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Depression therapy for kids, teens, & young adults

Evidence-based therapy that helps kids rediscover joy, resilience, and connection.

Support for persistent sadness, withdrawal, irritability, and loss of motivation.

Insurance accepted. Appointments often available within days.

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4.94
10k+ satisfied kids,
teens, & families
Insurance providers Emora accepts

Depression, at a glance

4.4%

About 4.4% of children ages 3-17 are diagnosed with depression in the U.S.

Often missed

Depression in children frequently hides behind irritability, anger, and behavioral changes.

Highly treatable

Over 70% of children with depression respond positively to evidence-based therapy.

Understanding depression

What depression looks like and how it affects daily life.

A young boy wearing a blue and white striped shirt sits on a sofa, looking down intently at something in front of him. An adult's hands are gently placed on his leg, suggesting a supportive and comforting interaction in a relaxed indoor setting.A young girl with long, light brown hair sits at a desk, concentrating while writing or drawing and resting her chin in her hand. She appears focused and thoughtful, likely in a classroom or study environment.A close-up portrait of a young boy with short hair and freckles, looking down with a contemplative expression in a softly lit indoor setting. He appears to be deep in thought.
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Persistent low mood

Sadness, emptiness, or irritability lasting two weeks or more. Children may appear angry rather than sad.

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Loss of interest

Withdrawal from activities, friends, and hobbies they once enjoyed. Declining motivation and energy.

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Cognitive changes

Difficulty concentrating, negative self-talk, feelings of worthlessness, and trouble making decisions.

Depression in children is more than sadness. It is a persistent mood disorder that affects thinking, feeling, and daily functioning across school, home, and social life.

A licensed clinician evaluates mood patterns across settings and considers overlapping conditions like anxiety or ADHD.

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Common signs of depression by age

Symptoms look different at every stage of development.

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  • Young Children (4-7)

    Persistent irritability

    Loss of interest in play

    Clinginess and separation distress

    Regression in skills

  • School-Age (8-12)

    Declining grades

    Withdrawal from friends

    Persistent boredom

    Increased irritability

  • Teens (13-17)

    Social isolation

    Academic decline

    Sleep and appetite changes

    Hopelessness or self-harm talk

  • Young Adults (18-25)

    Chronic fatigue and low motivation

    Difficulty maintaining routines

    Relationship withdrawal

    Substance use as coping

Could it be depression?

Take a quick, clinically validated screening to better understand your child’s symptoms.

PHQ-9 Depression Screening

The PHQ-9 is a clinically validated questionnaire used to identify symptoms of depression. While it can be a helpful starting point, research shows that teens often don’t disclose how they’re truly feeling to their parents — in one study, over half of adolescent depression cases were missed when relying on parent report alone (Baumgartner et al., 2021). For this reason, the PHQ-9 is most effective when administered by a trained clinician who can build rapport and interpret the results in context.

This screening is not a diagnosis and is not a substitute for a professional clinical evaluation.

Take the PHQ-9 Screening
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How depression therapy helps

Evidence-based strategies for rebuilding mood, motivation, and daily functioning.

  • Challenges negative thought patterns
  • Rebuilds engagement with activities and people
  • Improves emotional regulation
  • Strengthens coping and problem-solving skills
  • Supports school and social functioning
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Why families choose Emora

Specialized pediatric depression care vs. general providers.

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Other providers

Licensed pediatric and young adult clinicians

Generalist providers

Evidence-based CBT and interpersonal therapy

One-size-fits-all approaches

Parent-inclusive model

Limited parent involvement

PHQ-9 screening and progress tracking

Limited progress visibility

Insurance accepted

Insurance not always accepted

Coordination with prescribers if needed

Therapy and medication managed separately

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Get started in minutes

Three simple steps to connect with the right clinician.

  • 1

    Share what’s going on

    Answer a few questions about symptoms and goals.

  • 2

    Verify coverage

    See insurance estimates and available times.

  • 3

    Start sessions

    Meet your clinician and begin building skills.

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Frequently asked questions

What parents and young adults ask most about depression therapy.

Sadness is a normal emotion that comes and goes. Depression is persistent — lasting two weeks or more — and affects how your child functions at school, at home, and with friends. Signs include withdrawal, irritability, loss of interest, sleep changes, and hopelessness. You don't need a diagnosis to reach out.

Yes. Depression can affect children at any age, though it often looks different in younger children. Instead of expressing sadness, young children may become irritable, clingy, or complain of physical symptoms like stomachaches.

Most children begin to feel improvement within 8–12 sessions. The total duration depends on the severity of symptoms, your child's response to therapy, and their individual goals.

Yes — family involvement is central to our approach. You'll receive regular updates, learn strategies to support your child at home, and have opportunities to participate in family sessions when appropriate.

Yes, we accept most major insurance plans and verify your coverage upfront. Most families pay between $0 and $30 per session with insurance.

Resistance is very common with depression — low motivation is part of the condition. Our therapists are skilled at engaging reluctant children in a warm, non-pressuring way. Most children are glad they started once they experience the support.

Absolutely. For moderate to severe depression, therapy and medication often work best together. Our therapists collaborate with your child's prescriber to ensure coordinated, effective care.

Real stories of growth

Every session is rated by parents. Our therapists maintain a 4.9+ average, because results matter.

Stephanie is so caring and she really helps me bring my walls down.

An Adult client

Jun 8, 2026

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Stephanie Rodriguez
Provider:

Stephanie Rodriguez, LPC-A

The online meeting was prompt and glitch free. My son was able to talk and do play therapy while getting to know the counselor and vise versa.

Parent of a 9 year old

Jun 8, 2026

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Donna Egbulem
Provider:

Donna Egbulem, LCSW-A

Good session.

Parent of a 16 year old

Jun 8, 2026

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Tiffany Ally
Provider:

Tiffany Ally, LCSW

It was very helpful and insightful.

An Adult client

Jun 8, 2026

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Dr. Ellen Honsa
Provider:

Dr. Ellen Honsa, PsyD, LP

Today's session was great! My child felt heard and got off the session feeling confident! We are so excited to work with Ms. Z!

Parent of a 9 year old

Jun 8, 2026

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Katie Jones
Provider:

Katie Jones, CPNP-PC, PMHNP-BC

Tara just makes my daughter feel so safe and seen. It’s such a relief to have her be able to actually speak to someone else.

Parent of a 13 year old

Jun 8, 2026

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Tara Steinfeld
Provider:

Tara Steinfeld, LPC

Nancy was great with my daughter and giving some ideas on how to work through the moments when her anxiety creeps in.

Parent of a 9 year old

Jun 8, 2026

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Nancy Lozano
Provider:

Nancy Lozano, LPC

Related well to her. Nice work.

Parent of an 11 year old

Jun 7, 2026

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Dr. Betty Wicks
Provider:

Dr. Betty Wicks, PsyD

Antonio was nice and understood what my teen was trying to say. He often says we don't understand him, so I am happy about this.

Parent of a 16 year old

Jun 7, 2026

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Antonio Richey
Provider:

Antonio Richey, LCSW

Help with figuring out my issues with brother and how to handle

Parent of a 15 year old

Jun 7, 2026

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Christine Applefield
Provider:

Christine Applefield, LMFT

She enjoyed this session and is excited for the next one as well

Parent of an 8 year old

Jun 7, 2026

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Excited for my next session, felt very comfortable and in a good space .

An Adult client

Jun 7, 2026

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Korina Herrera
Provider:

Korina Herrera, LMHC

Notice a difference in my child

Parent of a 14 year old

Jun 7, 2026

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Katia Torres
Provider:

Katia Torres, LCSW

My daughter said it was very good. They were able to talk about alot of stuff and it was fun.

Parent of a 9 year old

Jun 7, 2026

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Elsie Peña
Provider:

Elsie Peña, LPC

The testing process for my child with Dr. Bunker went really well. Just like how she explained it would go.

Parent of a 7 year old

Jun 6, 2026

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Dr. Nacona Bunker
Provider:

Dr. Nacona Bunker, PsyD

Korina has been very helpful with the therapy process for my child.

Parent of a 7 year old

Jun 6, 2026

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Korina Herrera
Provider:

Korina Herrera, LMHC

Korina is very patient even when my child is having a difficult time with the therapy session.

Parent of a 7 year old

Jun 6, 2026

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Korina Herrera
Provider:

Korina Herrera, LMHC

This was our initial visit with Dr. Bunker. She did a great job with explaining how the process would go. She also had great interaction with my child during the visit.

Parent of a 7 year old

Jun 6, 2026

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Dr. Nacona Bunker
Provider:

Dr. Nacona Bunker, PsyD

Depression does not define your child

Structured, developmentally informed therapy can help build skills that last.

Not sure where to start? Book a clinical matching session.

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