Depression Counseling in Lanham & Wheaton, MD

Depression doesn’t always look like sadness. For some people it’s numbness, like watching life through glass. For others it’s irritability, sleeping twelve hours and waking up tired, or lying awake at 3 a.m. It can show up as losing interest in things you used to love, pulling away from friends, eating much more or much less, or a voice that says you’re a burden. When changes like these last two weeks or more and get in the way of daily life, it’s time to talk to someone.

Our depression counseling in Prince George’s County serves teens, adults and older adults from Largo, Mitchellville, Bowie, Glenn Dale and Landover at our Lanham clinic, and Montgomery County residents at our Wheaton office. Many of our clients are juggling work, caregiving and money stress at the same time. We take all of that into account rather than treating your mood as if it existed in a vacuum.

If you’re having thoughts of suicide, you don’t have to wait for an appointment. Call, text or chat 988, free and 24/7 (press 1 for Veterans, 2 for Spanish), call the Prince George’s County mobile crisis team at 301-429-2185, or call 911 if you’re in immediate danger. When you come to us, we’ll talk openly about these thoughts without judgment and build a safety plan together, so you know exactly what to do and who to contact when things feel darkest.

Depression is treatable, and there’s more than one path. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps you spot the thinking patterns that keep depression going and test them gently. Behavioral activation, a part of CBT, starts with small, doable actions that rebuild energy and a sense of reward, because waiting to feel motivated before acting rarely works when you’re depressed. Psychodynamic and existential approaches help when low mood is tied to old wounds, lost meaning or a life that no longer fits.

If your depression has come and gone more than once, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy can help you catch the early signs of a relapse. If symptoms are severe, include mood swings, or haven’t budged with therapy alone, we can arrange a psychiatric assessment and medication management within our clinic, so your counseling and any prescriptions are coordinated by one team that knows your history.

Therapy happens in the hour you spend with us, but recovery happens in the other 167 hours of the week. Your therapist will help you choose one or two small, realistic actions at a time, such as a ten-minute walk, texting one friend, or eating breakfast. These steps can feel pointless when you’re depressed, yet they often lift mood before motivation shows up. We track what helps and drop what doesn’t.

Your first session focuses on understanding: how long you’ve felt this way, what’s changed, how you’re sleeping and eating, any family history of depression, and whether you’ve ever had thoughts of suicide. These questions aren’t meant to label you. They help us choose the right starting point and make sure you’re safe. You’ll leave with a few clear goals and a plan for what happens next.

We accept Maryland Medicaid, Medicare and most major insurance, including CareFirst, Aetna, Cigna/Evernorth, UnitedHealthcare/Optum and Wellpoint (Amerigroup). We check your benefits and explain any copay before you’re seen. Self-pay sessions are $150, and our sliding scale helps people with limited income. If getting out of the house is the hardest part right now, you can begin by telehealth and come into the Lanham or Wheaton office when you feel ready.