Depression Treatment & Therapy: In-office & virtual

What is Depression?

Depression is more than temporary sadness or a difficult emotional period. Clinical depression is a serious mental health condition that can affect your mood, relationships, physical health, work performance, and daily functioning. While occasional feelings of sadness are common, persistent symptoms that interfere with your quality of life may indicate the need for professional depression therapy or depression treatment.

Depression symptoms often persist for weeks or months and can impact nearly every aspect of life. Individuals may struggle with low motivation, hopelessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, sleep disruption, or loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed. Seeking depression treatment early can help reduce symptoms, improve emotional well-being, and restore daily functioning through evidence-based care tailored to your needs.

What Are The Symptoms of Depression?

The primary features of depression are 1) a depressed mood for most of the day, nearly every day or 2) reduced interest or pleasure in nearly all activities most of the day, nearly every day.  Many other symptoms commonly accompany depression such as:

• Significant weight gain or loss / changes in appetite
• Disruption in sleep such as insomnia (sleeping much less than usual) or hypersomnia (sleeping much more than usual)
• Slowed movements or slowed speech
• Low energy / fatigue
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt / shame
• Diminished ability to concentrate and indecisiveness
• Recurring thoughts of death, suicide, or self-harm

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, you may need immediate help.  You can receive immediate support by calling 988 or going to your nearest emergency department.

Types of Depression & Depressive Disorders

Major Depressive Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) are among the most common depressive disorders treated through professional depression therapy and medication management.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is characterized by persistent sadness, emotional numbness, or loss of interest in daily activities lasting at least two weeks. Symptoms may also include sleep disruption, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, changes in appetite, feelings of guilt or hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts. Depression treatment for MDD often includes a combination of depression therapy, lifestyle support, and medication management when appropriate.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD), previously known as dysthymia, is a chronic form of depression marked by ongoing low mood lasting two years or longer. Individuals may experience low energy, poor self-esteem, hopelessness, sleep disturbances, and difficulty concentrating. Long-term depression therapy can help patients build coping skills, improve emotional resilience, and regain stability over time.

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression can occur during pregnancy or after childbirth and involves symptoms that go beyond the typical stress or emotional adjustments of becoming a parent. Individuals may experience persistent sadness, anxiety, irritability, exhaustion, or difficulty bonding with their baby. Professional depression treatment and therapy can provide critical emotional support during this stage of life.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as seasonal depression, is linked to seasonal changes and commonly occurs during the fall and winter months. Symptoms may include fatigue, low motivation, increased sleep, and persistent sadness. Depression therapy, lifestyle-focused treatment approaches, and medication management can help individuals manage seasonal mood changes effectively.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

While many women may report symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in the days or weeks leading up to their period, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a more severe form of this condition.  PMDD is different in that it includes severe mood swings, marked irritability, significant depression, and/or severe anxiety or tension.  These symptoms tend to improve in the days after the person’s period begins and are absent in the weeks after their period.

Perimenopausal Depression

While menopause for most women may not result in significant distress, for others, the period from early to late menopause may represent a higher risk of emotional distress.  This is particularly true for women who have a prior history of clinical depression.  Some individuals in perimenopause (the period around when menopause is occurring) may experience symptoms of major depression and could benefit from an evaluation to determine whether treatment could be beneficial.

Depression in Children

Depression in children and adolescents is often underdiagnosed, even though symptoms can significantly affect emotional health, academic performance, relationships, and behavior. Young people may experience persistent sadness, irritability, withdrawal, or loss of interest in activities, regardless of having a supportive environment. Early depression therapy can help children and teens develop healthy coping skills and emotional resilience.

Children and Adolescents often lack the ability to articulate their emotions and feelings, which can make recognizing and diagnosing depression and mood disorders in children and adolescents challenging. It can be incredibly frustrating for a child to feel inner distress, sadness or other symptoms, without the ability to understand why they are feeling that way, and the ability to articulate their emotions.

Mood Disorders are treatable medical conditions, and psychiatric diagnosis and treatment should be started as early as possible, to reduce the long-term effects of the illness. “Treatment” does not always mean medication management, but we believe that it is vital that children are evaluated by an experienced child and adolescent psychiatrist, who can discuss all options and monitor symptoms and progress over time.

How Does Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates Treat Depression?

Your First Visit for Depression

During your initial visit with an RPA provider, you will get a chance to review your concerns.  The provider will ask a number of questions about the symptoms you’ve been experiencing, any history of mental health concerns, your medical history as well as other relevant parts of your background.  Your provider will also ask about your goals, or how you would know if you’re getting what you want from the treatment you receive.

Based on this information, your provider will offer an initial diagnosis.  With this diagnosis your provider can identify treatment options that have shown to be effective for others with a similar collection of symptoms, whether that be medication, talk therapy or some combination of these options. With a team of psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, psychologists, and psychotherapists, there are many options to help address your needs.

Evidence-Based Depression Therapy

The psychotherapists at RPA are professionals with a diverse array of training and specialties.  While all offer talk therapy, their training, backgrounds and specialties present a variety of options for patients to choose from depending on their presenting problems and preferences.  All psychotherapists have been trained in evidence-based practices including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT.  CBT is one of the more well-established and widely researched treatment options, offering effective care across a wide range of mental health problems including depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, addictions and compulsive behaviors, insomnia and others.  Some therapists offer other established treatment modalities as well, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Processing (EMDR), and problem solving approaches.  Psychotherapy can be conducted either in-office or virtually, with many providers being able to see patients virtually in most states in the U.S.

Medication Management

For moderate to severe depression, combining depression therapy with medication management often provides the most effective results. Treatment recommendations are personalized based on symptom severity, medical history, lifestyle factors, and patient preferences. Mild depression may improve through therapy, behavioral changes, and supportive wellness strategies.

There are many medications that can be used for major depressive disorder. The right medication(s) for an individual is/are chosen after careful evaluation which includes consideration of past medication trials, medical condition(s), co-occurring substance use, symptoms present, side effect risks, and preferences of the patient. The most common types of medications used include: SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), SNRIs (selective serotonin norepinephrine inhibitors) and “other” antidepressants (such as Wellbutrin and Trintellix),) whose mechanisms do not fit into these categories. Less commonly used are TCAs and MAOIs. Medication effects and benefits should be monitored at regular intervals.

Depression Medication Management Available in these States:

• California
• Delaware
• Florida
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• US Virgin Islands

How to Choose a Depression Treatment Provider

There are several options for finding a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner who offers Depression Treatment near you. This process can seem overwhelming (particularly if you are struggling with depression or mood instability). However, finding a mood disorder specialist is no different from finding a specialist in other fields of medicine.

• Talk to your doctor about psychiatrists near you who treat depression and mood disorders.
• Call local hospitals and teaching institutions and ask what doctors they recommend.
• Call your insurance carrier and ask about depression treatment near you.
• Search the internet for psychiatrists who treat depression or bipolar affective disorder.
• If you have family or friends who have seen local psychiatrists who specialize in depression or mood disorder treatment, it may be reasonable to ask if they would recommend (or not recommend) a certain doctor or psychiatrist.
• National mental health resources are also available for you to discover more about depression treatment.

Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates In-Person Depression Treatment Locations

• Wilmington, DE
• Collingswood, NJ
• Manhattan, NY
• Center Valley, PA
• Paoli, PA
• Philadelphia, PA
• Pittsburgh, PA