Depression treatment for children, teens and adults

What it can look like

In children and teens, depression often shows up as irritability rather than sadness. Parents may notice a change in their child before the child can put it into words.

• Irritability, anger or tearfulness that is new or more frequent
• Pulling away from friends, family or activities they used to enjoy
• Changes in sleep, appetite or energy
• Falling grades, trouble concentrating, or not wanting to go to school
• Hopeless or self-critical talk

If your child talks about wanting to die or hurting themselves, take it seriously. Call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency department.

How I treat it

I start by understanding everything that may be affecting your child's mood: stress at school or home, sleep, other conditions such as anxiety or ADHD, substance use, and family history. Depression rarely has a single cause, and treatment works best when it addresses the whole picture.

Therapy is central to treatment. Most visits include focused therapy time, and depending on the person I draw on cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and psychodynamic therapy, which helps make sense of patterns and relationships over time. When weekly therapy with a dedicated therapist would help, I coordinate closely with them.

For moderate to severe depression, medication is often part of the plan. I take care to explain how antidepressants work in young people, what to watch for, and how often we will check in, especially in the first weeks.

Working with families and schools

Parents play a big role in recovery. I keep you informed while respecting your teen's need for some privacy, and with your permission I can coordinate with school counselors and your child's pediatrician.