Depression and Anxiety Therapist in Brookline, MA and Boston, MA
Support for capable, driven people who are tired of pushing through worry, heaviness, and perfectionism.
Depression and Anxiety Therapist in Brookline, MA
From the outside, you look like you have it all together.
On the inside, the worry won't switch off, or the joy has drained out of things you used to love.
Anxiety, depression, and perfectionism often feed one another, keeping you on edge or worn down. Therapy helps you understand what's fueling these patterns and find a lighter, more flexible way to live that creates room for satisfaction and joy.
Depression and Anxiety Therapist in Boston, MA and Brookline, MA
Anxiety and depression look different for everyone, but both can make life feel smaller.
Evidence-based therapy can help with:
Anxiety
Care for constant worry and a sense of dread that makes it hard to relax or be present.
Depression
Support for low mood, fatigue, and a loss of motivation or joy that makes everyday life feel heavy.
Perfectionism
Help with the unattainable standards that can pass as "just being particular" while leaving you rigid, afraid of mistakes, and never satisfied.
Rumination and Overthinking
Tools for breaking the loop of replaying past conversations and worrying about the future.
Low Self-Esteem
Support for quieting a harsh inner critic, especially for driven people who hold themselves to a higher standard.
Isolation and Relationship Strain
Care for the disconnection and recurring conflict that anxiety and depression can create with a partner or other people you love.
People Pleasing
Guidance for loosening the pressure to keep everyone happy and setting boundaries, especially if you've built your sense of worth around being useful to others.
Depression and Anxiety Therapy in Brookline and Boston, MA
What to Expect
We start by getting a clear picture of how anxiety or depression is affecting your life, including sleep, energy, work, and relationships. We’ll then set goals that go beyond feeling less bad and focus on bringing more joy back into your days.
Anxiety and depression patterns rarely come out of nowhere. We'll explore your earlier life experiences to understand the beliefs and ways of relating they shaped, including the ones that may be working against you without your awareness.
Using CBT and ACT, we'll build practical skills to realign your life with what's important to you.
If perfectionism or people-pleasing are part of the picture, we'll trace its origin story, loosen the standards keeping you stuck, and practice tolerating mistakes with more flexibility and self-compassion.
Depression and Anxiety Therapist in Brookline, MA and Boston, MA
Session Details
Consultation:
We start with a 20-minute phone call to see whether we're a good fit.
First appointment:
Your initial session is $300 for 60 minutes.
Ongoing sessions:
Ongoing sessions are $275 for 50-55 minutes.
In person:
I see clients in a calm, window-filled office at 1577 Beacon Street, Suite D, in Brookline.
Telehealth:
Virtual sessions are available anywhere in Massachusetts and Virginia.
Payment:
I accept cash, check, and all major credit cards, including HSA cards.
Insurance:
I'm an out-of-network provider and will give you the paperwork to submit for reimbursement. If you’re unsure how this works, I’m here to help!
If you'd like to know what your plan may cover, I partner with Mentaya to check your out-of-network benefits before your first session.
When you're ready, reach out to schedule a consultation, and we'll talk through what support could look like for you.
Depression and Anxiety Therapist in Brookline, MA and Boston, MA
Meet Elizabeth Apkin, Psy.D.
Anxiety and depression respond best to therapy that addresses both the symptoms and the patterns and stories reinforcing them.
With a doctorate in clinical psychology, I blend practical, evidence-based tools from CBT and ACT with a psychodynamic understanding of how your past shapes your present, along with a humanistic lens to help you move beyond survival and towards self-actualization.
Many of my clients are high achievers who are used to being the capable one, and I know how hard it can be to admit you're struggling.
I bring warmth, a bit of levity, and clear feedback when you feel stuck, so you leave sessions feeling understood and ready to move forward.
Here’s what my colleagues say:
“She creates a comfortable space to explore.”
“Dr. Apkin is often my first call when a case gets complex. Her collaborative, insightful, and compassionate approach with clients broadens my view of the situation, and she creates a comfortable space to explore.”
— Dr. Sinead McCarthy, licensed psychologist
Signs You May Benefit From Depression and Anxiety Therapy
For many high achievers, anxiety and depression can manifest as going through the motions to get things done while feeling increasingly worse.
Therapy may help if:
You lie awake running through tomorrow's to-do list or yesterday's mistakes.
Things you used to enjoy feel flat or like one more obligation.
You've been pulling away from friends or canceling plans more often.
A small setback at work can throw you off for days, and you often lie awake thinking about it.
You put off tasks because doing them imperfectly feels unbearable, or you keep yourself busy so the feeling will pass, but it never does.
Praise feels uncomfortable or fake, and it feels easier to receive criticism. You’re wondering if you’ve just been fooling everyone this whole time.
You feel constantly on edge and burnt out, and your thoughts and heart are often racing.
Arguments with your partner or family keep repeating the same pattern.
You're exhausted from keeping up appearances.
You wonder, “What’s the point of life?” if it’s going to feel this way.
Therapy can help you enhance self-compassion, remove unattainable standards, and recalibrate your life to be more aligned with your values.
Brookline Depression Therapist for Anxiety and Perfectionism
In our sessions, I provide support that goes deeper than coping skills
With anxiety and depression, lasting relief comes from understanding why you feel this way and changing the patterns that keep you stuck.
As a therapist, I:
- Bring doctoral-level training to anxiety and depression that haven't improved with other approaches.
- Work often with professionals in high-achieving roles whose perfectionism has started working against them.
- Set goals around bringing back joy, beyond simple symptom reduction.
- Help to identify and resolve the root of the problem.
- Am not afraid of any dark, scary thoughts you may be having, including suicidal ideation
You don’t have to wait until you hit rock bottom to deserve support, and you’re not in this alone.
Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Boston and Brookline, MA
FAQs
What type of therapy works best for anxiety and depression?
Both respond well to evidence-based approaches like CBT and ACT, which build practical skills for managing thoughts and aligning your life with your values. In my practice, I also pair them with a psychodynamic lens to understand how earlier experiences shape how you feel today, so we address both the symptoms and their roots. After we put out the fire, we work to rewire the electricity in the house that might make you more susceptible to future fires.
Can you prescribe medication for anxiety or depression?
As a psychologist, I don’t prescribe medication. I have a list of trusted prescribers with whom I work closely to facilitate comprehensive care for my clients who would benefit from this intervention. While I don’t prescribe and cannot provide medical advice, I am regularly monitoring whether a referral for psychopharmacological intervention is appropriate.
How do I know if it's anxiety or just stress?
While both can be debilitating, stress usually eases once an external pressure passes. In turn, anxiety is persistent, excessive worry that tends to linger even in the absence of stressors. Both can interfere with sleep, cause irritability, and impact your relationships. Both conditions are worthy of support.
Is perfectionism something therapy can treat?
Yes. Perfectionism isn't a diagnosis on its own, but it often fuels anxiety and depression. Therapy helps you understand where your standards came from and loosen the ones that keep you stuck, while holding on to the drive that serves you well.
Where is your office?
My office is at 1577 Beacon Street, Suite D, in Brookline, just outside Boston. I also offer telehealth sessions anywhere in Massachusetts and Virginia.
How much does anxiety and depression therapy cost?
The first appointment is $300 for 60 minutes, and ongoing sessions are $275 for 50 to 55 minutes. I accept cash, check, and all major credit cards, including HSA cards.
Do you take insurance?
I'm an out-of-network provider for most major carriers, with one exception. I'm in-network with UnitedHealthcare Student Resources for Boston College and Tufts University students.
Many plans reimburse part of out-of-network care, and I'll give you the paperwork to submit. Paying privately also keeps your diagnosis and treatment details off your insurance record.
You can learn more on my Fees and Insurance page.
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