Low mood that won't lift
Two weeks or more of heaviness, flatness, or emptiness that doesn't track with what's actually happening in your life. Weekends and vacations don't fix it, and neither does a good day.
Depression treatment · Arlington, VA
Outpatient depression treatment in Arlington, Virginia
CBT and trauma-informed therapy, PHP and IOP, and psychiatric medication management for major, persistent, and treatment-resistant depression — for adults in Arlington, Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia.
- Most insurance accepted
- Day & evening IOP tracks
- Telehealth for Virginia residents only
Medically reviewed by the VABH Medical Team
When treatment helps
Depression patterns we treat
You don't have to be unable to get out of bed to qualify for treatment. Most people who start with us are still working, still parenting, and still holding it together on paper.
High-functioning depression
You're still hitting deadlines, still showing up for the kids, still answering emails at 11 p.m. — and running on empty underneath all of it. Persistent depressive disorder is one of the most common presentations we see in Arlington and DC professionals.
Sleep and appetite off the rails
Waking at 4 a.m. and not getting back down, or sleeping ten hours and still exhausted. Eating nothing, or eating constantly. Depression shows up in the body before people name it as depression.
Nothing feels like anything anymore
Anhedonia — the loss of pleasure in things you used to care about. Music sounds like noise, friends feel like a chore, and the hobbies are still in the closet where you left them.
Therapy or medication that stopped working
Weekly therapy that's plateaued, or a third antidepressant that isn't moving the needle. Treatment-resistant depression usually means the intensity or the diagnosis needs revisiting, not that you're beyond help.
Thoughts of not wanting to be here
Passive thoughts that everyone would be fine without you, or more specific plans. These are treatable symptoms, and they're the reason to call today rather than wait. If you're in immediate danger, call or text 988.
How we treat depression
Therapy, medication, and structure — together
For moderate to severe depression, the evidence is clearest when therapy and psychiatric care run side by side, at enough intensity to actually shift things.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
The most-studied psychotherapy for depression. We map the thought patterns keeping the low mood in place and build concrete responses — plus behavioral activation, which rebuilds momentum by scheduling activity before the motivation shows up.
Psychiatric evaluation & medication management
Board-certified psychiatric evaluation to confirm the diagnosis and rule out what's mimicking it. Our medical staff may prescribe and manage SSRIs, SNRIs, bupropion, mirtazapine, or augmentation strategies, then adjust with you rather than handing it down.
Treatment-resistant depression planning
When two or more medication trials haven't worked, we reassess for bipolar spectrum, ADHD, trauma, thyroid, and substance use — then build a plan that may include augmentation, intensive programming, or referral for TMS or ketamine with a vetted partner.
Group therapy & behavioral activation
Process and skills groups where isolation gets interrupted on purpose. Depression narrows your world; group work is one of the few interventions that reliably widens it back out.
DBT & emotion regulation skills
Distress tolerance and emotion regulation for people whose depression comes with self-harm urges, intense mood swings, or crisis episodes between sessions.
Dual-diagnosis care
Alcohol is the most common self-treatment for depression, and it makes depression worse. When both are present we treat them together, under one coordinated plan, rather than making you choose which to fix first.
Levels of care
Depression treatment programs, from PHP to aftercare
Most people aren't sure which level of care they need — that's what the assessment is for, and you can step up or down as things change.
- 015 days/week · ~6 hrs/day
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
Our most structured outpatient depression treatment. Daily group and individual therapy with psychiatric oversight while you sleep at home. Often the right step after a hospitalization, or when weekly therapy and medication haven't been enough.
- 023–5 days/week · day or evening
Depression Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
Several sessions a week with morning and evening tracks so treatment fits around work and family. The most common level of care for people who are safe at home but need more than one hour a week.
- 03Weekly · ongoing
Outpatient therapy & medication management
Weekly individual therapy, ongoing medication management, and skills groups that hold the gains in place after intensive programming ends.
- 04When safety comes first
Higher level of care (vetted partners)
When inpatient psychiatric care is the safest first step, we coordinate placement with trusted providers and take the guesswork out of the handoff — then pick your plan back up the day you're ready for outpatient care.
Across the river from Maryland
Convenient for Maryland commuters
Our Arlington center is a short drive from Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and the broader Maryland suburbs. Many clients choose in-person PHP and IOP here because the commute is manageable and the program fits around work. Telehealth is available for Virginia residents between in-person visits.
Common questions
Depression treatment questions, answered
How do I know if I need more than weekly therapy?
If you've been in weekly therapy and on medication and you're still missing work, isolating, not sleeping, or having thoughts of self-harm, that's usually a signal for a higher level of care. PHP and IOP give you the same therapy at four to fifteen times the dose, which is often what breaks the stall.
How long does outpatient depression treatment take?
PHP typically runs 2–4 weeks and IOP commonly 6–12 weeks, with weekly outpatient therapy continuing afterward. Most people step down through the levels rather than finishing at one, and the plan is reassessed as you go.
Do I have to take medication?
No. Medication is offered, not required. Some people do well with therapy alone; for moderate to severe depression the evidence is strongest for therapy and medication together. It's your call, made with real information.
What if antidepressants haven't worked for me?
That's common and it's workable. We re-examine the diagnosis — bipolar depression, ADHD, trauma, thyroid issues, and heavy drinking all get misread as unipolar depression — then consider augmentation, a different class, more intensive programming, or referral for TMS or ketamine through a vetted partner.
Does insurance cover depression treatment?
Most major commercial plans cover outpatient mental health treatment, including PHP and IOP. Our admissions team verifies your benefits and tells you the expected cost before you commit to anything. Self-pay options are available if you're uninsured.
Can I keep working during treatment?
Yes. IOP runs day and evening tracks specifically so Arlington and DC professionals can get real treatment without stepping away from work. PHP is a larger commitment, and we can walk you through FMLA and short-term disability if you need it.
Do you offer telehealth for depression treatment?
Yes, for Virginia residents — our clinicians are licensed in Virginia, so telehealth sessions are available statewide. In-person care at our Arlington center is open to Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC residents.
In-person depression treatment at 5400 Shawnee Road, Arlington, VA for VA, MD, and DC residents. Telehealth for Virginia residents only.
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911.
Get help today
Talk to someone who's done this before
Whether you're calling for yourself or for someone you love, the first conversation is free and completely confidential.
- Admissions — 24/7(571) 586-2883
- Location5400 Shawnee Road, Arlington, VA
Insurance accepted
Insurance coverage for depression treatment
Therapy, psychiatric care, and intensive outpatient treatment for depression are covered under most commercial plans — Anthem, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Sentara Health Plans, UMR, and Johns Hopkins Health Plans. We check your benefits and out-of-pocket cost before your first session.
Don't see your plan? Call us — we also work with out-of-network benefits and self-pay.