Anxiety and Depression Therapy in Washington, DC
Anxiety and depression therapy in Washington, DC for when you feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or unlike yourself.
North Star Psychological Services provides anxiety and depression therapy in Washington, DC near Dupont Circle for people who feel caught between constant overthinking, emotional shutdown, low motivation, restlessness, fatigue, or the pressure to keep functioning when things feel heavy inside.
In-person therapy in Dupont Circle and secure virtual therapy for clients in Washington, DC and participating PsyPact states.
What anxiety and depression can feel like
You may be getting through the day. That does not mean it is not taking a toll.
Many people who come to North Star for anxiety and depression therapy in DC are still working, parenting, studying, caregiving, maintaining relationships, and trying to keep life moving.
But internally, things may feel different. Your mind may not stop. Your body may feel drained. You may avoid the things you used to handle easily, then criticize yourself for avoiding them. You may feel anxious enough to stay alert and depressed enough to feel stuck.
Anxiety and depression may look like:
- Feeling tired but unable to truly rest
- Overthinking decisions, messages, mistakes, or what others think
- Losing motivation for work, relationships, hobbies, or basic routines
- Feeling guilty, behind, irritable, numb, tearful, or easily overwhelmed
- Avoiding tasks or conversations, then feeling worse because they are still there
At North Star, therapy is collaborative, practical, and grounded in the realities of your life. We help you understand what is driving the worry, depletion, avoidance, sadness, and self-criticism so treatment can address the full picture, not just one symptom at a time.
Common signs
Signs anxiety and depression may be asking for more support
You do not need to wait until things fall apart before starting therapy. These are some of the patterns we often help clients understand and change.
- Feeling mentally busy but physically exhausted
- Worrying constantly while also feeling hopeless, flat or stuck
- Difficulty sleeping, sleeping too much, or waking up already tense
- Avoiding calls, emails, decisions, errands, social plans or hard conversations
- Low motivation, procrastination, or trouble starting tasks that used to feel manageable
- Feeling guilty for not doing more, even when you are already depleted
- Irritability, tearfulness, emotional sensitivity or feeling disconnected from others
- Physical tension, headaches, stomach discomfort, racing heart or heaviness in the body
- Replaying conversations, fearing you made a mistake, or needing reassurance
- Feeling like you are functioning on the outside but not okay on the inside
Areas of support
Therapy for the different ways anxiety and depression overlap
Anxiety and depression are not always separate experiences. For many people, worry, shutdown, perfectionism, sadness, burnout, trauma, ADHD, grief, and relationship stress can become tangled together.
High-functioning anxiety and low mood
You may look organized and capable while privately feeling self-critical, emotionally tired, tense, or unable to enjoy what you have worked hard to build.
Burnout, work stress and depletion
For DC professionals, anxiety and depression can become tied to constant availability, leadership pressure, workplace uncertainty, compassion fatigue or chronic overextension.
Overthinking, avoidance and procrastination
We help clients understand the cycle of fear, avoidance, guilt and shutdown so they can move forward with more clarity and less self-blame.
Relationship stress and loneliness
Anxiety and depression can affect communication, intimacy, boundaries, conflict, trust and the ability to feel connected even when you are not alone.
Life transitions and identity shifts
Major changes can stir up both worry and sadness, including graduation, career moves, divorce, parenting, caregiving, relocation, health changes or loss.
Depression, anxiety and ADHD
When focus, executive functioning, emotional regulation or chronic overwhelm are part of the picture, therapy can help you sort out what is anxiety, depression, ADHD, or all three.
Our approach
We treat the whole pattern, not just the loudest symptom
When anxiety and depression happen together, treatment needs to make room for both activation and shutdown. The goal is not to force positivity or simply talk yourself out of worry. The goal is to understand what your mind and body are doing, reduce what keeps you stuck, and help you move toward a life that feels more workable and meaningful.
Our clinicians draw from evidence-based therapies including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, EMDR and other approaches depending on your needs, history and goals.
Understand the cycle
We begin by mapping how worry, avoidance, low motivation, sleep, self-criticism, relationships, work pressure and body symptoms interact in your daily life.
Build steadier responses
You will learn practical ways to respond to anxious thoughts, reduce avoidance, regulate the nervous system, make decisions, and re-engage with routines in manageable steps.
Reconnect with what matters
Treatment focuses on helping you move toward work, relationships, rest, creativity, parenting, identity, health, values and goals with less fear and less depletion.
Washington, DC anxiety and depression therapy
Therapy that understands the pace and pressure of DC life
In Washington, DC, stress can be normalized for a long time before it is recognized as anxiety, depression or burnout. Being responsive, polished, informed, productive and available may be rewarded on the outside while quietly wearing you down on the inside.
Our Dupont Circle therapists work with people navigating demanding careers, political and federal uncertainty, graduate school pressure, parenting responsibilities, relationship stress, caregiving, grief, trauma histories, loneliness, identity questions and major transitions.
Therapy gives you a place to be honest without performing. You do not need to have the perfect words. You do not need to be in crisis. You only need to be willing to start.
What to expect
Starting anxiety and depression therapy at North Star
Free phone consultation
You can start by reaching out with questions. We will help you think through fit, scheduling, fees, location and what kind of support may make sense.
A thoughtful match
Our team includes clinicians with diverse training and areas of focus. We work to connect you with someone who fits your needs and goals.
Practical therapy sessions
Sessions are not just a place to vent. They are a space to understand patterns, practice skills, build insight and make meaningful changes over time.
Local therapy near you
In-person anxiety and depression therapy in Dupont Circle
North Star Psychological Services is located at 1350 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036, directly south of Dupont Circle.
We serve clients from Dupont Circle and nearby neighborhoods, with in-person, virtual and hybrid therapy options.
Questions about anxiety and depression therapy
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I need therapy for anxiety and depression?
You may benefit from therapy if worry, tension, panic, avoidance, low mood, fatigue, hopelessness, numbness or loss of motivation are interfering with your sleep, work, relationships, health or ability to enjoy your life. You do not need to be in crisis to start. Many clients begin therapy because they are functioning but tired of feeling internally overwhelmed or emotionally depleted.
Can anxiety and depression happen at the same time?
Yes. Anxiety and depression commonly overlap. Some people feel worried and restless while also feeling exhausted, disconnected, hopeless or unmotivated. Therapy can help you understand what is driving each part of the experience and create a treatment plan that addresses both activation and shutdown.
Do you offer in-person anxiety and depression therapy in Washington, DC?
Yes. North Star offers in-person therapy in Dupont Circle, Washington, DC, as well as virtual and hybrid therapy options. Our office is located near the Dupont Circle Metro, making it accessible for clients coming from downtown DC, Georgetown, Logan Circle, Adams Morgan, Foggy Bottom and surrounding neighborhoods.
What type of therapy helps anxiety and depression?
There is no single approach that is best for every person. Depending on your needs, therapy may include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness-based skills, behavioral activation, DBT skills, EMDR when trauma is involved, or a combination of approaches. Your therapist will help shape treatment around your goals.
Should I choose an anxiety therapist or a depression therapist?
If anxiety and depression are both part of what you are experiencing, it often helps to work with a therapist who can treat the overlap. During a consultation, we can help you think through whether this page, our anxiety therapy page, our depression therapy page, or another service area is the best fit.
Can therapy help if I am still functioning but feel terrible inside?
Yes. Many people seek therapy because they are still performing at work, caring for others, or meeting responsibilities while privately feeling anxious, depleted, numb or unlike themselves. Therapy can help you reduce internal pressure, understand the patterns underneath it, and build a more sustainable way to live.
How do I get started?
You can reach out through the contact page to request a free consultation. We will answer your questions, talk through your needs, and help you determine whether North Star is a good fit for anxiety and depression therapy in Washington, DC.
Ready when you are
You do not have to keep carrying anxiety and depression alone
If worry, sadness, shutdown or exhaustion have been taking up too much room in your mind, body, work or relationships, we would be glad to help you find a steadier path forward.