The world can be a lonely and scary place. One day you are happy, fulfilled, and successful at overcoming challenges. Yet, the next, you may feel like you cannot handle what life is throwing at you, no matter how hard you try.
And that’s ok. A lot of us have been there.
At one point or another, your ruminating thoughts might keep you up at night. You may feel disconnected, struggling to get out of bed, and losing all hope and purpose. Depression can often leave you feeling stuck, empty, and uncertain about the possibility of a different reality. If so, you might be struggling with depression - and you are not alone.
Depression is a common mental health issue that show up independently or in conjunction with one another such as anxiety. It can impact our well-being to the extent where working, studying, playing, and interacting with others becomes unbearable. However, they are both treatable with proper support. You may try to hide or convince yourself that things will get easier if you pretend everything is okay, but untreated depression does not simply go away.
We believe that you have the power to face the uncomfortable, be empowered, and make space to heal.
If you are ready to get started, browse our therapists or:
SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION:
Symptoms of Depression
Anger or irritability
Excruciating sadness and worthlessness
Loss of hope or motivation
Lack of energy
Apathy towards people or things that used to please you
Shifts in appetite or weight gain/loss
Aches or physical issues with no evident cause
Self-harm or suicidal thoughts
If you or your loved one are struggling with depression, we are here for you. At Spaces Therapy, we provide therapy for depression for kids, teens, and adults to treat their wounds and help them grow.
3 top-rated depression therapists in Los Angeles
Kelli Penner
I’m Kelli (LFMT CA #79102, TX #204019), Clinical Director of Spaces Therapy, supervisor, and therapist! I enjoy helping adolescents and younger adults as they go through the process of developing their identity. This experience includes uncovering and better understanding one's self and addressing symptoms of depression/anxiety/etc. that go along with this stage of life.
CREDENTIALS:
- B.A. in Psychology with an emphasis in Community Counseling
- M.S. in Marital and Family Therapy
- Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
Michelle williams
I'm Michelle (she/her), an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT # 156810) at Spaces Therapy, under the supervision of Kelli Penner and Ludine Pierre.
As a relational therapist, I believe that transformative healing happens within the context of healthy, secure connections—especially the one we build together in therapy. My work centers on helping clients understand and reshape their relationship patterns, drawing on Attachment-Based Experiential models to explore how past experiences influence present connections. My warm, compassionate, and curious presence celebrates your inherent strengths and helps shift pain, unmet needs, or feelings of being "stuck" into clarity and meaningful resolve. Together, we'll move beyond traditional talk therapy to integrate a more holistic approach to healing—one that tunes into your internal experience to grow your capacity for a deeper sense of safety and security within yourself and in your relationships.
Credentials
B.A. in Communications
M.S. in Marriage & Family Therapy emphasis in Medical Family Therapy
Certified in Brainspotting (a Trauma Therapy treatment)
Trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples & Individuals
Trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Trained in Brainspotting
Shelly elia-shalev
I’m Shelly, she/her, a registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (CA#138057) at Spaces Therapy. I work with individuals, couples, and families to help untangle patterns that keep them feeling stuck, address emotional intensity, and explore the deeper stories behind their struggles. I use a thoughtful, relational approach grounded in psychodynamic theory, nervous system awareness, and behavior-based tools. Therapy with me is a space for slowing down, developing insight, and experimenting with new ways of being.
CREDENTIALS:
B.A in History and Multidisciplinary Studies
M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
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Anxiety is the human response to a dangerous or threatening situation marked by distress and worry. While anxiety can be temporary and harmless (e.g., feeling nervous before a delicate conversation or riding a roller coaster), it can also become pervasive and impede your daily functions.
Depression is a mood disorder characterized by profound sadness, lack of motivation, and worthlessness. It’s much more than the “blues,” as it can also affect your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, making life incredibly challenging.
Think of anxiety as intense fear and depression as extreme emptiness, yet they involve much more than that. Both anxiety and depression disorders are difficult to manage without professional help, which can cause added suffering and helplessness and turn into a damaging cycle.
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Untreated depression can make you feel alone, hopeless, and struggling to imagine a different life beyond your depressive symptoms. It can be difficult to make decisions and reach out for help, but depression counseling can help provide you with a safe space to identify and name what you're experiencing, work with you to make sense of your feelings (ie: exploring past traumas, family of origin issues, etc), and give you resources to help you cope with any symptoms.
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You may be at risk of depression if you:
Were exposed to major stressors or trauma
Have a history of mood disorders or other mental health issues (personal or within your family)
Suffer from other health problems (e.g., thyroid issues can worsen anxiety symptoms)
Have recent changes in your life (ie: change in jobs, moving, or changes in your family or social circles)
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Signs of depression can be missed, underestimated, or confused with other conditions.
Depression can vary in children, teens, and adults. For example, depression tends to show up as moodiness in kids and adolescents. And during adulthood, it can co-occur with anxiety symptoms or other medical conditions like cancer or heart problems. Typically, having a consistent space that will allow you to process your experience, help you find a sense of agency and hope, and increasing resources and coping, and ultimately helping you increase your connection to yourself and to others. Depression counseling can be incredibly beneficial to helping you maneuver your life and your mental health in a healthy and sustainable way.
