Therapy for depression with a psychiatric clinician who sees the whole you
Depression can drain colour from everything, making even small tasks feel heavy. Therapy for depression with me brings talk therapy, body-based work and psychiatric care into one relationship, so you do not have to piece your support together alone.
Depression is not laziness or weakness. It is a real condition that affects mood, energy, sleep, thinking and the body. As a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner who also practises psychotherapy, I can assess what is happening, talk with you about whether medication or supplements might help, and offer longer, unhurried sessions to explore the deeper roots of how you feel. I see clients across New York State.
“Depression tells you that nothing will change and that you are the problem. Neither is the full truth, and you do not have to believe it alone.”
Good care starts by understanding your depression in its full context: your history, your body, your circumstances and your hopes.
What depression is, and what helps
Depression is a persistent change in mood and functioning that affects how you think, feel and live, usually lasting for weeks or longer.
Depression is more than feeling low. It often brings a loss of interest or pleasure, changes in sleep and appetite, fatigue that rest does not fix, difficulty concentrating, and harsh thoughts about yourself. Some people feel deep despair; others feel mostly flat, irritable or empty. It can arrive after a difficult life event or seem to come out of nowhere. It can also be shaped by genetics, hormones, physical health, trauma, isolation and the pressures of work and money.
Because depression has many contributing threads, I believe it is best treated with a whole-person approach. That means listening to your story, assessing your symptoms carefully, considering your physical health and lifestyle, and drawing on therapy, somatic practices, medication and supplements as appropriate. No single tool works for everyone, so we build a plan that suits you and adjust it as we learn what helps.
Having psychiatric assessment and psychotherapy within one relationship can make a real difference. You do not have to explain yourself to multiple providers, and any medication decisions are informed by a deep understanding of your life rather than a brief appointment.
Different shapes of depression
Depression can be a single episode or a recurring pattern. It may be long-standing and low-grade, linked to the seasons, connected to pregnancy or the postpartum period, or interwoven with anxiety, ADHD or trauma. Part of a thorough assessment is understanding which pattern fits your experience, as this helps guide treatment choices. I explain what I am noticing in plain language, and you are always part of the conversation.
Medication, thoughtfully
For some people antidepressant medication is genuinely helpful, especially when depression is moderate or severe, recurrent, or making therapy hard to engage with. For others it is not the right fit. I take time to discuss benefits, possible side effects and alternatives, start gradually and monitor closely. If you are already taking medication that is not working well, I can offer a second opinion, adjust it or help you taper safely and slowly.
If you are in crisis
If your depression ever includes thoughts of ending your life or harming yourself, please reach out right away: call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in an emergency. You deserve immediate support, and we can continue our work together once you are safe.
When low mood becomes something more
Depression can look different from person to person. If several of these experiences have been present most days for two weeks or more, or if they are affecting your work, relationships or self-care, it may be time to seek therapy for depression and a proper assessment.
- Loss of interest in things you enjoyed
- Persistent low, flat or empty mood
- Exhaustion that sleep does not fix
- Sleeping much more or much less
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Difficulty concentrating or deciding
- Harsh self-criticism or guilt
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Feeling hopeless about the future
Integrative treatment for depression
My approach to depression treatment combines psychiatric expertise with depth psychotherapy and holistic care. We choose the elements that fit you and review them regularly, so your plan evolves as you do.
Thorough psychiatric assessment
We look closely at your symptoms, history, physical health, sleep and any medications you take. This helps clarify what kind of depression you are experiencing and which treatments are most likely to help, with my reasoning always shared openly.
Depth psychotherapy
Drawing on psychoanalytic, relational and feminist perspectives, we explore the experiences, relationships and beliefs that may be feeding your depression. Longer sessions allow us to go beneath the surface without feeling rushed.
CBT and DBT-informed skills
Practical tools can help interrupt the cycles of withdrawal and self-criticism that keep depression going. We work on noticing unhelpful thought patterns, building small achievable steps, and tolerating difficult emotions with more steadiness.
Medication management
When medication is appropriate, I prescribe thoughtfully, starting low and adjusting gradually. We monitor how you feel and any side effects together. I also support people who are new to medication and those wishing to reduce or stop it safely.
Supplements and lifestyle
A comprehensive lifestyle evaluation looks at sleep, nutrition, movement, light and connection. We may discuss nutraceuticals that may support mood, always reviewed for safety and interactions alongside any medication, and never as a replacement for medical care.
Somatic reconnection
Depression can leave people feeling disconnected from their bodies. Gentle somatic practices help you notice sensation, energy and small moments of aliveness, which can gradually rebuild a sense of presence and vitality.
Why integrated care can help
Many people with depression find themselves seeing a therapist and a separate prescriber who rarely speak. Working with one clinician can make treatment more coherent.
Fragmented care
- Brief medication checks every few months
- Repeating your story to several providers
- Therapy and prescribing working in isolation
- Little time to discuss side effects
- Lifestyle factors overlooked
Integrated care
- Longer, unhurried sessions
- One clinician who knows your full history
- Medication decisions informed by therapy
- Space to talk through every concern
- Body, mind and lifestyle considered together
Beginning therapy for depression
Starting can feel hard when energy is low, so I keep the first steps simple.
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1
Free consultation 15 minutes
A brief, confidential call to talk about how you have been feeling and what kind of support you are looking for. We will discuss whether my integrative approach to therapy for depression fits your needs and answer any practical questions you have.
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2
Comprehensive evaluation
Our first session is a thorough assessment of your mood, history, health, lifestyle and any previous treatment. I share my understanding with you and we discuss options together, including therapy, medication, supplements or a combination.
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3
Your personalised plan
We agree on a plan that reflects your preferences and priorities. If medication is part of it, we start gradually and monitor closely. Therapy sessions offer ongoing space to explore, practise new skills and make sense of what is changing.
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Review and adjust
Depression treatment works best when it is responsive. We regularly review how you are feeling, what is helping and what is not, and adjust accordingly. When you are ready, we plan any medication tapering and the close of our work carefully.
Francesca Rome-Marie, PMHNP-BC
I bring together psychiatry, psychotherapy, somatic work and whole-body health, informed by years in primary care and further study in gender theory, feminist thought, culture and visual art.
I keep a deliberately small caseload so that every client receives consistent, unhurried and genuinely attentive care, held within one relationship rather than split across several providers.
Clear, upfront rates
I don't accept insurance. Modern Holistic Psychiatry is an out-of-network provider, so sessions are paid for directly. Depending on your plan, you may be able to claim reimbursement through your out-of-network benefits.
Find out how much your insurance may coverNeed urgent support? If you're in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911.
Therapy for Depression FAQs
Do I need medication to treat depression?
Not necessarily. Many people improve with therapy and lifestyle changes alone, particularly when depression is mild. For moderate or severe depression, or when it keeps returning, medication can be a helpful part of treatment. I will talk through the benefits and drawbacks with you honestly, and the decision is always yours to make.
What makes your therapy for depression in New York different?
I am both a psychiatric nurse practitioner and a psychotherapist, so assessment, prescribing and therapy happen within one relationship. Sessions are 60 or 90 minutes, giving us real time to understand what is happening. I also bring somatic, holistic and lifestyle approaches into the work, so your care addresses body and mind together.
Can you help if my current antidepressant is not working?
Yes. I offer second opinions and medication adjustments for people whose current treatment is not helping or is causing troublesome side effects. We review your history carefully, consider all options, and make any changes gradually and collaboratively, with close monitoring along the way.
Are supplements an alternative to antidepressants?
Some supplements may support mood, but they are not a replacement for medical care, and they are not right for everyone. I review any supplement for safety, quality and potential interactions with medication before recommending it. For some people they complement therapy or medication; for others a different approach is wiser.
How long does depression treatment take?
It varies. Some people start to feel noticeably better within weeks; for others, especially with long-standing or recurrent depression, improvement is more gradual. If medication is involved, it usually takes several weeks to judge its effect. We review progress regularly and adjust the plan so you are never left waiting without a sense of direction.
Can I get help tapering off antidepressants?
Yes. If you and I agree that it is the right time to reduce or stop a medication, I will create a slow, individualised tapering plan and monitor you closely throughout. Stopping antidepressants abruptly can cause unpleasant effects, so careful, gradual reduction is important.
Take one small step today
When depression makes everything feel heavy, reaching out can be the hardest part. A free 15-minute consultation is a simple, low-pressure place to begin.