Depression Therapy for Children, Teens, and Young Adults in Portland, OR

What Is Depression?

Depression is more than feeling sad or having a bad day. It can affect mood, energy, motivation, sleep, concentration, self-esteem, and relationships. Children, teens, and young adults experiencing depression may seem withdrawn, irritable, tearful, hopeless, or less interested in activities they once enjoyed. Depression can also show up as increased conflict, difficulty keeping up with schoolwork, changes in sleep or appetite, or feeling disconnected from friends and family.

Although depression can feel overwhelming, effective treatment can help young people reconnect with their strengths, relationships, and goals.

Evidence-Based Depression Treatment

As a child and adolescent psychologist in Portland, OR, I provide evidence-based treatment for depression in children, teens, and young adults. Treatment is tailored to each individual's needs, developmental stage, and goals.

I primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps clients understand patterns of thoughts, behaviors, and emotions that may be contributing to depression. CBT teaches practical skills for managing difficult emotions, increasing engagement in meaningful activities, challenging unhelpful thinking patterns, and building a stronger sense of confidence and hope.

I also incorporate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which helps young people develop psychological flexibility and learn how to move toward their values even when difficult feelings are present. Rather than struggling against sadness, self-doubt, or painful emotions, ACT helps clients build a different relationship with those experiences and create a more meaningful life.

Because depression often affects the entire family, parents and caregivers are frequently involved in treatment. Together, we identify ways to increase support, strengthen communication, and create environments that promote recovery and resilience.

What to Expect During Therapy

Therapy begins with a comprehensive assessment to understand how depression is affecting your child or teen's mood, relationships, school functioning, daily activities, and overall well-being.

Together, we identify patterns that may be maintaining depression and develop a treatment plan that builds on your child's strengths. Treatment focuses on developing coping skills, increasing engagement in meaningful activities, improving emotional awareness, strengthening relationships, and addressing negative self-beliefs.

When appropriate, therapy may also address concerns related to anxiety, trauma, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, identity development, family conflict, or social difficulties that often occur alongside depression.

The goal of therapy is not simply to reduce symptoms, but to help children, teens, and young adults build lives that feel connected, fulfilling, and worth living.