Telehealth and In-person in Flatiron, Manhattan
Depression & Mood Disorder Treatment
At City Lights Psychology, we help individuals facing depression and mood-related challenges feel more connected, supported, and understood. Whether you’re experiencing persistent sadness, emotional numbness, or burnout that won’t go away, our therapists offer specialized care in Flatiron, NYC, and virtually throughout NY, NJ, FL, CT & PSYPACT states. You don’t need to wait until things feel unbearable. Therapy can help you find your way back to yourself—at any stage of the struggle.
Our Depression & Mood Services:
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Therapy for overcoming the emotional weight of persistent low mood, fatigue, and loss of interest in life.
Depression can leave you feeling isolated and overwhelmed. Our therapists work with you to explore the root causes of your depression, create personalized treatment plans, and offer strategies to regain a sense of joy, connection, and emotional healing.
Dysthymia / Persistent Depressive Disorder
Help in identifying and shifting long-standing emotional patterns.
When depression feels like it's always been a part of your life, it can be difficult to imagine things being different. We work with you to recognize how chronic, low-grade depression may be shaping your thoughts, relationships, and daily functioning. Together, we focus on building insight, emotional flexibility, and sustainable change to improve quality of life.
High Functioning Depression
Support with uncovering hidden struggles beneath a high-achieving exterior.
You may appear composed and successful on the outside, but inside feel depleted, disconnected, or emotionally overwhelmed. We help you make sense of this disconnect, explore what drives perfectionism or emotional suppression, and create space for deeper authenticity and healing. Therapy offers a place to move beyond simply coping, toward genuinely thriving.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Support in managing mood shifts tied to seasonal changes.
If shorter days and longer nights leave you feeling heavy, sluggish, or withdrawn, you may be experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder. We help you identify seasonal patterns affecting your mood, and offer tools—such as behavioral activation, light therapy strategies, and routine adjustments—to support greater stability and emotional well-being throughout the year.
Burnout & Emotional Exhaustion
Support in recovering from overwhelm, people-pleasing, and chronic stress.
Whether you're a professional, parent, student, or caregiver, burnout can leave you feeling drained, irritable, and disconnected from your sense of self. We help you recognize the patterns and pressures contributing to emotional exhaustion, set healthy boundaries, and restore your energy and self-worth.
Depression in Relationships
Guidance in addressing mood challenges that impact connection and communication.
Depression often affects how we show up in relationships—withdrawing, becoming irritable, or feeling lonely even when we're not alone. We help individuals and couples understand how mood symptoms can strain emotional intimacy and offer practical strategies for reconnecting, communicating more openly, and strengthening relational bonds.
Depression in Pregnancy & Postpartum
Provide compassionate care during pregnancy and postpartum transitions.
If you're experiencing depression during or after pregnancy, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to navigate it without support. Our clinicians specialize in perinatal mental health and offer a safe, nonjudgmental space to process your experiences, manage symptoms, and reconnect with your identity as both a person and a parent.
Mood Disorders & Bipolar Spectrum
Assist in navigating mood swings, irritability, and emotional dysregulation.
Whether you’re living with a diagnosed mood disorder or uncertain about ongoing emotional ups and downs, we offer a grounded, supportive approach. We work with you to understand your emotional patterns, improve daily functioning, and stabilize mood through therapy, while coordinating care with psychiatric providers when appropriate.
Our Therapeutic Modalities
We offer an integrative approach of several therapeutic modalities:
Psychodynamic Therapy
Uncover and resolve unconscious conflicts, often stemming from childhood experiences, that influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Attachment Therapy
Identify and change patterns of attachment formed in early relationships, especially with caregivers, that impact current relationships and emotional regulation.
CBT/DBT
Challenge maladaptive thoughts patterns and behaviors.
Learn distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, mindfulness and emotion regulation skills.
Our Approach to Depression & Other Mood Disorders
Depression isn’t always obvious. Sometimes it shows up as numbness instead of sadness, irritability instead of tears, or burnout instead of rest. You might be going through the motions—working, parenting, socializing—but feel empty inside. You may not even have a clear “reason” for feeling this way, which can add shame or self-doubt to an already painful experience.
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At City Lights Psychology, we understand depression as more than a diagnosis. It's often a response to stress, disconnection, trauma, or internalized pressure. Our NYC-based therapists offer a warm, collaborative space to help you feel less alone and more understood. We use evidence-based approaches—like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and relational psychodynamic therapy—to help you shift unhelpful patterns and reconnect with meaning, motivation, and emotional aliveness.
We Help Individuals Who Are ...
Feeling emotionally flat, sad, or disconnected
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Struggling to find motivation or interest in things they used to enjoy
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Having trouble sleeping, eating, or focusing
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Feeling guilty, numb, or overwhelmed by daily life
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Burnt out from caregiving, parenting, or overworking
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Dealing with chronic self-criticism or hopelessness
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Withdrawing from relationships or feeling isolated
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Experiencing postpartum depression or perinatal mood changes
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Unsure whether what they’re feeling “counts” as depression
What You Can Expect:
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A calm, nonjudgmental space to talk openly—even when you’re not sure what to say
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Guidance for untangling chronic sadness, low energy, or emotional numbness
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Structured support for mood regulation using CBT, mindfulness, and psychodynamic insight
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Gentle exploration of long-term patterns like self-criticism, people-pleasing, or burnout
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Specific care for postpartum and perinatal depression, with therapists trained in this transition
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Help reconnecting to motivation, purpose, and your sense of self
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Collaboration with medical providers if you're navigating medication or mood disorders
Why Choose Us:
Our team of doctoral-level psychotherapists offer personalized care, helping you regain control over your emotions and life. We provide:
A Safe &
Welcoming Space
Whether you’re working through trauma or simply feeling overwhelmed, we offer a judgment-free environment.
Flexible
Care Options
Choose between in-person sessions in our Flatiron location or Telehealth appointments.
Evidence-Based Treatments
We draw on research-supported therapies to deliver effective and meaningful care.
How to Get Started
Step 1:
Book Your Free 30-Minute Consultation Call
The first step in starting your therapy journey is to book a free 30-minute consultation call with one of our psychologists. During this call, we’ll discuss what’s bringing you to therapy and help determine if one of our therapists is the right fit for you. If we don't have a match, we'll provide you with trusted external referrals.
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Please note: We are an out-of-network provider for all insurance companies except UMR-Top Tier, meaning you'll pay for sessions out of pocket and can seek reimbursement from your insurance company if you have out-of-network benefits.
Step 2:
Schedule Your
First Session
Once you’ve found the right fit, we’ll schedule your first session to dive deeper into your anxiety or depression. Together, we’ll explore your emotional challenges and develop a personalized treatment plan.
Step 3:
Begin Your
Therapeutic Process
In your first session, we’ll focus on understanding the root causes of your anxiety or depression. Your therapist will help you develop coping strategies and work toward emotional healing. You’ll gain insight into your feelings and begin to build a foundation for emotional well-being.