Depression Treatment
in Suwanee, GA

Also Serving Clients in
Buford, Sugar Hill, Duluth and Lawrenceville, GA.

Depression treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps shift thought and behavioral patterns that keep you stuck.

There is a way out of the dark, heavy feeling.

Therapy offers tools for clearer thinking, healthier coping, and a renewed sense of direction.

Schedule Your Free 15 Minute Assessment

Appointments are generally available within 24 hours.

Depression treatment in Suwanee GA represented by woman embracing freedom and emotional healing.

My Approach To Depression Therapy

Depression often feels like a dark, heavy blanket weighing you down.

You want out from under it, but it can be hard to see how.

My approach to depression threrapy is multi-dimensional. To be liberated from persistent, negative thoughts, we look at the many factors that contribute to this mood disorder — from thought patterns and daily routines to emotional reactions.

Together, we uncover what keeps depression in place and begin introducing changes that create relief and resilience.

This is a collaborative process. In a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment, we work toward identifying small but meaningful shifts — and encouraging those shifts until they take root in your daily life.

What Is Depression?

Depression is considered a mood disorder, but it is more than sadness — it affects how we think, feel, and move through our daily lives.

Unlike occasional sadness, depression lingers and disrupts daily functioning. With the right support, new patterns of thought and behavior can take root, bringing relief and renewed energy.

Many factors can contribute to depression.

Young people may be vulnerable to pressures from technology, social media, and gaming.
Older adults may face health challenges or the loss of loved ones.
Lifestyle choices, personality traits, and family history can also play a role.

Common symptoms include:

Persistent emptiness or hopelessness
Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
Fatigue and low energy
Sleep changes — too much or too little
Appetite or weight changes
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Withdrawal from others
Harsh self-criticism or feelings of worthlessness

Want to better understand your level of depression?
Click here to use this Depression Screening Tool from Mental Health America.

At Authentic-Life Counseling, we work with clients across Suwanee, Buford, Sugar Hill, Duluth, and Lawrenceville who are ready to take that first step toward healing.

Common Types of Depression

Depression can look different for each person. Some experience it as a constant, heavy presence, while others notice it comes and goes in cycles. Understanding the different forms of depression helps in finding the right support.

Major Depression – marked by persistent sadness, loss of interest, and difficulty functioning in daily life.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) – a longer-term, less intense form of depression that can last for years and affect outlook, energy, and motivation.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – depressive symptoms linked to seasonal changes, most often appearing in the fall and winter months.
Postpartum Depression – depression that develops after childbirth, involving feelings of sadness, exhaustion, and difficulty bonding with the baby.
Situational or Adjustment-Related Depression – triggered by major life stressors such as loss, change, or transitions.

No matter the type, depression can interfere with work, relationships, and your sense of self. At Authentic-Life Counseling, we support clients in Suwanee, Buford, Sugar Hill, Duluth, and Lawrenceville who are facing these challenges and are ready to find new ways forward.

Common Questions About Depression Therapy

Session 1: Come Back to Now

Duration: 45-60 minutes Most workplace stress comes from our minds being somewhere other than where we are. This foundational session teaches the therapeutic skill of present-moment awareness—not as a relaxation technique, but as a way of fundamentally changing how we relate to workplace challenges. Core Skills Developed: The fundamentals of mindfulness practice as a therapeutic tool How to direct attention to the present moment for stress reduction and enhanced employee well-being Why our minds naturally wander and hijack our focus Practical techniques for attention regulation and emotional stability Using breath awareness as an anchor during difficult conversations or decisions Impact on Employee Well-being: Reduced mental exhaustion from constant multitasking Improved focus and decision-making under pressure Greater sense of calm and centeredness throughout the workday
Session 2: Cultivating Resilience

Duration: 45-60 minutes Building on fundamental practices, this session develops your team's capacity to recognize and regulate stress responses, directly supporting employee well-being and workplace effectiveness. Core Skills Developed: How to mindfully respond to early signs of workplace stress The connection between physical sensations and emotional states Practical tools for improving emotional self-regulation and employee well-being Distinguishing between subtle and acute stress activation cues Responding intentionally versus reactively to workplace pressures Impact on Employee Well-being: Enhanced ability to stay composed during challenging situations Improved response flexibility when faced with workplace stress Faster recovery from setbacks, supporting overall employee well-being
Session 3: Notice Your Narrative

Duration: 45-60 minutes This session explores how cognitive appraisals influence resilience and employee well-being, providing tools for healthier thought processes and stress management. Core Skills Developed: How cognitive appraisals influence resilience and workplace performance The reasons for irrational thoughts and their impact on employee well-being Methods for examining the accuracy of mental narratives How to reframe challenges as growth opportunities Understanding how mental habits shape our stress response Impact on Employee Well-being: Reduced stress levels through healthier thought patterns Improved problem-solving capabilities Greater emotional stability and workplace satisfaction Enhanced ability to handle criticism and feedback constructively
Session 4: Beyond Limited Thinking

Duration: 45-60 minutes Learn how attributional styles influence our response to stress and challenges, introducing advanced mindfulness concepts that support both individual and organizational employee well-being. Core Skills Developed: The basic framework of attributional styles and their impact on problem-solving, perception and emotional regulation Advanced mindfulness practices of impermanence and dependent-coarising Techniques to shift from a pessimistic to optimistic attributional style Understanding how we attribute causes to positive and negative events Applying mindfulness skills of impermanence to build resilience and enhance employee well-being Impact on Employee Well-being: Maintain optimism during challenging times Improved capacity to recognize and leverage personal strengths and resources Greater emotional stability and workplace resilience
Session 5: Developing Personal Emotional Intelligence

Duration: 45-60 minutes Transform emotional awareness from reactive patterns to intelligent responses. This session introduces the basic concepts of emotional intelligence and then focuses specifically on developing personal EI - understanding and working skillfully with your own emotional landscape to support employee well-being. Core Skills Developed: How to identify and accurately label your own emotional states Understanding the causes, intensity, and duration of your emotional experiences Recognizing personal emotional triggers and workplace patterns that impact employee well-being Recognizing and developing personal EI through the lens of the ego, specifically the inferiority/superiority complex Techniques for emotional self-awareness in real-time workplace situations Impact on Employee Well-being: Enhanced clarity in daily workplace interactions and team dynamics Improved focus and concentration abilities during emotionally challenging situations Better decision-making through increased emotional awareness and understanding Increased emotional stability and workplace satisfaction
Session 6: Building Stronger Connections

Duration: 45-60 minutes Learn how awareness of interpersonal dynamics impacts emotional intelligence in relationships. This session pivots from personal EI to EI with others, exploring how judgment creates workplace conflict and how compassion-based practices enhance team connections and employee well-being. Core Skills Developed: How judgment creates duality and conflict in workplace relationships Scientific evidence supporting compassion benefits in professional settings Softening around difficult emotions in interpersonal interactions Embracing impermanence in workplace relationships and its scientific foundations The Sacred Pause practice for mindful responses with colleagues Impact on Employee Well-being: Reduced workplace conflict and improved team relationships Enhanced empathy and social connection with colleagues Greater emotional resilience during challenging interpersonal situations Increased emotional stability and workplace harmony
Session 7: Mastering EI at Work

Duration: 45-60 minutes This session explores how automatic response patterns shape professional interactions. Participants learn to distinguish between present reality and desired outcomes, reducing emotional resistance while developing workplace compassion that enhances both individual employee well-being and collective intelligence. Core Skills Developed: Acceptance practices: distinguishing between the Now and the desired Now to reduce emotional resistance Recognizing automaticity - impulse and unconscious reactions in workplace interactions Techniques for breaking automatic cycles and responding mindfully Embracing impermanence with both unpleasant and pleasant workplace experiences Developing compassion to understand colleagues' suffering and enhance workplace relationships Impact on Employee Well-being: Reduced emotional reactivity and workplace stress through acceptance practices Enhanced collective intelligence leading to improved productivity and team motivation Greater emotional resilience during challenging workplace situations Increased workplace harmony through compassionate understanding of others
Session 8: Applied Emotional Intelligence

Duration: 45-60 minutes The final session focuses on practical, real-world applications of emotional intelligence in workplace settings. Participants learn concrete tools including the O.A.R.D decision-making model and develop self-compassion practices that enhance both personal resilience and employee well-being. Core Skills Developed: How to apply the O.A.R.D decision-making model in workplace scenarios Developing self-compassion practices and understanding their importance for workplace resilience Practical applications of emotional intelligence for daily workplace interactions Techniques for integrating EI skills into professional communication and conflict resolution Building sustainable practices that support ongoing emotional intelligence development Impact on Employee Well-being: Enhanced decision-making clarity through structured EI approaches Increased workplace resilience through self-compassion practices Improved professional relationships through applied emotional intelligence skills Sustainable emotional well-being practices that continue beyond training

Depression Treatment in Suwanee, GA