Find Support with a Compassionate Depression & Anxiety COUNSELOR Near You
Depression and anxiety are becoming more and more common in today's world. Research suggests that roughly 21% of U.S. adults will experience major depression at some point in their lives, and about 31% will experience an anxiety disorder. Many more of us experience some level of either or both without ever meeting the full criteria for a diagnosis. If you are experiencing some level of either, you are not alone.
Depression can leave us feeling unmotivated, uninspired, tired, or withdrawn from life. We can feel like we have no gas in the tank, but our thoughts are still spinning ceaselessly in our minds. We can feel self-loathing, loneliness, desperation, or numbness, or be drawn to addictive behaviors that bring some momentary sense of coming alive.
Anxiety can leave us feeling unsettled, panicky, scared, obsessive, or out of control. We can feel a vague but pervasive sense that something is wrong and that things are not going to be okay. It can be hard to trust ourselves when making decisions, or to trust our own interpretation of a situation. We can become extremely nervous in social situations, or obsessive about our relationships.
A Holistic Approach to Healing Depression & Anxiety
At Somatic Spiritual Counseling, we tend to view depression and anxiety as signposts rather than as fundamental conditions. We have found depression to be a compressing of internal nervous system arousal, a numbing of emotions, or a shutting down. At SSC, we like to ask: what are we shutting down, and why do we feel the need to do so? Anxiety, meanwhile, can be thought of as an intense activation of the nervous system: a hypervigilance, or overdrive. But what has us on guard, and how do we return to internal rest?
Somatic Counseling Tools
We use somatic counseling tools — along with a lot of patience and compassion — to help our clients dig into these questions, get to know their depression and anxiety as they arise in the body as well as the mind, and eventually work to unwind the symptoms as the underlying causes are addressed.
Our hearts go out to everyone suffering with depression and anxiety. If you would like to know more about our work, feel free to reach out for a free, confidential consultation.
We offer depression & anxiety therapy in Boulder, CO; Longmont, CO; Durango, CO; and online worldwide.
Depression & Anxiety Therapy
in Boulder, CO; Asheville, NC & Online
Common Signs of Depression & Anxiety
Depression and anxiety show up differently for everyone, but some patterns are common. With depression, you might notice a persistent low mood, difficulty finding motivation for things you used to enjoy, trouble concentrating, changes in sleep or appetite, or a sense of hopelessness about the future.
With anxiety, you might notice racing thoughts, a tight chest or shallow breath, trouble sitting still, difficulty falling or staying asleep, or a persistent sense that something bad is about to happen.
Many people experience a mix of both: a nervous system that swings between shutting down and revving up, sometimes within the same hour or day.
What to Expect in Our Work Together
We start by getting a clear picture of how depression or anxiety shows up in your life: the situations that trigger it, the sensations you notice in your body, and the coping strategies you've already tried.
From there, we work at a pace your nervous system can actually tolerate, using somatic tools alongside more traditional talk therapy. This might mean tracking sensations as we talk about a difficult memory, practicing small experiments in self-regulation between sessions, or simply having a consistent, attuned relationship where you don't have to manage everything alone.
Progress with depression and anxiety is rarely linear; we expect some weeks to feel easier than others, and we build in room for that.
A Note on Medication and Other Support
Some people find that medication, in partnership with a prescribing provider, is a helpful part of treating depression or anxiety, while others prefer to work with lifestyle and therapeutic tools alone.
We're happy to support either path and can help you think through your options, though we're not able to prescribe medication ourselves. If you're in significant distress or having thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out to a crisis line or emergency services right away — we want you safe first, and healed second.
Depression & Anxiety FAQ
How long does therapy for depression or anxiety usually take?
There's no fixed timeline — some people notice meaningful shifts within a few sessions, while others work with us for years, especially if depression or anxiety is connected to longer-standing patterns. We'll check in regularly about what's working and adjust as needed.
Will I have to talk about my whole history?
Not unless you want to. Some clients benefit from exploring where their depression or anxiety originated; others prefer to focus mostly on present-day tools and coping strategies. We follow your lead.
Can somatic therapy really help with something as serious as depression?
Yes — research increasingly supports the role of the nervous system in both the experience and the treatment of depression and anxiety. Somatic approaches aren't a replacement for other necessary care, but they add a layer of healing that talk alone often can't reach.
PRACTITIONERS for DEPRESSION & ANXIETY
in Boulder, co; Louisville, CO; Asheville, NC & online
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RELATED BLOGS
TESTIMONIALS
The work that Dara and I did together drastically improved my quality of life. I was suffering from severe anxiety and depression that were preventing me from functioning. Shortly after the first session, I gained insight into past traumas and began to consciously let go of the remnants that were weighing me down.
The release had begun subconsciously, no doubt, during the first session. The subsequent sessions were no less effective at accelerating the healing process. In a short period of time, my anxiety and depression have subsided, I have reconnected with myself and my surroundings and have reached a functional state.
These things would not have happened without Dara. She is a healer. Her intuition and approach are incredibly effective. I highly recommend Dara’s work!
Scott M.
Emma has the skills to meet me where I am, no matter what is going on. She is an exceptionally present listener, and I always feel uplifted after our dialogues. She recommends me practical things to do, that are thoughtfully suggested based on what I've shared, and I've incorporated countless of her suggestions into my daily routine. I am eternally grateful for her guidance and ability to be deeply present.
Abby W.