Living with depression means that the symptoms can ebb and flow. Some days you may feel ready to take on the world, while other days bring waves of sadness, exhaustion or numbness that can make it difficult to get out of bed.

If you’re having a difficult time taking control of your depression symptoms for long-term improvement, then it’s OK to ask for help. If you live in Brentwood, California, there are multiple ways to receive professional support that can help you understand what you’re experiencing and how to move along your mental health journey. 

Different people need different levels of care. It can be helpful to collaborate with your provider, such as a general physician, to determine which approach best fits your needs. Here are six worth exploring in the Brentwood area:

•  Individual psychotherapy

When you start researching mental health treatment, one-on-one therapy sessions are likely the first thing you’ll see. Therapy is considered a first-line treatment for many mental health conditions, including mild-to-moderate depression. 

Individual psychotherapy allows you to explore the thoughts, emotions and experiences that may be contributing to depression.

Evidence-based approaches often used for depression include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

These approaches can help you develop practical tools for managing difficult emotions and shifting unhelpful thinking patterns.

• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

If you need a step beyond the support of an outpatient psychotherapist, an Intensive Outpatient Program is what you may be looking for. It provides structured mental health treatment while allowing you to continue living at home and maintaining parts of your daily routine.

This level of care typically includes:

• Several hours of programming per day
• Individual psychotherapy
• Group sessions focused on skill-building
• Support from licensed clinical experts

• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

A PHP can provide a high intensive level of support during the day while still allowing you to return home each night and maintain a sense of normalcy. For many people experiencing moderate to severe depression, this level of support can create a strong foundation for recovery.

This level of treatment often includes:

• Frequent individual psychotherapy sessions
• Daily therapeutic programming
• Weekly sessions with a psychiatrist
• Structured emotional and behavioral skill development

• Residential Treatment Center (RTC)

When depression symptoms significantly impact safety, stability or daily functioning, an RTC may be recommended. It involves 24/7 behavioral care in a home-like environment that allows you to focus on taking control of your depression without the everyday stressors of life.

Residential Treatment provides:

• Frequent individual and group psychotherapy
• Structured daily routines
• Intensive emotional and behavioral skill development

• Group-based mental health support

Group therapy (led by a clinician) or support groups (led by peers), can be a powerful part of depression care. Connecting with others who understand what you’re experiencing can help reduce isolation and build meaningful support.

Group treatment may focus on:

• Emotional regulation skills
• Coping strategies for depression
• Communication and relationship skills
• Building healthy routines

Many people find that shared experiences create a sense of understanding that individual treatment alone cannot provide.

• Virtual treatment options

Many people put off getting the depression treatment they need because they don’t have the time or resources to go into a mental health facility. But telehealth has come a long way, and there’s flexible online care that can make treatment more accessible without compromising the efficacy.

Virtual services may include:

• Psychotherapy
• Intensive Outpatient Program
• Partial Hospitalization Program
• Support groups

Therapy and support groups in Brentwood, both in-person and virtual, can be effective options if you’re trying to develop coping and emotional regulation skills that will help you manage your depression symptoms. However, Lightfully is here when you need higher levels of care, including our:

• Residential Treatment Center
• Partial Hospitalization Program (Day Treatment Program) 
• Intensive Outpatient Program
• Virtual Services (vPHP/vIOP) 

We use a whole-person approach called Precision Care Model (PCM). This framework integrates the most effective elements of evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT and ACT into every level of care.

Each client’s treatment plan is fully customized to address the underlying drivers of their symptoms, including challenges related to:

• Emotions
• Thoughts
• Behaviors
• Relationships

By focusing on these core processes, treatment can help create meaningful, lasting change rather than only addressing surface-level depression symptoms.

In your first appointment with one of our clinical team members, they’ll help you determine which depression treatment is the right fit for the severity of your symptoms, medical history, life circumstances and overall wellness goals.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.