Depression therapy
Counseling when life feels heavy, flat or hopeless
True North Vitality offers depression counseling for adults at its Greensburg, Irwin and Ligonier offices in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and by secure video. Licensed Professional Counselors help with low mood, loss of interest, hopelessness and exhaustion, work alongside doctors when medication may help, and can bring Christian faith and the hope of Scripture into the work.
- 3 Pennsylvania Licensed Professional Counselors
- Greensburg · Irwin · Ligonier
- Online across Pennsylvania
- Christ-centered counseling
This may help if
- You have felt sad, empty or numb most days for a couple of weeks or more
- Things you used to enjoy no longer interest you
- You feel tired, slowed down or unable to keep up with daily tasks
- You feel guilty, worthless or hopeless about the future
- You are more irritable or withdrawn than usual, and the people close to you have noticed
- Your sleep or appetite has changed and you are not sure why
How is depression different from a bad week?
Everyone feels low sometimes, and those feelings usually pass. Depression is different. It can affect how you feel, think and handle daily life, including sleep, eating and work, and it tends to hang on. The National Institute of Mental Health describes symptoms such as a persistent sad, anxious or empty mood, loss of interest, low energy, trouble concentrating, and changes in sleep and appetite.
Depression does not always look like sadness. It can show up as anger, irritability, aches and pains, drinking more or pulling away from people. If any of this sounds familiar and it is not going away, it is worth talking to someone.
How can counseling help with depression?
Talk therapy is one of the main treatments for depression. Counseling can help you notice the thoughts and habits that pull your mood down, try new ways of thinking and acting, and rebuild the routines and relationships that support you. Approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which looks at how thoughts, feelings and actions affect one another, are part of the work.
Progress is often gradual. Your counselor will go at a pace you can manage, start with small and realistic steps, and check in with you about what is helping. If something is not working, you can say so and try a different approach together.
Who will you see, and where?
Dave Kemerer, MA, LPC, sees adults with depression at our Greensburg and Ligonier offices and online. He has been in the helping profession since 2008 and licensed since 2016. Read more on Dave's page. Nicole Stout, MA, LPC, sees adults at our Greensburg office, mostly in the evenings and on Saturdays, and online, especially when low mood comes with anxiety, past trauma or feeling numb, drained or stuck. Nicoletta Whiteman, MA, LPC, sees clients at our Irwin office and online.
See our Greensburg office for the address, parking and photos. Online sessions are by secure video through SimplePractice for clients who are located in Pennsylvania at the time of each session.
What do sessions look like?
- Free 20-minute consultationCall, email or use the contact form. Tell us a little about how you have been feeling and when you can come in.
- First sessionAfter intake paperwork, your counselor asks about your mood, sleep, energy, health and support, and about any thoughts of self-harm, so you can plan safely together.
- A plan in your wordsUsually by the second session you agree on goals, such as getting out of bed on time, reaching out to a friend or doing one thing a week you used to enjoy.
- Ongoing sessionsSessions are 55 minutes. Weekly sessions are encouraged for the first month when possible.
When should you see a doctor or psychiatrist too?
Some medications and medical conditions, such as thyroid problems, can cause symptoms that look like depression. A doctor can check for these with an exam and lab tests, so a checkup is a good step if you have not had one recently.
Medication is another common treatment, and people with moderate or severe depression are often prescribed it as part of their care. Our counselors do not prescribe. If your symptoms are severe, are not easing, or include periods of unusually high energy or mood, your counselor may suggest a primary care doctor or psychiatrist and can work alongside them with your permission.
True North Vitality is not an emergency service. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 or call 911.
Can faith be part of it?
Yes, if you want it to be. Some clients want to talk about where God is in a dark season, or to include prayer. Others want no faith talk at all. Both are welcome, and your counselor follows your lead. Read more about Christian counseling.
Some of our counselors work with insurance and others are self-pay, and plans differ by counselor. See insurance and payment for details.
Common questions
Do I need medication or counseling?
It depends on how severe your symptoms are and what you prefer. For milder depression, talk therapy is often tried first. For moderate or severe depression, medication is often part of the plan, sometimes together with counseling. A doctor or psychiatrist decides about medication. Our counselors can help you think it through and work alongside your prescriber.
What if I can barely get myself to an appointment?
That is common with depression, and it is all right to say so. Online sessions by secure video, for clients located in Pennsylvania at the time of each session, can make it easier to start from home. Your counselor will also keep early goals small. Showing up as you are is enough, and you do not need to have the right words ready.
Is it depression or burnout?
They can overlap. The World Health Organization describes burnout as the result of long-term work stress that has not been managed: exhaustion, distance or cynicism about the job, and feeling less effective at work. Depression tends to touch every part of life. A counselor can help you sort out what is going on. Read about burnout counseling if work or caregiving is the main strain.
References
Published by True North Vitality, a counseling practice of Pennsylvania Licensed Professional Counselors in Westmoreland County. Last updated November 2, 2026. This page is general information, not medical or mental health advice, a diagnosis or a substitute for care.
You might also be looking for
- Anxiety therapyCounseling for worry, panic and overthinking, with practical CBT, ACT and mindfulness tools.Learn more
- Burnout counselingCounseling for exhaustion from work, caregiving or ministry, when rest alone has not been enough.Learn more
- Grief counselingSupport after a death or another loss, with room for Christian faith and hope.Learn more
- Christian counselingChrist-centered counseling with prayer, Scripture and the truth of God’s Word woven into the work.Learn more
Ready to take the first step?
Call, email or send a short message to book a free 20-minute consultation. We’ll help you choose a counselor and an office in Greensburg, Irwin or Ligonier, or meet online anywhere in Pennsylvania.