Specialty
Mood Disorders Therapy
Who can benefit from mood disorder therapy?
Living with a mood disorder can affect many areas of your life, including your energy, motivation, relationships, work, and overall sense of self. Some days may feel manageable, while others bring persistent sadness, irritability, hopelessness, or noticeable shifts in mood and energy that can be difficult to understand or explain to others.
At Havencrest Wellness & Counseling, we provide compassionate, evidence-based therapy for adults, teens, and young adults experiencing mood disorders throughout Washington. Our licensed therapists work collaboratively with you to better understand your experiences, identify patterns that may be contributing to changes in your mood, and develop practical strategies that support greater emotional stability, resilience, and overall wellbeing.
Take the first step today by scheduling an appointment with one of our therapists.
Mood disorders affect everyone differently. If you're experiencing any of the following challenges and they're affecting your wellbeing or ability to navigate everyday life, therapy may help:
- Persistent sadness or low mood
- — Feeling down, emotionally numb, or struggling to experience enjoyment in everyday life.
- Noticeable changes in mood or energy
- — Experiencing ongoing shifts between periods of low mood and elevated mood, energy, or activity that are difficult to understand or manage.
- Loss of interest or motivation
- — Losing interest in activities, relationships, or goals that once felt meaningful.
- Difficulty regulating emotions
- — Feeling overwhelmed by emotions, becoming easily frustrated, or finding it difficult to manage emotional responses.
- Changes in sleep, appetite, or energy
- — Noticing ongoing changes in sleep, appetite, or energy levels alongside changes in your mood.
- Difficulty functioning in everyday life
- — Finding it harder to manage responsibilities at work, school, home, or within your relationships.
- Mood changes following difficult experiences
- — Experiencing changes in mood after trauma, grief, significant life events, or ongoing stress.
- Recently diagnosed or living with a mood disorder
- — Whether you're adjusting to a new diagnosis or have been managing a mood disorder for some time, therapy can help you better understand your experiences, strengthen emotional wellbeing, and navigate everyday life with greater confidence.
- Wanting additional support alongside medication
- — Looking to complement medication with therapy, develop practical coping strategies, and strengthen your emotional wellbeing.
Depending on your unique needs, you may also find support through our depression, anxiety, trauma, or medication management services.
Understanding mood disorders
Mood disorders — including depression, bipolar disorder, and other patterns of mood dysregulation — involve changes in mood, energy, and functioning that go beyond everyday ups and downs. They're often shaped by a combination of biological, psychological, and life factors, and they can look different from person to person.
Understanding your experiences allows us to develop a personalized approach that reflects your unique strengths, challenges, and goals.
How we support mood disorders
Our goal is to help you better understand your experiences, improve emotional wellbeing, and develop practical strategies that support lasting stability and resilience. Your therapy is tailored to your unique experiences, strengths, goals, and the challenges you're navigating.
Depending on your unique needs and goals, therapy may include:
Understanding thought patterns (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps you better understand the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Together, you'll identify patterns that may be contributing to changes in your mood while developing practical coping strategies that support lasting change.
Learn more about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) →Building emotional regulation skills (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) helps strengthen emotional regulation, improve distress tolerance, and develop practical skills for managing intense emotions and maintaining healthier relationships.
Learn more about Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) →Supporting healing from past experiences (trauma-informed therapy)
For some people, changes in mood are influenced by traumatic or distressing life experiences. Trauma-informed therapy provides a safe, supportive environment to explore these experiences while supporting healing and emotional wellbeing.
Learn more about Trauma & PTSD →Medication support, when appropriate
For some individuals, therapy provides the support they need to improve their emotional wellbeing and better manage changes in mood. For others, additional support may be beneficial. When appropriate, we can discuss medication support and referrals and help coordinate your care with a trusted psychiatric provider.
Learn more about Medication Management Support & Referrals →What to expect during mood disorder therapy
Your first session focuses on understanding your mood patterns, history, and current challenges.
Together, you and your therapist will:
- Build a trusting therapeutic relationship where you feel heard, respected, and understood.
- Explore the experiences contributing to changes in your mood.
- Work collaboratively with you to develop personalized therapy goals.
- Begin introducing practical coping strategies that support your emotional wellbeing and can be used in everyday life.
- Regularly review your progress together, adapting your approach as your needs and goals evolve.
As therapy progresses, you'll continue developing practical skills that strengthen emotional resilience, improve emotional regulation, and support your overall wellbeing.
If meeting in person isn't convenient, we also offer secure telehealth appointments throughout Washington.
Insurance
Insurance coverage for mood disorder therapy varies by provider and plan. Our team is happy to help you understand your benefits, verify your coverage, and discuss your options before your first appointment.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between feeling sad and having a mood disorder?
Feeling sad is a normal response to life's challenges and usually improves over time. A mood disorder involves more persistent or significant changes in mood that begin affecting daily life, relationships, work, or overall wellbeing.
Can mood disorders be treated without medication?
For some individuals, therapy provides the support they need to improve their emotional wellbeing. For others, medication may form part of a broader treatment plan. When appropriate, we can discuss medication support and referrals and help coordinate your care with a trusted psychiatric provider.
Can therapy help with mood disorders?
Yes. Therapy can help you better understand your experiences, develop practical coping strategies, strengthen emotional regulation, and improve your overall wellbeing. Depending on your needs, you may also benefit from dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or trauma therapy.
Have a question that isn't answered here? Contact us, or read our full FAQs.
Schedule your first appointment today.
Changes in mood can be hard to explain, and harder still to navigate alone. We'll help you understand what's behind them and find the therapist whose approach feels right for you.