Image of a therapist and client in a counseling session.

66,617 people sought depression counseling help in Pennsylvania in the last year

Discover how starting therapy with a depression counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

Meet with a provider as soon as this week

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Aetna, Ambetter from Pennsylvania Health and Wellness, AmeriHealth Administrators, +35 more
LGBTQIA+, Addiction, Borderline Personality, OCD / Obsessive-Compulsive, Anxiety, +2 more

My goal is to create a safe space for us to explore identity, overcome obstacles, and achieve your maximum possible growth.

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Aetna, Ambetter from Pennsylvania Health and Wellness, AmeriHealth Administrators, +33 more
Self Esteem, Stress, Life Transition, Relationships, Anxiety, +2 more

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Aetna, Ambetter from Pennsylvania Health and Wellness, AmeriHealth Administrators, +31 more
Anger, Behavioral Issues, Coping Skills, Stress, Women’s Issues, +6 more

I have 30 years of experience in various forms of therapy and am open to using any therapeutic techniques that would help.

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Aetna, Ambetter from Pennsylvania Health and Wellness, AmeriHealth Administrators, +34 more
Anger, Behavioral Issues, Stress, ADHD, Anxiety, +3 more

Mark Bingel McKillips

Hear from Mark Bingel McKillips, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

View Mark Bingel McKillips's profile

What is your go-to approach for depression counseling?

When working with clients who come to therapy for help with depressive symptoms, I start with a comprehensive assessment to help determine factors contributing to the symptoms. While depression is often related to neurochemical reactions, there are other factors, such as trauma, grief, stages of psychosocial development, stressors, etc. that contribute to symptoms. From there, I use interventions from various modalities of care to address the identified factors. I use cognitive behavioral therapy to help a client learn ways to address unhelpful thoughts that interfere with their well-being and fuel feelings of sadness and hopelessness. I engage them in narrative therapy to help shift some of their internalized narratives of self toward the positive. I use other behavioral approaches to help them increase their engagement in activities that will inspire change, such as building routines, engaging in healthy activities like exercise, increasing social connection, and helping them find ways to fulfill their need for a sense of purpose. In some cases, when depression is moderate to severe and a client's functioning is impaired in various areas of their life, I help them connect with additional resources.

What tools do you teach in depression counseling?

Some tools that I introduce to help clients who experience depression are CBT skills, such as cognitive restructuring (adapting negative thoughts so that they are more functional), thought-stopping (interrupting unhelpful thoughts that contribute to distress and focusing them on positive anchoring thoughts), and thought journaling (diagraming cognitive processes to increase awareness of self and provide opportunities for perspective shift). I also introduce self-reward as a means of incentivizing change.

How do you know when a client is making meaningful progress in depression counseling?

I know when a client is making meaningful progress when they present with a more positive affect, when they can more easily engage in self-affirmation, and they consistently meet their treatment goals and objective. An increase in social engagement and engagement in interests can also serve as metrics for treatment progress.

What can clients do in their personal time to supplement depression counseling?

With depression, the most important thing a client can do is “fake it until you make it.” The “taking oppositive action” skill serves to redirect a client away from maladaptive behaviors that can contribute to depression, such as excessive sleep, substance use, social isolation, and inactivity.

What should someone do to prepare for starting depression counseling?

Someone coming to seek counseling for depression can prepare for therapy by committing to the process and recognizing that change may be slow, but is possible nonetheless.

Starting Depression counseling

What can counseling do for those who suffer with depression?

Depression counseling can help those with major depression, minor depression, postpartum depression, persistent depressive disorder, and more. The providers at Thriveworks in Philadelphia, PA will develop a unique treatment plan based on your specific experience, needs, and goals.

Is it worth going to therapy for depression?

It is absolutely worth going to therapy for depression — depression counseling helps people better manage their symptoms and get back to living happier lives again.

How does depression counseling work?

Depression counseling works by helping people pinpoint life problems, distorted thought patterns, and other causes of their depression, then process and work through them in order to mitigate the negative effects those factors have on their lives.

Signs of depression

Common signs of depression include:

  • Consistent low mood
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Oversleeping or difficulty sleeping
  • Changes in diet (eating much more or less)
  • Withdrawal and isolation
  • Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
  • Feelings of hopelessness
  • Loss of interest in previous hobbies or activities
  • Excessive substance use

Is depression counseling conducted in person or online?

Thriveworks depression counseling in Philadelphia, PA is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.

How often should you attend depression therapy sessions?

Depression counseling can last for a few weeks, months, or longer, dependent on the severity of one’s depression as well as their needs and preferences.

How much does depression counseling cost?

At Thriveworks, we take most major forms of insurance, which means that many of our clients only pay a $0-$50 co-pay per session. However, there are also self-pay options that sit around $200 per session, depending on the service and location, for those who are out-of-network.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurances. We accept 585+ insurance plans, and offer self-pay options, too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling services at Thriveworks.

Our Philadelphia therapists and counselors accept 40 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Ambetter from Pennsylvania Health and Wellness

  • AmeriHealth Administrators

  • AmeriHealth Medicare Advantage

  • AmeriHealth Pennsylvania

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • First Health Network

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Self-pay costs at Philadelphia
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

5.0 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
I think Marla is Excellent for helping me out! Listens! Helps out in everyway!
Dennis Jan 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I think Marla is an Excellent Therapist!! She listened. And really helps me at this point!@
Dennis Dec 2023
Thriveworks.com verified review

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Philadelphia is off of Ludlow Street and S 40th Street. We are near Smoke Shop Convenience and Locust Moon Comics.

Phone number

(267) 440-7066

Languages spoken by PA providers

  • English
Saturday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in ET

Saturday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in ET

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