What It Can Look Like
- Waking up tired no matter how long you slept.
- Things you used to enjoy landing flat.
- Putting off small tasks until they turn into big ones.
- Being short with people and hating yourself for it afterward.
- Feeling like you are watching your own life from a step behind.
- And the thought running underneath all of it: I should be able to snap out of this.
You should not have to. That thought is a symptom, not a fact about you.
Depression has more than one face. In men it often looks like irritability, or drinking more than before. In older adults it can look like aches, sleep trouble or memory complaints. In teenagers it is often anger, and pulling away from everyone. If you recognize someone you love in that list, you are welcome to call us and ask.
Where the Work Starts
Usually with movement. Waiting to feel motivated before doing anything is the trap depression sets, so you and Ann Marie rebuild a small amount of activity that matters to you, and then a little more. You look honestly at the thinking that keeps the floor low, and you sort out what is depression and what is a situation in your life that needs changing.
Along the way you pick up tools for the flat mornings and the bad weeks, so that a bad week does not have to turn into a bad month. Progress is usually uneven. That is normal, and Ann Marie plans for it.
Who This Is For
We welcome children from age three, teenagers, adults and older adults. Come on your own, or with family where that helps.
About Medication
Ann Marie is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She does not prescribe medication. Some people do better with medication alongside counseling. If that looks likely, she will help you talk to your doctor and, with your written permission, work alongside them.
Coming From Tawas City, West Branch or Oscoda
People come to us for depression counseling from right across the Sunrise Side. A weekly appointment is a weekly drive, so here are the road times to our office in Hale.
- Tawas City, about 32 minutes by road.
- West Branch, about 40 minutes by road.
- Oscoda, in Iosco County, about 45 minutes by road.
Tell us which town you are coming from when you call, and we will help you find the times that make sense with the drive. On the longer drives, a longer appointment spaced further apart sometimes suits better than a weekly hour, and we are happy to set it up that way. We list road times from the rest of the area on our service area page.
Sessions and Insurance
A session is normally 60 minutes. The first appointment is longer and is mostly about getting to know you. Our appointments page sets out what to expect at a first appointment and what to bring. We take most major insurance. See which plans and what to ask yours before you come. If you are not sure about yours, ask us. We are happy to help you work it out.
You Might Also Be Looking For
Anxiety very often sits alongside depression, one specific change can be what started it, and serious illness and low mood arrive together more often than anybody warns you they will.
If you are not sure which of these fits, call us anyway. We will help you work out where to start.
Reviewed by Ann Marie Shay, MA, LPC, CTP, MITS, September 2026.