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Depression · Psychiatric care

Depression treatment,
from standard care to Spravato® and TMS.

Major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression. The full spectrum of care — medication, Spravato®, TMS, pharmacogenomics — across California.

Book an appointment Call (925) 825-1766

SMS appointment reminders are optional. You may opt in during booking — consent is not required to schedule or receive care. Msg & data rates may apply for opted-in numbers. Reply STOP to opt out anytime. See our SMS Consent & Terms.

A clear, tranquil coastline
Universal Medical GroupPsychiatry · Est. 2008
~50%
Respond to the first medication
4–6
Weeks for full effect
60–90
Minute first evaluation
58
Counties via telehealth
5
Languages spoken
TelePsychiatry across all 58 CA counties
Now accepting new patients
Most major insurance & self-pay
(925) 825-1766
About depression

What is depression?

Depression is more than feeling down. Clinical depression is a persistent low mood, loss of interest, and physical changes — sleep, appetite, energy — that interfere with your ability to live your life.

It can show up as sadness, irritability, numbness, hopelessness, or a sense that nothing matters. Depression is highly treatable, and treatment options keep expanding. For most patients, an SSRI or SNRI plus therapy is enough. For patients who haven’t responded to multiple medications — what we call treatment-resistant depression (TRD) — newer options like Spravato® (esketamine) and TMS can be game-changing.

Common diagnoses we treat: major depressive disorder (MDD), persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder, and treatment-resistant depression.

Common symptoms
  • Persistent sad, empty, or hopeless mood
  • Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
  • Sleep changes — insomnia or sleeping too much
  • Fatigue or low energy almost every day
  • Appetite and weight changes
  • Difficulty concentrating, indecisiveness, brain fog
  • Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
  • Thoughts of death or suicide (call 988 if active)

If symptoms are interfering with daily life — or if you’ve felt this way for more than two weeks — it’s worth a conversation with a psychiatrist.

Treatment options

How depression is treated.

Effective treatment usually combines medication, therapy, and lifestyle factors. We work with you to find the right combination.

01

SSRIs / SNRIs

First-line treatment. Sertraline, escitalopram, venlafaxine, duloxetine. About 50% of patients respond to the first medication.

First-line
02

Atypical antidepressants

Bupropion, mirtazapine, vortioxetine — useful when SSRIs aren’t working or cause side effects.

Alternative agents
03

Spravato® (esketamine)

FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression. A different mechanism than traditional antidepressants.

Treatment-resistant 04

TMS therapy

Drug-free, non-invasive magnetic stimulation. FDA-cleared for major depression.

Drug-free
05

Pharmacogenomics

Genetic testing to guide medication selection — fewer trial-and-error switches. Especially useful after 2+ failed trials.

Precision medicine
06

Augmentation strategies

Adding lithium, atypical antipsychotic, thyroid hormone, or another antidepressant to enhance response.

Enhanced response
The UMG approach

Care that takes time.

Depression treatment is often a process of finding the right combination. We don’t believe in “fail first” mandates — if you’ve already tried multiple medications without relief, we move quickly toward Spravato or TMS evaluation rather than recycling through old options.

Initial evaluations are 60–90 minutes. We screen for medical contributors (thyroid, B12, sleep apnea), substance use, and life circumstances that affect treatment choice. If you’ve never had pharmacogenomic testing and you’ve had 2+ failed medication trials, we usually order it at the first visit.

As an integrated practice, we can move you between standard medication, Spravato, and TMS based on response — no referral handoffs.

Book an appointment Call (925) 825-1766

SMS appointment reminders are optional. You may opt in during booking — consent is not required to schedule or receive care. Msg & data rates may apply for opted-in numbers. Reply STOP to opt out anytime. See our SMS Consent & Terms.

A calm waiting area at a Universal Medical Group clinic
Inside the practice — calm, private, unhurried.
Where to see us

In person, or by telehealth.

Four California clinics for in-person care, plus TelePsychiatry for patients anywhere in the state.

01

Pleasant Hill

Spravato®, TMS, and full psychiatric services.

Spravato® · TMS 02

Vallejo

Full psychiatric services, plus MAT.

Full services · MAT 03

Davis

ADHD testing and psychiatry.

ADHD testing 04

Fremont

Full psychiatric services, plus MAT.

Full services · MAT 05

TelePsychiatry

Standard depression care from home, across all 58 California counties.

Statewide
Frequently asked

Common questions.

Typically 4–6 weeks for full effect, with many patients noticing some improvement around weeks 2–3. If there's no meaningful response by 4 weeks, we usually adjust dose or switch.
Yes — for some patients, anxiety, GI upset, or sleep changes are temporarily worse in the first 1–2 weeks before improving. We discuss this at the first visit so you know what to expect and when to call us.
You may have treatment-resistant depression. Next steps usually include pharmacogenomic testing, Spravato® or TMS evaluation, and reviewing for missed factors (thyroid, sleep apnea, low testosterone, substance use).
Most major commercial insurance covers both for treatment-resistant depression when criteria are met. We handle prior authorization.
Yes. Standard medication management can be done entirely via TelePsychiatry. Spravato and TMS require in-person visits at our Pleasant Hill clinic.
Begin

Depression is highly treatable.

Universal Medical Group is accepting new patients across California — in person and by TelePsychiatry. The right treatment changes the texture of an ordinary day.

Book an appointment Call (925) 825-1766

SMS appointment reminders are optional. You may opt in during booking — consent is not required to schedule or receive care. Msg & data rates may apply for opted-in numbers. Reply STOP to opt out anytime. See our SMS Consent & Terms.