Therapy & Counseling
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Therapy
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is depression that follows the calendar, most often arriving in the darker months and lifting in spring. Therapy for SAD helps you get ahead of the pattern with practical tools, routine, and support, so the season does not take the year with it. It is real, it is predictable, and that makes it very manageable.
We see clients in person at our South Bay office and virtually across California.
SAD affects an estimated 5% of U.S. adults, with symptoms lasting roughly 40% of the year (American Psychiatric Association). Because it is predictable, it responds well to a plan made in advance.
Source: American Psychiatric Association.
What SAD can look like
- Low mood and low energy that return around the same time each year
- Sleeping more, yet feeling unrested
- Craving carbohydrates, appetite or weight changes
- Loss of interest, withdrawal, and difficulty concentrating
- A reliable lift when the season changes
Our approach
We use CBT adapted for SAD along with light exposure and routine-building, and we plan ahead so you are supported before the hardest weeks arrive. It is part of your wider depression care and individual therapy, and when medication would help, we coordinate with psychiatry.
As Jack Foley, LMFT, puts it:
"The advantage with seasonal depression is that it's predictable. When you know it's coming, you can build the supports in advance instead of scrambling once you're in it."
What to expect
Care begins with a free 15-minute consultation. From there we match you thoughtfully and build a seasonal plan that fits your pattern, adjusting as the year turns.
How it works
Starting is simple.
Book a free consultation
A confidential 15-minute call to understand what you need.
Get matched
We pair you with the right clinician for your goals.
Begin care
Start in person or online, at a pace that feels right.
Questions
Frequently asked
What is seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?
SAD is a form of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, most often beginning in fall or winter and lifting in spring. It is more than a winter slump: it brings low mood, low energy, and changes in sleep and appetite.
Can you get SAD in sunny California?
Yes. Shorter days, time changes, and reduced light still affect mood here, and many people who relocate find their first darker season harder than expected.
How is SAD treated?
Therapy (especially CBT adapted for SAD), light exposure, behavioral routines, and sometimes medication. We tailor the plan to your pattern and coordinate medication with psychiatry when it helps.
When should I start treatment?
If your low mood reliably returns each year, starting before or early in the season tends to work better than waiting until you are deep in it.
Do you offer SAD therapy online?
Yes, in person in the South Bay and via telehealth across California.
When you're ready, a conversation is the place to begin.
Book a complimentary 15-minute consultation, confidential, and without obligation.
Book a free consultation