Treatment for Depression
Your Board-Certified Psychiatrist
Serving Parkland, FL
Now accepting new patients!
Dr. Holly Betterly, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist serving Parkland, FL.
She is dedicated to helping you overcome depression through exceptional, evidence-based psychiatric care.
She provides thorough, comprehensive psychiatric evaluations that get to the root of your depression, resulting in a precise diagnosis that guides treatment. She has extensive expertise with prescribing antidepressant medications, focusing on treatment options backed by research. Her personalized approach centers your goals and preferences for treatment.
Seeking a psychiatrist for depression in Parkland? Dr. Betterly provides flexible, convenient options for accessing high quality treatment for depression.
In-person visits at the office in Weston, FL
Insurance accepted:
In-Network for Aetna + Cigna.
Office Address:
1825 Main Street
Suite 16
Weston, FL 33326
(954) 953-5675
Directions from Parkland:
Take FL-869 South
Merge onto I-75 South, then exit to Royal Palm Boulevard
Turn Right on Bonaventure Boulevard
Turn Left on Bell Tower Lane to Weston Town Center
How common is depression?
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions worldwide, affecting millions of people each and every year. According to data from the National Comorbidity Survey, depression impacts around seventeen percent of Americans at some point in their lifetime.
Depression can impact anyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. With that said, certain factors, such as female gender or a family history, may increase someone’s risk for developing depression.
Depression vs. Sadness
Just like happiness, boredom, or excitement, sadness is a normal emotion and a part of the human experience. Everyone feels sad on occasion, especially when faced with upsetting life events like job loss, divorce, or the death of a loved one. These feelings of sadness are usually temporary, and while they may impact your mood and behavior to some extent, they typically don’t lead to significant disruption in your daily life.
Depression is more than just feeling sad or blue. This serious mental health condition involves a persistent, prolonged depressed mood characterized by feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness. Depression affects multiple different aspects of your life. Symptoms of depression may impact the way that you eat, sleep, and think.
Depression causes significant distress and limits your ability to function in day to day life. Those who are experiencing depression may struggle to maintain social relationships, stay on top of chores or personal hygiene, or find joy in the usual bright spots of their lives.
Symptoms of Depression
Depression is not a “one size fits all” condition. Each person’s experience with depression will be somewhat different, however, some common symptoms of depression include:
Feelings of sadness, emptiness, worthlessness, or hopelessness
Loss of interest in activities
Changes in appetite and weight
Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
Fatigue and low energy
Difficulty concentrating or thinking
Irritability or restlessness
Physical symptoms, such as headaches or digestive problems
Thoughts of death or suicide
Depressive Disorders
There are a number of different types of depressive disorders, each characterized by a unique set of symptoms.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
What causes depression?
Depression is a complex condition without one clear cause. Biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors may all play a role.
Dr. Betterly completes a thorough comprehensive psychiatric evaluation to identify factors that are relevant to your situation. This allows her to develop a comprehensive, personalized treatment plan that is tailored to you as a unique individual. As a physician, Dr. Betterly has in-depth knowledge and understanding of the ways in which our physical health can impact our mental health.
Some potential contributing factors may include:
Biological
Family history and genetics
Neurotransmitter imbalances
Hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause)
Medical conditions (i.e. hypothyroidism)
Psychological
Stressful life events (grief, loss, relationship problems, transitions)
Negative thinking patterns
Personality traits
Social
Isolation
Financial stress
Treatment for Depression
Treatments for depression may include prescription medications, therapy, and lifestyle changes.
Dr. Betterly takes a personalized approach to treating depression, developing a treatment plan that considers your unique needs and preferences. As a board-certified psychiatrist, she has extensive experience treating depression.
Psychiatric Services
When it comes to your mental health, you deserve expert care. As a board-certified psychiatrist and a medical doctor, Dr. Holly Betterly has extensive expertise in psychiatric medication management.
She offers longer appointments, thoughtfully developed to facilitate thorough psychiatric evaluations that help you get to the root of your depression.
Offering flexible options for accessing care in Parkland:
In-person office visits in nearby Weston, FL
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At your first visit, Dr. Betterly will complete a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. This may take up to 90 minutes depending on your needs.
You can expect to discuss the concerns that have brought you to our practice, and your personal goals and preferences for treatment.
Dr. Betterly will complete a thorough review of your personal health history, which helps her to determine to what extent physical conditions may be contributing to your current concerns. She may order blood testing to screen for physical conditions which may impact mental health.
She will ask about your past mental health treatment in order to get an understanding of what has worked well, and what hasn’t.
She will review your family health history, as many mental health conditions carry a genetic predisposition.
She will ask about your upbringing, education, work, and relationships to provide a more holistic view of you as a person.
You may be asked to complete standardized symptom rating scales which help us to monitor your progress over time.
At the end of your visit, she will provide an overview of her diagnostic impression. Together you will discuss the available treatment options, from which you can design a plan that best fits your needs. This may include a combination of medications, therapy, or lifestyle changes.
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Follow up visits allow for an opportunity to check in about how things are going. What’s working, and what isn’t? We will monitor your progress, and make any adjustments needed to keep you on track towards your goals.
Learn more about depression
Dr. Holly Betterly is committed to educating her patients about their mental health, encouraging them to play an active role in their psychiatric care. She empowers her patients by sharing the knowledge and expertise that she has gained through over a decade of training.
She maintains a mental health education blog, Better Together, which features articles on timely topics in psychiatry, as well as answers to your mental health questions- straight from a trusted psychiatrist!
Check out some of Dr. Betterly’s latest articles about depression:
Wellness in Parkland
Practicing mindfulness can be a great way to relax and de-stress. The City of Parkland offers a variety of low cost classes for the Parkland community, including
Gentle Restorative Yoga and Tai Chi at the Parkland Rec Center
Yoga in the Park at the Pine Trails Amphitheater
BetterlyMD has no affiliation with these events; provided for informational purposes only.