Depression treatment in Los Angeles typically combines therapy, medication, and, when needed, a more structured level of care, tailored to how severe someone’s symptoms are. AM Healthcare and our partners provide this care for adults in and around Los Angeles, California, including those with co-occurring substance use or mental health concerns.
AM Healthcare takes a full continuum of care approach to depression treatment for adults across California. From detox to aftercare services, our team has decades of combined experience in treating depression and other mental health disorders.
Our treatment programs utilize evidence-based and holistic therapeutic modalities to provide full-person care – to support meaningful, lasting progress. If you or your loved one is searching for compassionate and quality depression treatment in California, AM Healthcare can help.
Most people will often feel sadness over a specific circumstance, with some common sources being:
Whenever these feelings of sadness increase in severity and/or persist for so long that they begin to impact a person’s daily life, it’s most likely due to depression.
Depression is a mental health condition that goes beyond periods of sadness. Someone struggling with depression will feel severe feelings of hopelessness or despair, often for no precise reason. Depression can be pervasive and affect a person’s mental and physical well-being.
While depression is commonly discussed as an umbrella term, there are many different types of depression. Various factors can cause other types of depression, affect people differently, and require unique treatments.
Beyond the specific type of depression someone experiences, clinicians also describe depression by severity.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms of depression can range from mild to severe, and severity is a key factor in determining the right treatment approach.
Mild depression may be manageable with therapy alone, while moderate depression often benefits from a combination of therapy and medication.
Severe depression, particularly when it includes thoughts of self-harm or an inability to carry out daily responsibilities, may call for a more structured level of care. Severity can also change over time, which is why ongoing assessment matters throughout treatment.
Severity isn’t something to self-diagnose — a licensed clinician can help identify where someone falls on this spectrum and what level of care makes sense from there.
Also known as clinical depression, major depressive disorder is a chronic mental health disorder that causes a person to feel symptoms of depression almost every day for an extended period. Clinical depression is usually a disorder that can increase and decrease throughout a person’s life. It’s a common condition. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that around 21 million U.S. adults experience at least one major depressive episode in a given year.
Major depressive disorder causes a person to feel intense feelings of sadness or worthlessness for no reason. It can also lead to a loss of energy, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, loss of interest in activities, and difficulty concentrating. In severe cases, a person with clinical depression may begin to experience thoughts about death or suicide.
Dysthymia, or persistent depressive disorder (PDD), is a chronic form of depression that can last for years. Since symptoms often last so long, persistent depressive disorder can make it challenging to maintain relationships or fulfill obligations at work or school.
Although symptoms may not become as severe as those of major depressive disorder, PDD can still be incredibly challenging to manage and often requires treatment. A person with persistent depressive disorder often feels hopeless and struggles to feel any sense of happiness.
People with PDD often have low self-esteem and feel weary or fatigued. Like clinical depression, a person with persistent depressive disorder may also experience changes in their eating and sleeping habits.
Although bipolar disorder is not necessarily a type of depression, it can cause depression. Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition and mood disorder that causes swings between high-energy and low-energy episodes.
The high-energy episodes are referred to as manic or hypomanic episodes. A manic episode is defined by a burst of energy, high self-esteem, and reckless behavior. The low-energy episodes caused by bipolar disorder are referred to as depressive episodes. A depressive episode causes all the same symptoms seen in clinical depression and usually lasts a few weeks.
Depression occurring either in the late stages of a woman’s pregnancy or soon after the baby is born is known as postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is caused by drastic hormonal shifts that occur during pregnancy.
Although mood swings are common during all pregnancies, postpartum depression can be long-lasting and usually requires treatment. Postpartum depression can cause irritability, sadness, feelings of inadequacy, and trouble bonding with the newborn child.
Depression symptoms that are tied to weather or seasons of the year are known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). For most people, winter and cold weather can cause symptoms closely associated with major depressive disorder.
Symptoms may often start gradually and worsen as the season progresses or the weather gets colder. Even though symptoms tend to improve as the weather gets warmer, a person should still seek treatment for any symptoms associated with major depression.
This term refers to when someone experiences the symptoms of major depressive disorder alongside symptoms of psychosis. These conditions could be co-occurring disorders or related directly to one another. Psychotic depression may also be referred to as major depressive disorder with psychotic features.
Psychosis is a mental health condition that causes someone to lose touch with reality. This may take the form of perception issues, such as visual or auditory hallucinations or delusions.
A severe form of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, that may occur during a woman’s menstrual cycle is known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD. Although PMS can cause mood swings or irritability, PMDD can cause significantly worse symptoms.
PMDD often makes it difficult for some women to complete daily activities due to their symptoms. During PMDD, women may experience the full slate of symptoms of a major depressive episode, as well as feelings of anger, anxiety, and volatile moods. While PMS usually causes both physical and mental symptoms, PMDD generally only causes a worsening of psychological symptoms.
Depression that can be lessened by positive or happy events in a person’s life is known as atypical depression. While major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder cause a feeling of hopelessness or despair regardless of what is happening in someone’s life, symptoms of atypical depression may be made better or worse by life events.
Someone struggling with atypical depression often feels symptoms associated with clinical depression. Positive life events, such as marriage, job promotion, or other happy occurrences, can reduce these symptoms or even make them temporarily disappear. However, symptoms of depression will always return.
Depending on the type of depression, treatment usually consists of a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Depression does not have a cure and may often be a lifelong battle. However, with proper treatment, the symptoms associated with depression can be managed to the point that they stop interfering with daily life.
While antidepressants can be helpful, they should not be viewed as a solution to depression. Medication is best thought of as one aspect of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes psychotherapy.
At AM HealthCare in California, we are here to help you find healing. We believe in designing a treatment plan that precisely suits your condition and your needs.
Depression often calls for long-term treatment, and most approaches combine medication, psychotherapy, or, for some, a more structured level of care:
According to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Library of Medicine, antidepressant medications can help control symptoms. It’s common to try more than one before finding what works best, and any changes to medication should be made in coordination with a provider rather than stopping treatment on your own.
Whether one-on-one or in a group setting, therapy helps people recognize and change the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors connected to their depression, while also building coping skills and support.
Light therapy is often used for seasonal affective disorder, while brain stimulation approaches such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may be considered when standard treatment hasn’t helped. These are typically a later step in the treatment path rather than a starting point, and are always something to discuss with a provider.
There isn’t a single treatment path that works for everyone. Many people benefit from adjusting their approach over time. Because depression can look different from person to person, a treatment plan works best when it’s revisited and adjusted along the way rather than treated as a one-time decision.
In severe cases, a person may need inpatient residential treatment for severe depression. This is especially important for clients with co-occurring disorders, such as substance use or addiction. AM Healthcare and our partners offer residential or inpatient services designed to help adult men, women, and first responders.
A residential or partial hospitalization program (PHP) is typically considered when depression symptoms are severe enough to interfere significantly with daily functioning, when there’s a safety concern, such as thoughts of self-harm, or when outpatient therapy alone hasn’t been enough to manage symptoms.
SAMHSA describes treatment as a continuum, where the right setting depends on a person’s current clinical needs rather than a fixed rule. In practice, this often means residential care is considered when someone needs 24-hour support and a structured environment to stabilize, while PHP can be a good fit for people who need intensive, daily treatment but can return home each night.
A clinical assessment is the best way to determine which level of care is the right starting point, and it’s common to move between levels as symptoms improve. These levels of care aren’t necessarily a one-way path — many people step down to less intensive treatment as they stabilize, and can step back up again if needed.
Our PHP programs are designed to help clients who no longer need the intensive care of inpatient or residential treatment but need more support than an IOP can provide. This gives intensive care while allowing clients to begin the process of re-integrating into daily life.
Offering optimal flexibility, our IOP program offers quality outpatient care while working with our clients’ schedules. Clients can fulfill responsibilities at work, school, and home while receiving supportive mental health care.
Clients near the end of their treatment journey transition into outpatient treatment, which is less intense compared to an IOP. Therapy sessions may only meet once a week for an hour or two at a time. Outpatient treatment is perfect in helping clients maintain mental health as they navigate daily life.
Virtual mental health services offer flexible mental health care for clients who are busy or may be unable to leave their homes due to an illness or disability. This flexible approach ensures that no matter what schedule or responsibilities you have, anyone can receive the care they need to recover from depression.
Depression is a condition that often drives people to seek relief through a maladaptive coping mechanism known as self-medication. As such, substance use is commonly present alongside depression.
AM Healthcare and our partners are prepared to address co-occurring conditions with our dual diagnosis treatment program. This comprehensive approach supports whole-person healing and can improve long-term recovery.
AM Healthcare and our partners offer evidence-based treatment that consists of psychotherapies, medication management, and holistic modalities to address the unique needs of our clients.
The most common psychotherapy used in depression treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy. CBT helps clients identify and change harmful thought and behavioral patterns. Clients learn healthy coping skills that they can use to manage their depressive symptoms.
Commonly used for emotional regulation and to manage intense emotions, dialectical behavior therapy is used in depression treatment. By using mindfulness and acceptance strategies, clients can change their mindset to a more positive outlook on life.
AM Healthcare and our partners utilize both individual and group therapy. Individual therapy is a one-on-one session with a treatment provider, which provides a private space to be open and honest. When ready, clients participate in group therapy, which helps remind them that they aren’t alone in their struggles. Fellow peers share insights and experiences, which encourage mutual healing and support.
Depression may be the result of a traumatic experience that a client has lived through. As such, we offer therapies that are sensitive to those with trauma, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) as needed.
Not everyone will need medication as part of depression treatment. However, medications like antidepressants can be useful to help manage symptoms until the underlying cause of an individual’s depression is addressed. Clients needing medication will include medication management as part of their treatment plan, which helps them safely take and manage their medication.
Including holistic modalities can improve overall wellness, boosting mental and physical health. The healthier the individual becomes, the better equipped they are to manage their depressive symptoms. Many depressive symptoms can be relieved through wellness education and lifestyle changes, and instill healthy habits that keep our clients feeling well.
Addressing co-occurring mental health conditions and challenges is important for long-term recovery. Depression can be the result of or be worsened by comorbid conditions. As such, AM Healthcare and our partners make dual diagnosis treatment a core part of our treatment philosophy.
Having one mental illness or disorder can be difficult. When two or more co-occur, they can compound and worsen overall health. You cannot simply treat one disorder over the other, as the co-occurring disorder will still cause pain, stress, and anguish.
AM Healthcare and our partners focus on treating substance use disorder and addiction, as well as their co-occurring disorders. This is because depression and substance use commonly co-occur, with one causing or exacerbating the symptoms of the other. Learn more about treating depression and co-occurring addiction together. As such, we are prepared to treat those struggling with alcohol addiction, opioid addiction, and more.
Depression and addiction are treated together through one coordinated care plan, rather than addressing each condition separately or one at a time.
SAMHSA reports that millions of U.S. adults live with a co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder, and treating both conditions at the same time is generally associated with better outcomes than treating them in sequence.
In practice, integrated treatment typically means therapy that addresses both the depression and the substance use at once, medical support for any withdrawal symptoms, and a clinical team that coordinates every part of a person’s care rather than working in separate silos.
This approach also helps identify which condition may be driving the other, which can shape the rest of the treatment plan, and it reduces the risk of progress on one condition being undone by an untreated struggle with the other.
Effective treatment for depression requires addressing any co-occurring mental health conditions. If you’re new to the term, here’s what is dual diagnosis and why treating conditions together matters.
Common mental health conditions that co-occur alongside depression are trauma-related disorders, such as PTSD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorder. When depression stems from trauma, our team treats trauma and co-occurring disorders together rather than in isolation.
Each client is assessed to identify these co-occurring disorders. A comprehensive treatment plan is then created that addresses these disorders simultaneously. As we utilize a full level of care approach to treatment, this can include detoxification services and post-treatment aftercare. This approach is designed to support all of a client’s mental health needs, not just their depression.
The goal of treatment at AM Healthcare is to promote overall wellness and recovery. This involves addressing the source of depression and offering the appropriate treatment. Without addressing this source, symptoms will return again and again, no matter how long a client remains in treatment. This approach ensures that clients heal from the inside out and have the skills to manage their mental health going forward.
It can be difficult for families to watch a loved one struggle and know how to help. That’s why AM Healthcare and our partners offer family therapy, intervention planning, and other support services for our clients’ loved ones. This helps improve communication, promotes family healing, and educates families on how best to support their loved ones in treatment and recovery.
Our AM Healthcare treatment facilities in Southern California are dedicated to providing a respectful, supportive, and compassionate healing environment for all of our clients. We curate judgement-free zones that take full advantage of what California has to offer in community and experiences. No matter what mental health challenge you are struggling with, we can help you find a facility that will set you on your recovery journey.
It’s normal to feel sad once in a while. What is not normal is for your sadness to be so pervasive that it prevents you from living your life. You should seek help if you or a loved one experiences depressive symptoms that last for at least two weeks, such as:
If you or a loved one is experiencing these symptoms, call or contact us today.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please know that help is available right now — call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time, day or night.
AM Healthcare and our partners offer inpatient/residential and various outpatient treatment options for depression. Detoxification may be used in conjunction with other treatment options if there is a substance use disorder or addiction present.
The length of time it will take for you or a loved one to complete depression treatment will depend on many factors, such as severity and whether you have a support network at home. Inpatient or residential treatment typically lasts 30 to 90 days, depending on the program, while outpatient treatment can last from months to years. It’s important to focus on healing at your own pace rather than rushing through treatment.
Yes, we treat depression along with co-occurring substance use and abuse as part of our dual diagnosis treatment program.
AM Healthcare sets itself apart by providing comprehensive depression treatment throughout Los Angeles, CA. Clients can easily transition or ‘step down’ to other levels of care with minimal stress or disruption. Along with our partners, we offer targeted care that helps adult men, women, and first responders find the behavioral health care they need for recovery.
AM Healthcare addresses the underlying causes of depression through targeted psychotherapy and collaboration with skilled psychiatrists. This allows us to address several factors that can contribute to depression, such as a brain chemistry imbalance, trauma, grief, chronic illness, and more.
Yes, part of providing comprehensive care includes addressing co-occurring mental health conditions. For example, depression commonly co-occurs with anxiety, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders. Addressing these conditions simultaneously leads to better treatment outcomes and lasting recovery.
AM Healthcare and our partners use several types of therapy for treating depression, which include various psychotherapies and holistic modalities. The most commonly used specifically in treating depression include trauma-informed CBT, DBT, EMDR, and medication management as needed.
Before therapy begins, there is an initial intake session to gather information about your mental health history and goals. This is then followed by therapy sessions that focus on discussing progress, addressing current issues, and developing coping strategies. Your clinician may use techniques like active listening, goal setting, and skill-building exercises, depending on your individual needs.
AM Healthcare and our partners utilize an extensive aftercare program that keeps alumni connected to ongoing support services. Through these programs, alumni gain consistent access to a community that not only understands their struggles but also actively exposes them to positive activities and companionship. This encourages our alumni to stay in recovery and consistently practice skills that encourage wellness.
AM Health Care accepts most major insurance providers’ PPO policies. The best way to find out whether your insurance will cover treatment at AM Health Care is to contact our team. If you’d like us to reach out about your insurance, use our verify insurance form.
For most people, the most effective treatment for depression is a combination of psychotherapy — especially cognitive behavioral therapy — and, when appropriate, antidepressant medication. Severity matters: mild depression may respond to therapy alone, while severe or treatment-resistant depression may call for a structured level of care or additional options like rTMS or ECT. The best plan is individual, which is why treatment at AM Health Care begins with a full clinical assessment.
Don’t stop on your own — talk with your prescriber first. It’s common to try more than one antidepressant before finding one that helps, and options include adjusting the dose, switching medications, adding psychotherapy, or considering treatments like rTMS or ECT for treatment-resistant depression. If symptoms are severely affecting daily life, a higher level of care such as PHP or residential treatment can provide the structure to stabilize while your plan is adjusted.
A depressive episode usually improves fastest with professional support: therapy, medication, or both. Alongside treatment, small structured steps help — keeping a regular sleep schedule, gentle activity, staying connected to one or two supportive people, and avoiding alcohol and drugs, which deepen depression. If symptoms last more than two weeks, or include thoughts of self-harm, reach out for professional help — and call or text 988 if you’re in crisis.
The “3-month rule” isn’t a clinical term — it usually refers to the informal idea that new habits or medication effects should be given about three months before judging results. In depression care, there’s a related clinical reality: antidepressants often take 4–8 weeks to reach full effect, and treatment plans are typically reviewed and adjusted over the first several months. The takeaway: give treatment time to work, but stay in regular contact with your provider rather than waiting in silence.
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