Depression is more than low mood. It can appear as persistent sadness, loss of interest in things that once mattered, self-critical thinking, hopelessness, fatigue, or, in its more serious forms, suicidal feelings. For many people it is not a single event but a pattern that recurs, often tied to losses, disappointments, or long-standing feelings about themselves that go back further than the current episode.
Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic treatment approaches depression by looking beneath the symptom, at the conflicts, losses, and self-perceptions that keep it in place. Rather than treating low mood as an isolated problem to be managed, we work together to understand where it comes from — old disappointments, harsh internal expectations, difficulty with anger or dependency — so that relief is lasting rather than temporary.
Dr. Hartman has spent over 50 years listening to people describe their depression and working with them, in individual psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, to understand and change it, including when suicidal feelings are present. Sessions are held by secure video for residents of Washington, DC, Florida, and Michigan, and, through PsyPact, residents of 40+ additional states.
Contact Dr. Hartman to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.