce avoidance and isolation, build a greater sense of mastery and accomplishment, and break the cycle of depression.
DBT Skills for Depression and Emotion Regulation
DBT skills can be helpful when depression also includes intense or difficult emotions. DBT teaches skills for managing emotions, tolerating stress, and improving relationships. DBT also teaches mindfulness and self-compassion to help you become more aware of your experiences, respond effectively to difficult situations, and treat yourself with greater understanding rather than judgment.
Common Questions About Depression
Can depression come and go: Yes, depression can be experienced in waves. People can re-experience depressive symptoms or episodes, as well as have fluctuating mood disorders. Some triggers for re-current episodes can be stressful events, biology or family history, medical problems, seasonal changes, and incomplete therapy.
When to get therapy for depression: It’s time to consider therapy if you have been unable to decrease sadness on your own, the sadness is too interfering in life, you are increasingly withdrawing or isolating, you have physical symptoms, or negative thought loops and rumination are too intense.
How long does depression therapy take: Behavioral Activation is a leading evidence-based CBT treatment for depression and can produce meaningful changes relatively early in treatment, often within the first several sessions. Treatment often continues for several months to reach goals and maintain changes.
Depression Therapy in Green Bay
Green Bay Location:
321 Saint George Street
Green Bay, WI, 54302
Treatment is tailored to your symptoms and the individualized patterns that keep your depression going. The goal is to help you build practical skills, increase hope, and engage in a purposeful life.