Online Therapy For Depression
Online therapy for depression for adults, teens, and children across Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Licensed therapists use evidence-based approaches to address what’s driving the depression, not just the surface symptoms.
Juniper Blu Collective provides online therapy for depression by secure video for adults, teens, and children in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and Virginia, with clinicians licensed in each state. We support major depression, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), perinatal and postpartum depression, seasonal depression, high-functioning depression, and depression that hasn't responded to past treatment.
- Depression is common. In 2025, 7.4% of U.S. adults, about 19.7 million people, had a major depressive episode in the past year (SAMHSA).
- Therapy is a recommended first step. The American Psychological Association recommends seven types of psychotherapy for adult depression, with medication as another recommended option.
- Online therapy holds up. Randomized trials comparing video and in-person therapy for depression have found them roughly comparable.
What Is Depression?
Depression, also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, is a mood condition that affects how you feel, think, and handle daily life, including sleep, eating, and work, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). It's different from ordinary sadness, which usually passes on its own, and it isn't something you can think your way out of.
A major depressive episode means at least two weeks of low mood or lost interest in things you used to enjoy, along with changes in sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, or self-worth (NIMH). Research points to a mix of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Depression is also linked to physical health conditions like heart disease and diabetes, and it is a risk factor for suicidal thoughts, which is why it deserves real care (NIMH).
Because depression has many possible drivers, what helps one person may not help another. Our work is to understand what's happening for you and address the deeper layers alongside the day-to-day symptoms.
What Does Depression Feel Like?
Depression often feels less like constant sadness and more like a slow flattening of things that used to feel alive. The core signs are a low or empty mood, or a loss of interest and pleasure, lasting at least two weeks alongside changes in sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, or self-worth (NIMH). People commonly describe it in ways like these:
If any of these sound familiar, you're not exaggerating. Depression doesn't have to look "bad enough" to deserve care. If it's affecting how you live, that's reason enough to reach out.
Thoughts of death, or that others would be better off without you, are a sign to reach out today. Call or text 988 any time, day or night.
Depression vs. Grief vs. Burnout: How to Tell the Difference
Depression differs from grief and burnout mainly in how far it spreads: depression tends to flatten mood, interest, and self-worth across most of life, while grief centers on a loss and burnout centers on work. All three involve fatigue and low mood, and care that fits one can miss the others.
| Depression | Grief | Burnout | A rough stretch | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center of gravity | Mood and self-worth across most areas of life | The person or thing you lost | Work | A specific stressor |
| How it moves | Persistent; good news often doesn't lift it | Comes in waves, often mixed with love and warm memories | Eases with rest and changed work conditions | Eases as the situation resolves |
| Self-worth | Often heavy guilt or worthlessness | Usually intact | Cynicism about the job, reduced sense of effectiveness | Usually intact |
| Formal status | Diagnosable condition (DSM-5-TR) | Normal response to loss; prolonged grief disorder may be considered after 12 months (DSM-5-TR) | An occupational phenomenon, not a medical condition (WHO, ICD-11) | Not a diagnosis |
Many people arrive carrying more than one: depression that's been around for years, fresh grief, and burnout from holding it all together. Distinguishing them helps direct care, not gatekeep it. Stacey C. Cooperman (Certified Grief-Informed Professional), Michelle R. Scudero, and Kate S. Bell all work with grief and loss.
What Are the Types of Depression?
The most common types of depression are major depression, persistent depressive disorder, perinatal depression, and depression with a seasonal pattern. Each has a different pattern and shapes how therapy is planned.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Low mood or lost interest lasting at least two weeks, with changes in sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, or self-worth (NIMH). It can be a single episode or recur over time, and severity ranges widely, which is why planning for the long term matters even after symptoms lift.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
Low mood on most days for at least two years in adults, or one year in children and teens (DSM-5-TR). It often sounds like "I've felt this way as long as I can remember." Because it feels like baseline, people may not recognize it as depression or notice how much energy daily life is costing them.
Perinatal and Postpartum Depression
Depression during pregnancy or after giving birth (NIMH). It often goes unrecognized because new parents are expected to feel exhausted and overwhelmed. Persistent low mood, guilt, or disconnection from the baby is different from ordinary adjustment, and it deserves real care.
Seasonal Depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder)
Depression that returns with the seasons, most often starting in late fall or early winter and easing in spring (NIMH). NIMH notes it can be treated with approaches including light therapy, medication, and psychotherapy such as CBT.
Depression with Anxiety
Depression and anxiety often show up together. The depression flattens energy and motivation while the anxiety keeps the mind racing, a combination many people describe as "tired but wired." See our anxiety therapy page for how we work with both.
Depression Within Bipolar Disorder
Depressive episodes can be part of bipolar disorder, which also involves periods of unusually elevated energy or mood. Bipolar disorder needs evaluation and treatment planning with a psychiatric provider. If you've had stretches of very high energy or little need for sleep, tell your therapist so we can coordinate care.
High-Functioning Depression
Not a formal diagnosis, but a common description of depression hidden behind steady performance. Some people who describe themselves this way meet criteria for persistent depressive disorder or major depression. More on high-functioning depression below.
Many people have features of more than one type, and depression can shift over a lifetime. Care is shaped to what you're actually experiencing, not the label that fits closest.
What Is High-Functioning Depression?
High-functioning depression is an informal term for depression that stays hidden behind steady performance. You go to work. You show up for your family and friends. You answer the texts and meet the deadlines. From the outside, nothing looks wrong.
Inside, you might be running on caffeine, willpower, and dread. You might cry in your car at lunch, then go back to your meetings. You might be exhausted in ways sleep doesn't fix, and convinced that because you're still functioning, what you're feeling doesn't count.
It does count. In the Washington, D.C. area, where so much identity gets tied to work, a common thought is "I can't be depressed, I'm getting things done." That's often exactly when reaching out matters most, before something has to break before you're allowed to rest.
Kate S. Bell works with high-achieving people navigating perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the sense of falling behind. Annie M. Sousa and Batya H. Erickson both work with burnout and stress, and Jamie L. Jones's psychodynamic and art therapy work offers a way into feelings that are hard to say out loud.
What's Often Underneath Depression?
Depression often sits on top of something else, such as trauma, grief, undiagnosed ADHD or autism, chronic illness, or long-running relationship patterns, and care works better when those layers are named. We look at depression in three layers: what you're feeling now, the patterns keeping it going, and the roots underneath.
Unprocessed grief
Grief that wasn't fully felt or supported can resurface later as depression. It may be grief about a person, a relationship, a job, or a version of yourself, or about something less obvious, like a childhood that didn't happen or a future you let go of.
Trauma
Depression can be the long shadow of trauma, including developmental, medical, or relational trauma you might not call "trauma." Annie M. Sousa and Malca R. Gottlieb are EMDR-trained, and Stacey C. Cooperman is a Certified Trauma Professional. Learn more about our online trauma therapy.
Chronic stress and burnout
Long stretches of overwhelm, caregiving, or unsupported responsibility can wear mood down. When the load itself doesn't change, symptom-focused care alone may not reach far enough.
Undiagnosed neurodivergence
Some adults are treated for depression for years before anyone recognizes ADHD or autism underneath. The depression is real, often built from years of masking and exhaustion. Annie M. Sousa (Autism Clinical Specialist), Jamie L. Jones (Autism Certification), Megan M. Herbets, Malca R. Gottlieb, and Batya H. Erickson work with neurodivergent adults. See our ADHD and autism pages.
Perfectionism and self-criticism
Depression often runs on an inner critic that no accomplishment satisfies. Skills help, and lasting change usually means working with the pattern itself. Internal Family Systems (IFS), used by Annie M. Sousa, Kate S. Bell, and Megan M. Herbets, focuses directly on that inner critic.
Eating and body image concerns
Depression and eating disorders often show up together, and Juniper Blu Collective began as an eating disorder practice. If food or body image is part of your picture, see our eating disorder therapy page.
Medical and hormonal factors
Physical health conditions and hormonal changes can affect mood, so part of good depression care is making sure your doctor has evaluated the medical side. With your consent, we coordinate with your primary care physician, psychiatrist, or gynecologist.
Relational and attachment patterns
Depression can be sustained by relationships where you've stopped being yourself or where your needs are routinely dismissed. Attachment-based work, offered by most of our clinicians, looks at these patterns directly. We also offer couples therapy and family therapy.
Which Therapy Works Best for Depression?
No single therapy works best for everyone with depression. The American Psychological Association's clinical practice guideline recommends seven psychotherapies for adults: behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal psychotherapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and supportive therapy (APA, 2019).
We start with what the evidence supports and add other approaches when depression is tied to intense emotions, trauma, or a harsh inner critic. The table shows what each approach focuses on, where it stands in the APA guideline, and who on our team uses it. We'd rather tell you that plainly than imply every method carries the same weight of evidence.
| Approach | What it focuses on | Status in the APA depression guideline | Juniper Blu clinicians who use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) | How thoughts, feelings, and behaviors feed each other, including re-engaging with activities depression has narrowed | Recommended for adults | Jamie L. Jones, Megan M. Herbets, Malca R. Gottlieb, Michelle R. Scudero, Stacey C. Cooperman, Annie M. Sousa, Jenna D. Howard, Kate S. Bell, Jinny Lee |
| Psychodynamic therapy | Early experiences, loss, self-criticism, and relationship patterns that show up in the present | Recommended for adults | Jamie L. Jones, Megan M. Herbets, Malca R. Gottlieb, Annie M. Sousa, Kate S. Bell |
| Mindfulness-based therapy | Noticing thoughts as passing events instead of facts; getting unstuck from rumination | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is recommended for adults; our clinicians use mindfulness-based work in individual sessions | Jamie L. Jones, Malca R. Gottlieb, Michelle R. Scudero, Batya H. Erickson, Stacey C. Cooperman, Jenna D. Howard, Kate S. Bell, Jinny Lee |
| Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills | Regulating intense, fast-moving emotions and building distress tolerance | Not one of the guideline's seven; used when depression comes with intense emotions or self-harming behaviors | Jamie L. Jones (C-DBT), Malca R. Gottlieb (C-DBT), Megan M. Herbets, Michelle R. Scudero, Batya H. Erickson, Stacey C. Cooperman, Jenna D. Howard |
| Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) | Making room for hard feelings while acting on what matters to you | Not one of the guideline's seven; used as part of individualized care | Megan M. Herbets, Annie M. Sousa, Kate S. Bell, Jinny Lee, Sarah J. Morris |
| Internal Family Systems (IFS) | Understanding the inner critic and other "parts" that drive shame and hopelessness | Not one of the guideline's seven; used as part of individualized care | Megan M. Herbets, Annie M. Sousa, Kate S. Bell |
| EMDR | Processing specific memories when trauma is part of the depression | Not one of the guideline's seven; used when trauma is part of the picture | Annie M. Sousa, Malca R. Gottlieb |
| Art therapy | Expressing what's hard to put into words through guided art-making | Not one of the guideline's seven; used alongside talk therapy | Jamie L. Jones, ATR-BC (board-certified art therapist) |
| Medication | Second-generation antidepressants, prescribed and monitored by a medical provider | Recommended for adults | Juniper Blu clinicians don't prescribe; with your consent we coordinate with your psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, or primary care physician |
What these approaches look like in session
CBT and behavioral activation
CBT works with the thoughts depression generates ("I'm a burden," "Nothing will change") and the cycles that keep it going. A core piece is re-engaging with activities you value before motivation returns, rather than waiting for it, because depression narrows life in ways that feed itself.
Psychodynamic therapy
Looks at how earlier experiences, especially loss, shape self-criticism and relationships now. The relationship with your therapist becomes a place to notice patterns as they happen and try something different.
DBT skills
When depression comes with intense, fast-moving emotions or self-harming behaviors, DBT skills offer concrete ways to ride out distress and regulate emotion. Jamie L. Jones and Malca R. Gottlieb are Certified Dialectical Behavior Professionals.
ACT and IFS
ACT helps when depression has hollowed out a sense of purpose, by shifting energy toward what matters instead of fighting every thought. IFS works with the inner critic and the protective "parts" that have been carrying weight for years.
Trauma-informed, somatic, and EMDR work
When depression is downstream of trauma, talk alone may not reach it. Trauma-informed and body-based approaches pay attention to the nervous system, and EMDR can be used for specific memories that keep pulling mood down.
Art therapy
For depression that doesn't easily put itself into words, art therapy offers another route in, especially for people who find long stretches of talking exhausting. Founder Jamie L. Jones is a board-certified art therapist (ATR-BC). Read more in art therapy for trauma in adults.
Compare approaches and related conditions
For a side-by-side look at methods, read EMDR vs. CBT vs. DBT. Depression rarely shows up alone; see our Anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, Autism, Trauma Therapy, and Eating Disorder Therapy pages.
What If Depression Treatment Hasn't Worked Before?
If depression hasn't improved after more than one treatment, clinicians call it treatment-resistant depression, and the National Institute of Mental Health is funding research on better options for it. The label describes past treatment, not what's possible next. When someone comes to us after treatment that didn't help, we look again at a few things:
- Fit. Whether the approach matched what was driving the depression, and whether the relationship with the therapist felt workable. Therapy works in large part through that relationship.
- Layers. Whether trauma, grief, neurodivergence, an eating disorder, or a medical issue was left unaddressed.
- Conditions. Whether ongoing stress, an unsafe relationship, or chronic overload has been keeping depression in place, so part of the work is changing circumstances, not just the inner experience.
- The medical side. Whether a psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, or primary care physician should take a fresh look, including at medication or brain stimulation treatments. Those are provided by medical specialists, and we coordinate with them.
If you've tried before and it didn't work, that's information about what didn't fit. It isn't evidence that nothing can help.
Who Do We Support with Depression?
Juniper Blu Collective supports children, teens, adults, older adults, new and expecting parents, and LGBTQIA+ individuals with depression, with clinicians matched to each stage of life.
Children, Teens, and Young Adults
In 2025, 15.1% of U.S. adolescents had a major depressive episode in the past year (SAMHSA). In children and teens, depression can show up as irritability rather than sadness (DSM-5-TR), along with slipping grades or pulling away from friends. Jamie L. Jones, Malca R. Gottlieb, Batya H. Erickson, and Jinny Lee work with children, and Megan M. Herbets, Michelle R. Scudero, and Stacey C. Cooperman also work with adolescents. Care is adapted to developmental stage, with parents and caregivers involved.
Pregnancy and Postpartum
Michelle R. Scudero and Batya H. Erickson support perinatal and postpartum concerns. Michelle also brings specialized knowledge of disordered eating during pregnancy and breastfeeding. With your consent, we coordinate with OB/GYNs, midwives, and pediatricians when integrated care helps.
Women's Mental Health and Perimenopause
In NIMH's national data, adult women reported a major depressive episode at a higher rate than men (10.3% vs. 6.2% in 2021). Founder Jamie L. Jones is a Certified Women's Mental Health Specialist and supports women through life stages including perimenopause, working alongside the physicians who evaluate hormonal factors.
People with Chronic Illness
Depression is linked to physical health conditions like heart disease and diabetes (NIMH), and living with a chronic or serious illness brings its own losses. Michelle R. Scudero brings a medical social work background in chronic disease, oncology, and terminal illness, and Jamie L. Jones and Malca R. Gottlieb also support people navigating chronic illness.
Older Adults
Jamie L. Jones, Michelle R. Scudero, Megan M. Herbets, Malca R. Gottlieb, Stacey C. Cooperman, Jenna D. Howard, and Kate S. Bell work with older adults navigating retirement, loss, caregiving, or illness.
LGBTQIA+ Individuals
Affirming care means understanding the specific stressors of stigma, family rejection, and identity-based stress, and working with them directly. Malca R. Gottlieb, Annie M. Sousa, and Kate S. Bell offer LGBTQIA+ affirming support, and Malca also works with sexuality and gender identity.
Prefer a language other than English? Stacey C. Cooperman offers sessions in French and Annie M. Sousa in Spanish.
Does Online Therapy Work for Depression?
Yes. A 2022 meta-analysis of randomized trials comparing video and in-person psychotherapy found video-based therapy roughly comparable to in-person therapy for reducing depressive symptoms (Telemedicine and e-Health, 2022).
Online sessions also remove the commute, which matters when depression drains the energy it takes to get out the door. You can meet your therapist from home, a parked car, or a quiet office at lunch. Juniper Blu Collective is built for virtual care, and founder Jamie L. Jones is a Certified Telebehavioral Health Professional (TBHP).
Online therapy isn't the right level of care for everyone. If you're having thoughts of suicide, or depression is making it hard to stay safe or meet basic needs, more intensive support may need to come first.
What Does Depression Therapy Look Like Over Time?
Depression therapy usually starts with stabilizing the day-to-day, then moves toward what's underneath, and it rarely runs in a straight line. Here's how it often unfolds:
The first weeks focus on getting through the week. If depression is heavy, early work is about sleep, food, connection, a medical check-in if needed, safety planning if needed, and building a working relationship with your therapist. Deep processing lands better once you're steadier.
Symptom relief usually comes before deeper change. Often the first shift is that things feel a little more manageable. That's real progress, and it creates the bandwidth for the next phase.
Then the work reaches what's underneath. Trauma, grief, attachment patterns, the inner critic, or the conditions of your life that have been depleting you. This phase is often slower and is where longer-lasting change tends to happen.
Setbacks are part of it. Depression can flare during stress, transitions, loss, or seasonal shifts. Therapy helps you recognize early signs and respond differently. Some people return for support during hard stretches after finishing regular sessions.
"Better" means different things to different people. For some, depression doesn't return. For others, it still visits but doesn't take over. The aim is a life where depression doesn't define you.
Who Provides Online Depression Therapy at Juniper Blu Collective?
Juniper Blu Collective offers online depression therapy in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and every clinician you'd see is licensed in the state where you live. The practice was founded in 2013 by Jamie L. Jones and is based in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
| State | Clinicians who support depression | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | Jamie L. Jones (LCPC, LCPAT); Megan M. Herbets (LCPC); Malca R. Gottlieb (LCSW-C); Michelle R. Scudero (LCSW); Batya H. Erickson (LGPC); Stacey C. Cooperman (LGPC); Annie M. Sousa (LGPC); Jenna D. Howard (LGPC); Kate S. Bell (LGPC, supervised by Jamie L. Jones) | Online therapy in Maryland |
| Washington, D.C. | Jamie L. Jones (LPC, LPAT); Megan M. Herbets (LPC); Malca R. Gottlieb (LICSW); Michelle R. Scudero (LCSW); Batya H. Erickson (LGPC); Stacey C. Cooperman (LGPC); Annie M. Sousa (LGPC); Jenna D. Howard (LGPC); Kate S. Bell (LGPC, supervised by Jamie L. Jones); Jinny Lee (LGPC) | Online therapy in Washington, D.C. |
| Pennsylvania | Jamie L. Jones (LPC); Michelle R. Scudero (LCSW) | Online therapy in Pennsylvania |
| Virginia | Jamie L. Jones (LPC); Sarah J. Morris (Resident in Counseling, supervised by Jamie L. Jones) | Online therapy in Virginia |
To meet our full team, visit the Our Team page.
Jamie L. Jones
Founder · LCPC, LPC, LCPAT, ATR-BC, C-DBT, TBHP
Maryland · Washington, D.C. · Pennsylvania · Virginia
Weaves psychodynamic psychotherapy and art therapy with DBT and CBT. Advanced DBT trained, Certified Women's Mental Health Specialist, and a clinician in the Washington, D.C. area for 17+ years.
View Jamie's bio →
Michelle R. Scudero
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Maryland · Washington, D.C. · Pennsylvania
A medical social work background in hospitals informs her work with depression alongside chronic illness, oncology, grief, and the perinatal period, using CBT, DBT, and narrative approaches.
View Michelle's bio →
Megan M. Herbets
LCPC (MD) · LPC (D.C.)
Maryland · Washington, D.C.
Advanced DBT training combined with ACT, IFS, and psychodynamic psychotherapy. Works with depression alongside eating disorders, self-harm, personality concerns, and the inner critic, from adolescents to older adults.
View Megan's bio →
Malca R. Gottlieb
LCSW-C (MD) · LICSW (D.C.) · C-DBT
Maryland · Washington, D.C.
Relationship-centered and non-directive, drawing on DBT, EMDR, and psychodynamic therapy. Works with depression across the lifespan, including with couples and families.
View Malca's bio →
Stacey C. Cooperman
LGPC · NCC · CTP · CMIP · CGP
Maryland · Washington, D.C.
Certified Trauma Professional, Certified Mindfulness-Informed Professional, and Certified Grief-Informed Professional who specializes in depression, anxiety, and life transitions. Offers sessions in English and French.
View Stacey's bio →
Annie M. Sousa
LGPC · EMDR-trained
Maryland · Washington, D.C.
Rooted in ACT with training in IFS, AEDP, and somatic trauma work. Supports depression alongside trauma, ADHD, autism, and burnout. Offers sessions in English and Spanish.
View Annie's bio →
Batya H. Erickson
LGPC · NCC
Maryland · Washington, D.C.
Works through an attachment lens with people navigating depression, burnout, life transitions, grief, and perinatal concerns, from children to adults.
View Batya's bio →
Jenna D. Howard
LGPC · NCC
Maryland · Washington, D.C.
Draws on attachment-based therapy, CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and narrative approaches for depression alongside anxiety, grief, life transitions, and relationship concerns.
View Jenna's bio →
Kate S. Bell
LGPC · Supervised by Jamie L. Jones
Maryland · Washington, D.C.
Works with high-achieving people who look fine on the outside but feel burned out or directionless, plus grief and loss, using IFS, ACT, and psychodynamic approaches.
View Kate's bio →
Jinny Lee
LGPC · NCC
Washington, D.C.
Warm, culturally responsive care for children, teens, and young adults navigating depression, identity, family relationships, cultural expectations, and academic pressure.
View Jinny's bio →
Sarah J. Morris
Resident in Counseling · Supervised by Jamie L. Jones
Virginia
Weight-inclusive, emotionally focused care for depression alongside body image, relationship, and trauma concerns, for adolescents, adults, and couples.
View Sarah's bio →How to get started
- Reach out. Call (202) 244-0818, email admin@juniperblucollective.com, or use our contact form.
- Get matched. We match you with a therapist licensed in your state whose approach fits what you're facing, or add you to a specific therapist's waitlist.
- First session. You talk about what's been happening, your history, any safety concerns, and what you want to be different.
- Choose an approach together. CBT, psychodynamic therapy, DBT skills, ACT, art therapy, or a blend.
- Coordinate care when it helps. With your consent, your therapist can work alongside your psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, or primary care physician.
Now welcoming new patients. Some of our therapists have openings for online therapy right now, while others are booking from a waitlist. Reach out and we'll match you with a therapist who has availability, or add you to the waitlist for a specific therapist.
Questions People Ask Us About Depression Care
Do I need a formal diagnosis of depression to start therapy?
No. Many people start therapy not knowing whether what they're feeling is depression, stress, grief, burnout, or something else. Sorting that out is part of the early work. You don't need a diagnosis to start, just a sense that you'd like support.
How do I know if I have depression or am just going through a hard time?
A hard time usually eases as the situation changes. Depression tends to persist even when circumstances improve, lasts at least two weeks, and affects several areas at once, such as sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, and self-worth (NIMH). The line isn't always clean, and you don't need to know which one you're in before reaching out.
Can I get online therapy for depression in Maryland or Washington, D.C.?
Yes. Juniper Blu Collective offers online depression therapy throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. by secure video. Independently licensed clinicians who support depression in both include Jamie L. Jones, Megan M. Herbets, Malca R. Gottlieb, and Michelle R. Scudero. Several graduate-level counselors (LGPC) who practice under clinical supervision also see people for depression in both jurisdictions. To start, call (202) 244-0818 or use our contact form, and we'll match you with a therapist licensed where you live.
I live in Pennsylvania. Can I get online therapy for anxiety and depression?
Yes. Two Juniper Blu Collective clinicians are licensed in Pennsylvania and support both anxiety and depression: founder Jamie L. Jones (LPC) and Michelle R. Scudero (LCSW). Sessions happen by secure video, so you can attend from anywhere in the state. Jamie is also a Certified Anxiety, OCD, and Panic Specialist.
Does Juniper Blu Collective offer depression therapy in Virginia?
Yes. Founder Jamie L. Jones is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia and supports people with depression there. Sarah J. Morris, a Resident in Counseling who practices under Jamie's clinical supervision, also works with depression, anxiety, and life transitions for people in Virginia. All sessions are online.
Where can I find a virtual CBT therapist for depression?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of seven psychotherapies the American Psychological Association recommends for adult depression, and it can be delivered by video. At Juniper Blu Collective, clinicians who use CBT for depression include Jamie L. Jones, Megan M. Herbets, Malca R. Gottlieb, Michelle R. Scudero, Stacey C. Cooperman, Annie M. Sousa, Jenna D. Howard, Kate S. Bell, and Jinny Lee.
Does online therapy work as well as in-person therapy for depression?
Research suggests it does for many people. A 2022 meta-analysis of randomized trials in Telemedicine and e-Health found video-based psychotherapy roughly comparable to in-person therapy for reducing depressive symptoms. Online therapy may not be the right fit if you need a more intensive level of care or can't find a private space for sessions.
Can therapy help depression without medication?
Often, yes. The American Psychological Association's guideline lists psychotherapy and second-generation antidepressants as recommended treatments for adult depression, and the choice should be made with your providers. Juniper Blu Collective clinicians don't prescribe medication, but with your consent they coordinate with psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and primary care physicians when medication is part of the plan.
What is the difference between major depression and persistent depressive disorder?
Major depression involves at least two weeks of low mood or lost interest, along with changes in sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, or self-worth (NIMH). Persistent depressive disorder, once called dysthymia, is a longer-lasting form with low mood on most days for at least two years in adults (DSM-5-TR). Therapy is a recommended treatment for both (APA, 2019).
Is high-functioning depression real?
High-functioning depression is not a formal diagnosis, but it describes something real: meeting your responsibilities while privately feeling flat, exhausted, or empty. Some people who describe themselves this way meet criteria for persistent depressive disorder or major depression, and some don't. Either way, you don't have to be falling apart to deserve support.
How is depression different from grief or burnout?
Grief centers on a loss and usually comes in waves. Burnout centers on work; the World Health Organization classifies it as an occupational phenomenon, not a medical condition, and it often eases with rest and changed conditions. Depression is more persistent and flattens mood and self-worth across most of life. All three can overlap, and sorting them out guides care rather than gatekeeping it.
What is treatment-resistant depression?
Treatment-resistant depression describes depression that hasn't improved after trying more than one treatment, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The term describes past treatment, not what's possible next. At Juniper Blu Collective, we look again at fit, at what may be underneath the depression, and at whether your medical providers should be part of the plan.
What if I'm having thoughts of suicide or self-harm?
If you're in immediate crisis, call or text 988 or go to your nearest emergency room. Therapy isn't a substitute for crisis services in acute moments. Many people start therapy while having suicidal thoughts, and your therapist can talk about them openly, build a safety plan with you, and coordinate with your prescriber if you have one. Having these thoughts doesn't mean you're beyond help.
Do you work with postpartum or perinatal depression?
Yes. Michelle R. Scudero and Batya H. Erickson support people with depression during pregnancy and after giving birth, which NIMH calls perinatal depression. Michelle also has specialized knowledge of disordered eating during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Exhaustion is expected with a new baby, but persistent low mood, guilt, or disconnection deserves care, and we can coordinate with your OB/GYN or midwife when that helps.
Do you offer depression therapy for children and teens?
Yes. In 2025, 15.1% of U.S. adolescents had a major depressive episode in the past year (SAMHSA). Jamie L. Jones, Malca R. Gottlieb, Batya H. Erickson, and Jinny Lee work with children, and Megan M. Herbets, Michelle R. Scudero, and Stacey C. Cooperman also work with adolescents. Care is adapted to developmental stage, with parents and caregivers involved in how it's set up.
Can therapy help with depression during perimenopause?
Therapy can be part of care for depression at any life stage, including perimenopause. Founder Jamie L. Jones is a Certified Women's Mental Health Specialist. Hormonal and medical factors should be evaluated by a physician or gynecologist, and Juniper Blu Collective coordinates with your medical providers when that helps.
How long does depression therapy take?
It varies. In the American Psychological Association's guideline materials, adults typically receive about 6 to 20 weekly sessions of CBT and 16 to 20 sessions of interpersonal psychotherapy, while psychodynamic therapy can be short or long term. When depression is tied to trauma, grief, or long-standing patterns, care often takes longer. You and your therapist review progress together along the way.
Sources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (released July 2026).
- National Institute of Mental Health. Depression; Major Depression statistics; Seasonal Affective Disorder; Perinatal Depression.
- American Psychological Association. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Depression Across Three Age Cohorts (2019).
- Teletherapy versus in-person psychotherapy for depression: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Telemedicine and e-Health, 2022;28(8):1077-1089.
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), 2022.
- World Health Organization. Burn-out, International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11).
You Don't Have to Wait for It to Get Worse
Depression doesn't have to reach crisis level to deserve real care. Whether you've been struggling for weeks, months, or as long as you can remember, reaching out is enough of a step. A licensed therapist in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, or Virginia can help you understand what's happening and what could help.
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