Psychiatrists in Pleasanton, CA
Uchenna Okoye
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
Pleasanton, CA 94588 (Online Only)
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is a challenging thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here, and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now, welcoming new patients!
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is a challenging thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here, and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now, welcoming new patients!
Catalina Villa
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
Pleasanton, CA 94588 (Online Only)
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is a challenging thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here, and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now, welcoming new patients!
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is a challenging thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here, and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now, welcoming new patients!
Sarah Raike
Physician Assistant, PA-C
Verified Verified
Pleasanton, CA 94588 (Online Only)
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is not an easy thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here, and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now welcoming new patients!
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is not an easy thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here, and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now welcoming new patients!
Bonmente
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
Pleasanton, CA 94588 (Online Only)
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is not an easy thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here, and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now welcoming new patients!
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is not an easy thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here, and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now welcoming new patients!
Riz Ahmad
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
Pleasanton, CA 94588 (Online Only)
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is not an easy thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now welcoming new patients!
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is not an easy thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now welcoming new patients!
Ryan Thebo
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, DNP, PMHNP, FNP
Verified Verified
3 Endorsed
Pleasanton, CA 94588
Are you struggling to balance your mental and physical health and in need of a more comprehensive approach? No problem! I provide Telemedicine (Telepsychiatry) Services, so that you can conveniently be seen from your home for psychiatry appointments and medication management without the need to travel! I provide the same psychiatry services as an in-person office visit and I can also address other aspects that encompass your complete wellness. My aim is to help you to thrive at your best! You can easily self-schedule a Telepsychiatry video appointment now at: pwpsychiatry.com/CA
Are you struggling to balance your mental and physical health and in need of a more comprehensive approach? No problem! I provide Telemedicine (Telepsychiatry) Services, so that you can conveniently be seen from your home for psychiatry appointments and medication management without the need to travel! I provide the same psychiatry services as an in-person office visit and I can also address other aspects that encompass your complete wellness. My aim is to help you to thrive at your best! You can easily self-schedule a Telepsychiatry video appointment now at: pwpsychiatry.com/CA
More Psychiatrists Nearby
Uchenna Okoye
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
San Ramon, CA 94583 (Online Only)
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is a challenging thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here, and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now, welcoming new patients!
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is a challenging thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here, and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now, welcoming new patients!
Catalina Villa
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
San Ramon, CA 94583 (Online Only)
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is a challenging thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here, and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now, welcoming new patients!
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is a challenging thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here, and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now, welcoming new patients!
Ryan Thebo
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, DNP, PMHNP, FNP
Verified Verified
3 Endorsed
Hayward, CA 94552
Are you struggling to balance your mental and physical health and in need of a more comprehensive approach? No problem! I provide Telemedicine (Telepsychiatry) Services, so that you can conveniently be seen from your home for psychiatry appointments and medication management without the need to travel! I provide the same psychiatry services as an in-person office visit and I can also address other aspects that encompass your complete wellness. My aim is to help you to thrive at your best! You can easily self-schedule a Telepsychiatry video appointment now at: pwpsychiatry.com/CA
Are you struggling to balance your mental and physical health and in need of a more comprehensive approach? No problem! I provide Telemedicine (Telepsychiatry) Services, so that you can conveniently be seen from your home for psychiatry appointments and medication management without the need to travel! I provide the same psychiatry services as an in-person office visit and I can also address other aspects that encompass your complete wellness. My aim is to help you to thrive at your best! You can easily self-schedule a Telepsychiatry video appointment now at: pwpsychiatry.com/CA
Daniel Smeester
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
San Ramon, CA 94583
There IS immediate help for those who are battling substance use disorder. You do not need to wait in the emergency room for help with withdrawal symptoms, or to find help to stop using. We have an outpatient program that provides everything you need, including in-person group counseling and an outpatient detox center. Personalized care. We also have a Telehealth program for those who prefer this. If you are battling pain, our addiction-free pain management program provides expert spine and musculoskeletal care as well as care for neuropathic pain- all non-surgical procedures performed, and of course primarily non-opiate based.
There IS immediate help for those who are battling substance use disorder. You do not need to wait in the emergency room for help with withdrawal symptoms, or to find help to stop using. We have an outpatient program that provides everything you need, including in-person group counseling and an outpatient detox center. Personalized care. We also have a Telehealth program for those who prefer this. If you are battling pain, our addiction-free pain management program provides expert spine and musculoskeletal care as well as care for neuropathic pain- all non-surgical procedures performed, and of course primarily non-opiate based.
Online Psychiatrists
Lisa Chan
Physician Assistant, PA-C
Verified Verified
San Mateo, CA 94404 (Online Only)
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is a challenging thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here, and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now, welcoming new patients!
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is a challenging thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here, and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now, welcoming new patients!
Richard A. Bermudes
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
San Rafael, CA 94901
With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Bermudes is a compassionate, collaborative board-certified psychiatrist specializing in treating teens and adults with Major Depression, Bipolar Depression, and Anxiety conditions such as Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety, PTSD, and OCD. He has been at the forefront of numerous innovative treatments, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), Esketamine, and Ketamine. In his telehealth practice, he incorporates cutting-edge medication management and psychological treatments.
With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Bermudes is a compassionate, collaborative board-certified psychiatrist specializing in treating teens and adults with Major Depression, Bipolar Depression, and Anxiety conditions such as Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety, PTSD, and OCD. He has been at the forefront of numerous innovative treatments, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), Esketamine, and Ketamine. In his telehealth practice, he incorporates cutting-edge medication management and psychological treatments.
Estelita Marquez-Floyd
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
Walnut Creek, CA 94595 (Online Only)
) and Mood Disorders(Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, Depression, Bipolar, etc.
I am a Child Psychiatrist, General Psychiatrist and psychopharmacologist who has been in practice for 28 years. I am Board Certified. The clients I treat are from 4 to 55 years of age. I work with clients who have tried but not found satisfactory resolution for their issues as well as with clients who are just beginning the process. Please visit my website psychiatrydoc.org to see what my patients say their experience has been. I hope you'll call and make an appointment too.
) and Mood Disorders(Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, Depression, Bipolar, etc.
I am a Child Psychiatrist, General Psychiatrist and psychopharmacologist who has been in practice for 28 years. I am Board Certified. The clients I treat are from 4 to 55 years of age. I work with clients who have tried but not found satisfactory resolution for their issues as well as with clients who are just beginning the process. Please visit my website psychiatrydoc.org to see what my patients say their experience has been. I hope you'll call and make an appointment too.
Raghu Kiran Appasani
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
San Francisco, CA 94123
Clinical interests lie in psychedelic therapy, mood disorders (depression, bipolar), addiction, chronic/autoimmune medical illness, anxiety disorders, OCD spectrum, eating disorders, trauma, and personality spectrum conditions.
Dr. Raghu Kiran Appasani is an Integrative Psychiatrist, Neuroscientist, and Social Entrepreneur focused on bridging the gap between western and eastern practices to create a wholesome society by taking a proactive approach to health. His current interests lie at the intersection of psychodynamic psychotherapy, integrative/nutritional psychiatry, mental health literacy, advocacy, wellness, entrepreneurship, and psychedelics.
Clinical interests lie in psychedelic therapy, mood disorders (depression, bipolar), addiction, chronic/autoimmune medical illness, anxiety disorders, OCD spectrum, eating disorders, trauma, and personality spectrum conditions.
Dr. Raghu Kiran Appasani is an Integrative Psychiatrist, Neuroscientist, and Social Entrepreneur focused on bridging the gap between western and eastern practices to create a wholesome society by taking a proactive approach to health. His current interests lie at the intersection of psychodynamic psychotherapy, integrative/nutritional psychiatry, mental health literacy, advocacy, wellness, entrepreneurship, and psychedelics.
Desiree Bonomo
Physician Assistant, PMHNP
Verified Verified
San Mateo, CA 94404 (Online Only)
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is a challenging thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here, and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now, welcoming new patients!
Exclusively focused on mental health issues, Bonmente treats a myriad of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, OCD, and gender dysphoria.
We know asking for help is a challenging thing to do. We also know that finding a provider you trust to help you navigate mental health care can be a challenge. That's why we're here, and we're doing things differently. As a patient at Bonmente, you enjoy comprehensive treatments customized specifically for your unique circumstances, convenient telemedicine appointments that allow you to see your provider from the comfort of home, an online patient portal that lets you communicate directly with your provider, and a highly trained support team that makes becoming a patient as simple as it should be. Now, welcoming new patients!
Satveet Khela
Psychiatrist, DO
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94111 (Online Only)
Khela focuses on treating patient's with anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar, OCD, and other mental health issues.
Dr. Satveet Khela is a board certified physician specializing in adult psychiatry. She has been practicing since 2021. n addition to focusing on medication management, Dr Khela's practice also prioritizes a whole person approach, incorporating aspects of nutrition, lifestyle, mindfulness, and supportive or brief cognitive behavioral therapy into the treatment plan. Occasionally, Dr. Khela may believe that additional therapy is also needed and ask that you see a separate therapist to provide the best outcome. Dr. Khela received her undergraduate degree from University of California Berkeley and her medical degree from A.T. Still.
Khela focuses on treating patient's with anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar, OCD, and other mental health issues.
Dr. Satveet Khela is a board certified physician specializing in adult psychiatry. She has been practicing since 2021. n addition to focusing on medication management, Dr Khela's practice also prioritizes a whole person approach, incorporating aspects of nutrition, lifestyle, mindfulness, and supportive or brief cognitive behavioral therapy into the treatment plan. Occasionally, Dr. Khela may believe that additional therapy is also needed and ask that you see a separate therapist to provide the best outcome. Dr. Khela received her undergraduate degree from University of California Berkeley and her medical degree from A.T. Still.
Stacey Mitchell
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, NP
Verified Verified
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
I am a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and I decided to become a nurse to have a positive impact on the lives of my clients. My favorite quote is “Your illness does not define you. Your strength and courage do.” – Unknown. I have experience working with patients struggling with bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, schizoaffective disorder, gender dysphoria, panic attacks, ADHD (children and adults) and PANDAS. I enjoy working with all conditions. I also work with patients dealing with substance use disorders.
I am a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and I decided to become a nurse to have a positive impact on the lives of my clients. My favorite quote is “Your illness does not define you. Your strength and courage do.” – Unknown. I have experience working with patients struggling with bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, schizoaffective disorder, gender dysphoria, panic attacks, ADHD (children and adults) and PANDAS. I enjoy working with all conditions. I also work with patients dealing with substance use disorders.
Nina Sreshta
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Davis, CA 95616 (Online Only)
Accepting patients in Massachusetts, Maryland and California. I believe that everyone is capable of living a life that feels purposeful. Sometimes because of losses, traumas, predispositions to depression or anxiety, or the ways we were taught to think about ourselves, that purposeful life can seem like a distant possibility. I see patients primarily for talk therapy, and if needed, I prescribe medication. To request an intake, message me through Psychology Today or visit my website, www.ninasreshtamd.com. Currently, I am only seeing patients online.
Accepting patients in Massachusetts, Maryland and California. I believe that everyone is capable of living a life that feels purposeful. Sometimes because of losses, traumas, predispositions to depression or anxiety, or the ways we were taught to think about ourselves, that purposeful life can seem like a distant possibility. I see patients primarily for talk therapy, and if needed, I prescribe medication. To request an intake, message me through Psychology Today or visit my website, www.ninasreshtamd.com. Currently, I am only seeing patients online.
Robert L Okin
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
Pope Valley, CA 94567 (Online Only)
Robert L. Okin, MD, Psychiatrist. People come to see me when they are stuck in their lives or struggling with problems in relationships, careers, and other areas. They often feel depressed and anxious. I am acutely aware of how difficult is for many people to take the leap of asking for help: self-doubt, worries that they don’t deserve help, anxiety about having to face their problems, uncertainty about the quality of the provider – all tend to slow people down in seeking help even when they have suffered for a long time. Many people often don’t exactly know why they have such pain in their lives.
Robert L. Okin, MD, Psychiatrist. People come to see me when they are stuck in their lives or struggling with problems in relationships, careers, and other areas. They often feel depressed and anxious. I am acutely aware of how difficult is for many people to take the leap of asking for help: self-doubt, worries that they don’t deserve help, anxiety about having to face their problems, uncertainty about the quality of the provider – all tend to slow people down in seeking help even when they have suffered for a long time. Many people often don’t exactly know why they have such pain in their lives.
Kimberly Dow
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, PMHNP, RN, MSW
Verified Verified
Burlingame, CA 94010
I specialize in treating patients with mood disorders, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and ADHD.
I embrace a collaborative approach with my patients. I want to provide knowledge and experience so as to empower my patients to make informed decisions about their available treatment options. My style is grounded in the mind-body connection by blending mindfulness, behaviors, and holistic interventions with medications.
I specialize in treating patients with mood disorders, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and ADHD.
I embrace a collaborative approach with my patients. I want to provide knowledge and experience so as to empower my patients to make informed decisions about their available treatment options. My style is grounded in the mind-body connection by blending mindfulness, behaviors, and holistic interventions with medications.
See more therapy options for Pleasanton
Depression Psychiatrists
What is the goal of therapy for depression?
Therapy for depression has several major goals. One is to relieve the mental pain of depression, which distorts feeling and thinking so that sufferers cannot see beyond their current state of mind or envision feeling better. Another is to give people the mental tools to recognize and correct the kinds of distorted thinking that turn a problem into a catastrophe and lead to despair. Therapy also teaches people how to process negative emotions in constructive ways, so they have more control over their own emotional reactivity. And it helps people regain the ability to see themselves positively, the motivation to do things, and the capacity for pleasure.
What happens in therapy for depression?
Perhaps most important, no matter the type of therapy, patients form an alliance with the therapist; that connection is therapeutic in itself, plus it becomes an instrument of change. Patients learn to identify and to challenge their own erroneous beliefs and thoughts that amplify the effects of negative experiences. They learn to identify situations in which they are especially vulnerable. And they learn new patterns of thinking and behaving. They may be given “homework” assignments in which they practice their developing skills. In addition, good therapists regularly monitor patients to assess whether and how much the condition is improving.
What therapy types help with depression?
Several types of short-term therapy have been found effective, each targeting one or more areas of dysfunction. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps clients challenge their negative thoughts and beliefs, learn new behavioral strategies, and curb reactivity to distressing situations. Behavioral activation (BA) is a form of therapy often used in conjunction with CBT; it focuses on engagement in rewarding activity as a pathway to changing negative feelings and disturbed mood. Another widely used approach is interpersonal therapy (IPT), which targets the social difficulties that both give rise to and get exacerbated by depression. Therapists may combine approaches as needed.
Can therapy for depression be done online?
Studies have found that online therapy can be highly effective for treating depression, although it may be more challenging to build a good therapist-patient alliance on screen than in person—at least at first. However, online therapy can offer considerable advantages. Accessibility and convenience are tops among them. Some people actually find it easier to talk about problems online than in person. While online therapy typically limits visibility of facial expression and body gestures that give important nonverbal cues to a patient’s state of mind, it can give therapists a glimpse into a patient’s world and life, providing information that can be highly useful in guiding therapy.
How effective is therapy for depression?
Many studies show that therapy is highly effective provided that patients complete the prescribed course of therapy, commonly 16 to 20 sessions. Over the long term, it is more effective than medication and the effects are more enduring. As a result, psychotherapy has the power not just to relieve current suffering but to prevent future episodes of the disorder. Therapy reverses the dysfunction in neural circuitry that disposes individuals to a negative view of themselves, the world, and their future and they acquire coping techniques, problem-solving skills, and understanding of their own vulnerabilities that are useful over the course of a lifetime.