David JohnsonEd.D., LMHC · SeattleFree Consultation

What I Help With

Depression Therapy in Seattle

When the mind keeps returning to what went wrong, therapy helps you see the past clearly and step back into your life.

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Recognizing It

What It Can Feel Like

Depression can make ordinary tasks feel heavy and your own hopes seem far away. I listen to how your days feel.

If you are in danger right now, call or text 988 or call 911.

  • Heaviness and low energy
  • Replaying old mistakes
  • Losing interest in what you used to enjoy
  • Feeling like a burden
  • Harsh self-judgment
  • Hopelessness about change
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David Johnson, Ed.D., LMHC

Understanding It

The past can become the whole story, when there is still a present to live.

We look honestly at what went wrong, without accepting every conclusion you drew about yourself. I help you return to the present and consider the future as something you can participate in, even when hope feels distant.

Optimism Can Be Rebuilt

I encourage positive self-esteem, optimism and a focus on your own aspirations. That does not mean asking you to dismiss disappointment. It means looking for a truer view of your capacities and choices.

We start with small, real steps that connect to something you care about. You can tell me when a step feels too large or when an old conclusion gets in the way. We adjust the work together.

Working in the Present

How I Approach It

What Can Change

Insight
You may start to see the difference between a painful event and a judgment about your worth. We can question the judgment while respecting the pain.
Self-Respect
We work toward a more accurate, less punishing view of yourself. You do not have to agree with every harsh thought that arrives in your mind.
Direction
Your aspirations give us a place to look ahead. We consider small, real steps rather than expecting energy and optimism to appear all at once.

  1. Questioning Harsh Thoughts

    With cognitive behavioral therapy, we notice thoughts that deepen low mood and practice more accurate ones. We do not need to pretend difficult experiences were harmless.

  2. Understanding Your History

    Insight-oriented psychotherapy helps us look at how past experiences shape your view of yourself. We ask which conclusions were learned and whether they still describe you fairly.

  3. Building on Strengths

    I listen for capacities that depression may make hard to see. We consider the ways you have coped and what you value, without demanding that you feel confident already.

  4. Calming and Managing Symptoms

    Practical skills can help you respond when thoughts become repetitive or distressing. We work at a pace you can manage and discuss what helps outside the therapy room.

Who I See for This

I work with adults from their twenties into their nineties who are dealing with low mood, discouragement or depression. You can bring a recent change or a struggle that has been present for a long time.

Individual therapy allows us to consider losses, relationships and old experiences together. I want to hear what feels hardest now and what you would like your days to hold.

Often Connected

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if it is depression or just a hard time?

You do not need to settle that before reaching out. We can discuss what you are noticing, how long it has felt this way and how it affects your life.

What if I do not have the energy to start?

You can begin with a short request or a call. The consultation gives us room to talk without needing to explain everything at once.

Is medication part of your work?

No. I am a counselor and do not prescribe. If medication might help, I can talk with you about seeing a prescriber.

Related Reading

Why Do I Keep Replaying the Past?

When old moments keep returning, I look at what your mind is trying to solve and what you have come to believe about yourself.

Read the Guide

More to Explore

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

    Read about how David Johnson uses cognitive behavioral therapy to explore thoughts, feelings and actions in the context of your own goals.

  • Rumination or Reflection?

    Explore whether revisiting an experience is opening a new understanding or leaving you stuck in the same judgment.

  • Withdrawal and Low Mood

    Explore what pulling away means in your life and how to discuss connection, demands and discouragement with David Johnson.