Winter Doesn't Have to Feel So Heavy
Starting November 24:
A 6-Week Seasonal Depression Therapy Group
A 6-Week Seasonal Depression Therapy Group
In-Person | Angola, Indiana | 6:00-7:30pm Tuesdays, Nov. 24-Dec. 2026
Shorter days. Less sunlight. Colder weather. Less energy.
For some people, winter brings more than a change in the weather. It brings changes in mood, motivation, sleep, and the desire to connect with others.
You might find yourself withdrawing, struggling to get moving, or feeling as though you're simply waiting for spring to arrive.
What if this winter could be different?
Join a small, supportive group of adults who understand the challenges of seasonal depression and want to approach the winter months with greater awareness, connection, and practical tools.
Applications are reviewed individually. Submission does not guarantee enrollment. This form is not monitored for emergencies. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For immediate mental health crisis support in the United States, call or text 988.
You Don't Have to Navigate Winter Alone
Seasonal depression can affect the way you think, feel, and move through everyday life. Even activities you usually enjoy may begin to feel like too much effort.
And when your instinct is to withdraw, the isolation can make everything feel heavier.
This six-week, therapist-led group offers an opportunity to step out of that cycle.
Together, we'll explore how seasonal changes affect emotional well-being, learn practical strategies for managing winter-related symptoms, and create space for meaningful human connection.
You don't have to arrive feeling motivated, optimistic, or even particularly social.
You just have to be willing to begin.
What We'll Explore
Each week combines practical education, interactive & experiential interventions, guided exercises, and supportive group discussion.
Week 1 — Understanding Seasonal Depression
Explore how seasonal changes can affect mood, energy, sleep, and motivation. Begin identifying your personal winter patterns.
Week 2 — Working With Your Nervous System
Learn to recognize stress and withdrawal patterns and practice strategies for supporting emotional and physical regulation.
Week 3 — Reclaiming Energy and Motivation
Explore behavioral activation and small, realistic changes that can help you reconnect with meaningful activities—even when motivation is low.
Week 4 — Connection Instead of Isolation
Examine how withdrawal and loneliness can reinforce depression, and explore ways to maintain meaningful connection throughout the winter.
Week 5 — Changing the Winter Narrative
Identify unhelpful thinking patterns, explore more flexible perspectives, and develop strategies for responding to difficult emotional experiences.
Week 6 — Creating Your Personal Winter Wellness Plan
Bring everything together into a practical, individualized plan for navigating the remainder of winter and preparing for future seasonal transitions.
Who Is This Group For?
This group may be a good fit if you:
Notice that your mood or energy consistently declines during fall and winter.
Experience seasonal changes in sleep, motivation, appetite, or concentration.
Find yourself withdrawing from others during colder months.
Feel less connected to the activities and relationships that ordinarily sustain you.
Want practical tools for navigating winter-related depression.
Would appreciate the encouragement and connection of a small, supportive group.
A formal Seasonal Affective Disorder diagnosis is not required to apply. All prospective participants complete a brief screening process to determine whether the group is appropriate for their needs.
What to Expect
This is a small, in-person psychotherapy group facilitated by Jessica Witmer, LMHC, LPCC.
The group is designed to be welcoming, respectful, and structured, with opportunities for discussion, reflection, and practical skill-building.
You will never be expected to share every detail of your personal life. Participation is encouraged at a pace that supports meaningful engagement and respects the group process.
Because group members may encounter people they know in our small community, privacy, boundaries, and respectful participation will be important parts of the group agreement.
Group Details
Location: Mindbody Counseling & Wellness Center, downtown Angola, Indiana
Format: Six weekly, in-person group sessions
Session length: 90 minutes
Group size: Approximately 6-12 adults
Dates and times: Tuesday evenings from 6:00-7:30, starting November 24 and ending December 29
Cost: $240 for the complete six-week program ($40 per session)
Payment: Private/cash pay. Package must be purchase prior to November 17. No refunds will be given for missed sessions.
This is a closed, six-week group. Participants are encouraged to attend all six sessions to support continuity, connection, and the overall group experience.
How to Join
Step 1 — Complete the Group Application
Begin by completing a confidential prescreening questionnaire. This helps determine whether the group may be a good fit for your needs.
Step 2 — Brief Screening Consultation
Selected applicants will be invited to a brief individual consultation to discuss group expectations, answer questions, and determine appropriateness.
Step 3 — Reserve Your Place
Accepted participants will receive enrollment information, group consent documents, and payment instructions.
Spaces are limited to preserve the small-group experience.
Group applications close on November 17th.
You Don't Have to Spend Another Winter Just Getting Through It.
Winter may bring challenges, but it can also become an opportunity to develop new patterns, strengthen connections, and discover ways to care for yourself through the darker months.
Apply for the Seasonal Depression Group
Applications are reviewed individually. Submission does not guarantee enrollment. This form is not monitored for emergencies. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For immediate mental health crisis support in the United States, call or text 988.