Depression therapy

Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-based therapeutic approach developed by Dr. Peter Levine that works with the nervous system to resolve patterns of stress, shutdown, and dysregulation that often underlie depression. Rather than focusing only on thoughts or behavioral patterns, SE helps the body complete defensive and orienting responses that may have become frozen over time. For people whose depression feels more like exhaustion, numbness, or disconnection than sadness, this approach addresses the experience where it actually lives: in the body.

Standard CBT and talk therapy work primarily through insight, language, and shifting thought patterns, and they're effective for many people. A somatic approach adds a body-level dimension: it tracks physical sensations, breath, posture, and nervous system state as part of the therapeutic process. For clients who've done talk therapy and found that understanding why they feel depressed hasn't changed how they feel, somatic work often reaches layers that thought-based approaches alone can't access. My approach integrates both. Cognitive and somatic tools are used together, not in place of each other.

The timeline varies depending on the depth and history of what you're working with, but most clients begin to notice shifts in energy, mood stability, or their relationship to difficult thoughts within 8 to 12 sessions. Some people work for a shorter period around a specific episode or transition. Others engage in longer-term therapy to address patterns that have been present for years. I'll discuss pacing and goals with you in the first session so you have a realistic sense of what to expect.

Yes. I offer individual depression therapy virtually throughout Florida and Connecticut. Telehealth sessions are conducted via a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform and follow the same therapeutic approach as in-person sessions. For somatic work specifically, virtual sessions are adapted to include body-awareness exercises that translate well to a home environment. Many clients find that working in their own space actually supports a sense of safety and groundedness. In-person sessions are available in the Palm Beach area.

Yes. Depression commonly shows up as exhaustion, heaviness, tension, or disconnection. These aren't just emotional symptoms. They reflect the nervous system's shift into a shutdown or freeze state. Somatic therapy helps release these patterns held in the body, addressing the physical dimension of depression alongside the emotional and cognitive layers.

Absolutely. Many high-performing adults appear fine on the outside but feel empty or disconnected internally. This presentation, sometimes called high-functioning depression or burnout, is especially common among driven professionals and caregivers who've learned to perform regardless of their internal state. The somatic and parts-work approach is particularly well-suited to this population because it works through the body at a pace that doesn't require dismantling your functional identity.

It's not uncommon to arrive at depression therapy having already tried CBT, medication, or both with limited or temporary results. That's not evidence that healing isn't possible for you. It's often evidence that the specific modalities you've tried haven't yet addressed the physiological, somatic, or early-relational dimensions of your depression. A body-informed approach offers a different entry point, one that doesn't depend on insight alone.

Yes. Burnout and depression are deeply connected to nervous system overload. When your body has been running stress responses for an extended period, it can shift into a conservation or shutdown state that produces chronic fatigue, emotional flatness, and difficulty recovering even with rest. Somatic therapy helps restore your system's capacity for regulation rather than pushing through exhaustion.

No. You never have to retell painful experiences in full detail. Somatic Experiencing works with your body's present-moment responses rather than requiring you to revisit or narrate your entire history. This makes it a good fit for people who find traditional talk-based processing overwhelming or retraumatizing.

Session fees and insurance details are best confirmed directly, as these can change. Please reach out to ask about current session rates and whether your plan is accepted or whether out-of-network reimbursement may apply. Many clients with PPO plans can receive partial reimbursement for out-of-network therapy. I can provide a superbill, an itemized receipt, to submit to your insurance company.

You don't need to meet a clinical threshold to benefit from therapy. If you're experiencing persistent low energy, difficulty feeling pleasure or motivation, a sense of going through the motions, or a quiet but steady feeling that something is off, those experiences are worth addressing. I work with a range of presentations, from situational low mood and burnout to long-standing depressive patterns. A first session is an opportunity to talk through what you're experiencing and determine together whether this approach is a good fit.