Facebook Instagram Pinterest Tiktok
Sal Psychiatry Services logo
Contact us
Sal Psychiatry Services logo
Contact us

Depression

Depression Treatment in Norwalk, CA

Depression is treatable, and treatment is not the same for everyone. Some people do well with therapy. Some need medication. Some need something different because the first two did not work. At Sal Psychiatry in Norwalk, CA, Dr. Salisu Aikoye, MD, a double board-certified psychiatrist, provides depression treatment in Norwalk that covers evaluation, therapy, medication management, and options for depression that has not responded to standard care. Care is outpatient, in person or by secure telehealth across California
Schedule a depression evaluation
A therapist and an adult review a structured planner together in a bright mental health office during a counseling session.
  • Private & Confidential Online Therapy
Group therapy session with mental health professionals and patients discussing emotional wellness and support

Signs Depression Needs Professional Treatment

Everyone has low periods. Depression is different. It stays, and it changes how you function. The National Institute of Mental Health describes major depression as symptoms present most of the time for at least two weeks, interfering with work, sleep, study, and eating.
  • Low mood most of the day, most days, for weeks
  • Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
  • Exhaustion that sleep does not fix
  • Sleeping too much or too little
  • Appetite or weight changes
  • Trouble concentrating or making decisions
  • Feeling worthless or guilty
  • Pulling away from people
  • Physical aches with no clear cause
If these have lasted more than two weeks and are affecting work, sleep, or relationships, an evaluation can help.

Types of Depression We Evaluate and Treat

The type of depression you have changes what treatment makes sense.
Major depressive disorder — episodes of persistent low mood that affect daily functioning
  • Persistent depressive disorder — lower-grade depression that has gone on for a long time, often years
  • Treatment-resistant depression — depression that has not improved after two or more adequate medication trials

Depression with anxiety — the two very often occur together

Depression as part of bipolar disorder — treated differently, which is why the evaluation matters
Depression alongside substance use — both are treated together rather than one at a time
sal psychiatry,sal psychiatry services,dr sales psychiatrist,norwalk psychiatry,psychiatry services,esketamine treatment,esketamine therapy schizophrenia specialists,mental health treatment in norwalk,mental health therapy norwalk,norwalk psychiatrist,psychiatry treatment norwalk,psychiatric services southern california,norwalk depression counseling,psychotherapy does sal have ocd,dr brittney bryant,

Depression Treatment Services at Our Norwalk Practice

Care here is outpatient and psychiatrist-led. Your plan is built from what you actually need.
Psychiatric evaluation — the full assessment that shapes everything else
Medication management — choosing, starting, monitoring, and adjusting medication with regular follow-up. See how medication management works.
Therapy and psychotherapy support — structured talk therapy for depression
Pharmacogenomic testing — information about how your body may process certain medications, used alongside your history
TMS therapy — FDA-cleared brain stimulation for major depressive disorder, given in-office
SPRAVATO (esketamine) — for adults with treatment-resistant depression, given in a certified healthcare setting with monitoring

Telehealth follow-up — secure video visits across California

Ongoing monitoring — tracking response and adjusting the plan
Not everyone needs all of these. Most people start with an evaluation and one treatment.

When Antidepressants Have Not Worked Well Enough

If a medication has not helped, or has helped only a little, that does not mean depression cannot be treated. It usually means the plan needs a proper review.

Which medications you tried, at what dose, and for how long. Many are stopped before they have had a fair trial

Whether side effects made it impossible to continue
Whether the diagnosis is complete, since anxiety, ADHD, trauma, sleep problems, or bipolar patterns can all hold progress back
Whether something medical is contributing
Whether therapy was part of the plan, or medication was carrying it alone
Telehealth follow-up visits — secure video appointments anywhere in California

Depression that has not improved after two or more medication trials at an adequate dose and length is often called treatment-resistant depression. It is a starting point for a different approach, not a dead end.

Do not stop antidepressant medication on your own. Talk to your prescriber first.

Why One Antidepressant Works for Someone Else and Not for You

People process medications differently. Part of that difference is genetic, and it can affect how a medication behaves in your body.  Pharmacogenomic testing is usually a cheek swab sent to a lab. It can show how your body may process certain medications, and where side effects may be more likely.

What it cannot do is tell you which medication will work. It does not pick your treatment. It is one piece of information your psychiatrist considers alongside your symptoms, your history, and how you responded to treatment before.

Ask about pharmacogenomic testing at your evaluation

Advanced Depression Treatments: TMS and SPRAVATO

TMS and SPRAVATO are not stronger antidepressants. They work differently, and they are considered for people whose depression has not responded to standard treatment. Whether either fits you is decided at an evaluation.

TMS therapy SPRAVATO (esketamine)
What it is Magnetic pulses to areas of the brain involved in mood A nasal spray you use yourself, under supervision
FDA status Cleared for major depressive disorder Approved for adults with treatment-resistant depression, either with an oral antidepressant or on its own, and, with an oral antidepressant, for depressive symptoms in adults with MDD who have active suicidal thoughts or behaviour
Where it is given In-office sessions Only in a certified healthcare setting. It cannot be taken home.
What a visit looks like You stay awake, no anesthesia, then go about your day Monitored for at least two hours afterward, and no driving for the rest of the day
Typical course A series of sessions over several weeks Scheduled sessions, tapering over time
Key safety notes Screening required. Scalp discomfort or headache is possible early on. Carries a boxed warning covering sedation, dissociation, abuse and misuse, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Dispensed only through a restricted program.

What the First Eight Weeks of Treatment Usually Look Like

01

Evaluation

A full assessment, a diagnosis, and a plan you understand and agreed to.

02

Starting treatment

Therapy, medication, or both. You know what to expect, how long to give it, and which side effects to report.

03

Early follow-up

Visits are closer together at the start. Response and side effects are checked, and the plan is adjusted rather than left to run.

04

Reviewing the plan

If you are improving, care continues and visits space out. If you are not improving enough, the next options are discussed, which may include pharmacogenomic testing, TMS, or SPRAVATO.

Outpatient and Online Depression Care Across California

When depression is heavy, getting out of the house is part of the problem. Follow-up visits can happen by secure video from home.

Depression Care for Adults in Norwalk and Nearby Cities

In-person appointments are at 13819 San Antonio Drive, Norwalk, CA 90650. Patients also travel to us from Cerritos, Downey, Bellflower, Artesia, La Mirada, Whittier, Santa Fe Springs, and Lakewood. This is adult outpatient psychiatric care. TMS and SPRAVATO are given here at the Norwalk, CA office, which matters if you are comparing depression therapy in Norwalk against virtual-only services that cannot offer either one. Call (562) 280-7176 or book online.

Find out more about our services

Spravato
Ketamine
TMS
Medication Management
Talk Therapy
Telehealth

Get in touch with us

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments regarding Sal Psychiatry Services, please fill out the short contact form below. Contact us today to begin your journey of healing and transformation.

sal psychiatry,sal psychiatry services,dr sales psychiatrist,norwalk psychiatry,psychiatry services,esketamine treatment,esketamine therapy schizophrenia specialists,mental health treatment in norwalk,mental health therapy norwalk,norwalk psychiatrist,psychiatry treatment norwalk,psychiatric services southern california,norwalk depression counseling,psychotherapy does sal have ocd,dr brittney bryant,

Have A Question?

(562)-280-7176

Don’t hesitate to contact us Now

Why Patients Choose Sal Psychiatry for Depression Treatment

Most depression care in this area is medication management or therapy. If those do not work, you are usually referred somewhere else and start over with a new provider.
Care led by Dr. Salisu Aikoye, MD, a double board-certified psychiatrist
Standard and advanced treatment options available in the same practice
TMS and SPRAVATO offered on site in Norwalk, CA
Pharmacogenomic testing available to inform medication decisions
In-person visits plus secure telehealth across California
Modern mental health consultation with psychiatrist therapist and adult patient in a bright psychiatric clinic

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I see a psychiatrist for depression?

When symptoms are persistent, affect daily life, or have not improved with what you have already tried. A psychiatrist can review the diagnosis and the full range of treatment options.
No. Therapy alone is appropriate for some people. The plan is decided with you at the evaluation, based on your symptoms, history, and what you are comfortable with.
It varies. Medication is usually given a fair trial of several weeks before judging it, and therapy builds over sessions. Response is reviewed at follow-up visits.
Depression that has not improved after two or more medication trials at an adequate dose and length. It is a recognized starting point for considering other approaches.
TMS is FDA-cleared for major depressive disorder and may reduce symptoms for suitable patients. Response varies from person to person, and candidacy needs assessment first.
Yes for evaluations and follow-up visits, anywhere in California. TMS and SPRAVATO are in-person only, since both have to be given on site.
It can. Depression often runs in episodes. Ongoing follow-up helps catch a return early, when it is easier to treat than a full relapse.
Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room. Do not wait for an appointment.

Start Depression Treatment in Norwalk, CA

You do not have to work out whether you need therapy, medication, TMS, or SPRAVATO before you call. That is what the evaluation is for. Sal Psychiatry offers psychiatrist-led outpatient care at the Norwalk, CA office and by telehealth across California. Call (562) 280-7176 or book online. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 instead of waiting.

Schedule a Depression Evaluation
Skip to content