Emotional Health
At Castillo Psychotherapy & Counseling, we understand that depression is a complex mood disorder that affects your emotions, thoughts, energy, and daily functioning. It is more than temporary sadness and can shape how you experience the world.
Treatment often includes therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and may involve medication when clinically appropriate.
Understanding Depression
Depression can develop from a mix of factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, trauma, chronic stress, medical conditions, or major life transitions.
Our work focuses on supporting emotional well-being by helping people develop coping skills, strengthen self-care practices, understand emotional triggers, and build a sustainable path toward better functioning and quality of life.
When Support Is Helpful
Therapy can be helpful at any stage of emotional struggle, but seeking support early can reduce the severity and duration of symptoms. Even so, it is never too late to begin. Healing and meaningful change are possible at any point in life.
You may benefit from
therapy if you’re experiencing:
1
Persistent sadness, emptiness, or emotional numbness
5
Feeling overwhelmed, irritable, or withdrawn
2
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies, relationships, or daily activities
6
Trouble managing emotions or staying regulated
3
Fatigue, low motivation, or difficulty completing tasks
7
Reliance on unhealthy coping methods
4
Changes in sleep, appetite, or energy levels
8
Physical symptoms connected to depression (headaches, tension, restlessness)
9
Feeling hopeless, stuck, or unsure how to move forward
How Therapy
Helps With Depression
Therapy provides tools, insight, and support to help you understand your emotional world and rebuild stability.
Potential benefits include:
• Reducing depressive symptoms and negative thought patterns
• Learning coping and emotional regulation skills
• Strengthening self-awareness, confidence, and personal insight
• Improving communication and relationship functioning
• Healing unresolved trauma or emotional wounds
• Increasing resilience, hope, and sense of possibility
• Building structure, motivation, and healthier habits
• Improving productivity, decision-making, and daily functioning
• Reconnecting you with values, purpose, and meaningful activities
Therapy is not about “fixing” you. It’s about helping you reconnect with yourself and create the life you want to live.
What to Expect in the First Session
Your first session is a supportive, grounded conversation focused on understanding your emotional experience and how depression is affecting your life.
During this session, we will:
• Explore your history with depression, stress, and emotional patterns
• Discuss current symptoms, triggers, and challenges
• Identify how depression impacts your energy, motivation, relationships, and daily functioning
• Review past coping strategies and what has or hasn’t worked
• Clarify your goals for therapy and the areas you most want to improve
• Begin developing a tailored treatment approach based on your needs and pacing
By the end of the session, you will have a clearer understanding of how therapy can help you reduce depressive symptoms, strengthen emotional resilience, and rebuild a sense of balance and direction.