Anxiety & Depression

Anxiety and depression can look different from person to person. Anxiety may involve ongoing worry, racing thoughts, irritability, trouble sleeping, physical tension, panic, or avoiding situations that feel overwhelming. Depression may show up as persistent sadness, low motivation, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, changes in sleep or appetite, or losing interest in things you usually enjoy.

You do not need to know exactly what to call what you are experiencing before starting therapy. A therapist can help you make sense of your symptoms and understand what may be contributing to them.

Yes, anxiety and depression can occur simultaneously. 45% of individuals are estimated to have more than one mental health condition. Although they have different symptoms they require similar treatment, life management tools, and exercises.

For mood disorders, a good rule of thumb is if the symptoms last for more than two weeks, it may indicate that you may have anxiety, depression, or both. If you have problems sleeping, unexplained emotional changes, decreased interest in things you care about, overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, know you aren't alone! Seeking a therapist can be the best way to address these concerns.

Yes. You do not need an anxiety disorder diagnosis to benefit from therapy. Many people seek counseling because worry, overthinking, panic, perfectionism, physical tension, or avoidance are beginning to interfere with work, relationships, sleep, or everyday life. A therapist can help you understand what is driving those patterns and determine what kind of support may be useful.

A diagnosis may be part of your care, but it is not the only way your therapist will understand what you are experiencing. Your therapist will talk with you about your symptoms, history, day-to-day experiences, and goals. They may also use assessment tools such as the GAD-7 for anxiety or PHQ-9 for depression to better understand your symptoms and track changes over time.

If you plan to use health insurance to pay for therapy, your insurance provider will generally require a mental health diagnosis in order to process and pay for your care. Your therapist can talk with you about the diagnosis being used, what it means, and any questions or concerns you have about it.

There is no single therapy approach that is right for everyone. Treatment may include cognitive and behavioral strategies, mindfulness, emotion-focused work, trauma-informed approaches, somatic techniques, or other methods depending on your symptoms, experiences, and goals.

At Counseling Col:lab, we have therapists with different clinical backgrounds and specialties. Finding a therapist whose approach and personality are a good match can be just as important as choosing a particular therapy method.

Yes. Anxiety and depression often affect much more than your mood. You may notice yourself withdrawing from people, becoming more irritable, struggling to concentrate, avoiding responsibilities, seeking frequent reassurance, or finding it harder to communicate with the people closest to you.

Therapy can help you understand these patterns and develop ways to manage your symptoms while improving how you navigate relationships, work, school, and everyday responsibilities.

Counseling Col:lab offers therapy for anxiety and depression at our Midtown Sacramento office at 2617 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95816, with satellite offices in Marin County and Fair Oaks, as well as telehealth appointments for clients throughout California. Our team includes therapists with different backgrounds, specialties, and therapeutic approaches so you can find someone who fits what you are looking for.