Depression Therapy for High-Functioning Adults
I help high-functioning adults who look like they’re doing fine on the outside but quietly battle depression beneath the surface.
You wake up, go to work, answer messages, smile when you’re supposed to — but deep down, you feel like you’re moving through fog.
You zone out in meetings or lose track of conversations because your mind is constantly spinning — overthinking, worrying, trying to stay on top of everything.
You scroll through social media at night, comparing yourself to others, wondering why you can’t just feel grateful.
On paper, your life looks fine.
But inside, it feels like something’s missing…
“I should be grateful… so why do I feel so low?”
For you, depression doesn’t always look like crying all day.
It looks like burnout that never ends, pushing through every task because you “should,” feeling guilty for resting, and never being able to quiet that voice that says you’re not doing enough.
Depression Therapy for People Who Know It’s Time to Heal
I’m Alex Ly, LMFT, a therapist who helps high-functioning adults stop running on autopilot and start feeling alive again.
You’re tired of trying to “think positive” or power through another day pretending you’re okay, tired of feeling like every day is just a repeat of the last, and tired of acting fine when inside you’re running on empty.
Therapy with me isn’t about quick fixes or pep talks.
It’s about getting to the root of what’s really going on — finding clarity about why you feel this way, where it started, and what keeps it going. We’ll slow things down so you can see the patterns clearly and actually process what’s underneath them, instead of just trying to manage the symptoms.
Together, we’ll work to:
Lift the fog of exhaustion and numbness
Reconnect you with your own voice and needs
Unlearn the survival patterns that keep you performing instead of living
Heal the guilt and self-blame that make joy feel out of reach
This isn’t therapy where you just vent. We’ll talk, but we’ll also practice — learning to feel and process emotions, set real boundaries, and create lasting change from the inside out.
Recover from Depression — And Feel Like Yourself Again
Doing this work means choosing hope, even when it feels far away. It’s saying yes to healing — the kind that slowly brings light back into your days, helps you feel steady in your body again, and reminds you that joy is still possible.
Clients who commit to this process often describe feeling calmer, more present, and genuinely alive again. They rediscover motivation, rebuild confidence, and reconnect to the parts of themselves that used to feel lost.
This isn’t about "not being sad" — it’s about learning to feel joy and peace again, even when life is messy.
If you’re ready to stop surviving and start living, I’d love to help you get there.
Let’s start where you are and build the change you’ve been hoping for.
Why Depression Feels Different for You — And Why This Work Matters
If you’ve grown up keeping it all together — working hard, staying polite, doing what’s expected — it’s no surprise you learned to hide how you really feel.
That quiet exhaustion? That’s depression in disguise.
Here’s the thing: most quick-fix therapy only teaches you to manage symptoms. You’ve probably tried that — the coping tips, the surface-level sessions, maybe even the Kaiser check-ins.
It helps for a bit, but it never sticks because it doesn’t get to why you feel this way.
My work goes deeper.
We slow down and look at what’s underneath — the guilt, the pressure, the constant overthinking — and help you finally process it.
Therapy with me isn't just “feeling better fast.”
It’s not about erasing sadness or forcing yourself to be happy all the time — it’s about learning to be real with yourself. True healing means embracing all your emotions, even the hard ones, and finding authenticity and strength in the process.
Types of Depression I Specialize In
While depression can look different for everyone, I specialize in working with high-functioning adults navigating:
High-Functioning Depression (Persistent Low-Grade Depression)
Where you keep it together on the outside but feel numb or detached inside
Burnout-Related Depression
When constant pressure and overwork have drained your energy and sense of purpose
Post-Breakdown or Transition Depression
After a major life change, such as a divorce, breakup, or job loss, when success or stability suddenly feels meaningless and the ground beneath you seems to shift
Cultural and Family-Related Depression
Rooted in guilt, shame, or impossible expectations passed down through generations
Each of these shows up differently, but the common thread is feeling like you’ve lost connection to yourself. Therapy helps you find that connection again.
Get Started Today!
Overcoming depression isn’t about making you “less sad.” It’s about rediscovering yourself — the part of you that feels alive, confident, and connected again. Imagine waking up feeling light instead of heavy, steady instead of restless. You move through your day with clarity and calm. You laugh easily, connect deeply, and finally feel present in your own life.
Good therapy helps you find that version of yourself again — the one who feels grounded, hopeful, and open to joy, even when life gets messy. You deserve to feel at home in your body, proud of who you’ve become, and excited about where your life is going.
Take the first step toward the life that finally feels like yours — peaceful, full, and truly your own.