Seasonal Affective Disorder & Co-Occurring Conditions: A Winter Guide for Therapists Supporting Complex Client Needs

November 18, 2025
Posted by Margie Crespo
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When Winter Intensifies What Clients Already Carry

For many clients, winter brings more than colder mornings and darker evenings. It brings a shift in mood, energy, and overall emotional resilience. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is understood as “a type of depression that you experience during particular seasons or times of year,” and its impact can be just as significant as other forms of depression (Mind, 2025).

Every year, therapists witness how these seasonal changes magnify what clients are already managing. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that SAD commonly overlaps with depression, anxiety disorders, and attention-related challenges such as ADHD (NIMH). When clients enter winter with existing struggles, the season often becomes a critical point of vulnerability and an important opportunity for support.

Why SAD Rarely Appears Alone

SAD is not simply “winter blues.” It is a recognized form of major depression that can deeply disrupt daily functioning. Symptoms commonly include persistent low mood, reduced energy, difficulty concentrating, and noticeable changes in sleep or appetite — patterns that become even more complicated when layered onto co-occurring conditions (Mind, 2025).

Mind further notes that individuals living with other mental health challenges may find that those symptoms “get worse at times when you’re affected by SAD,” making it especially relevant for therapists to anticipate seasonal exacerbations and adapt treatment plans accordingly.

Understanding the Overlap with ADHD, Executive Function, and Emotional Regulation

Clients who experience SAD alongside ADHD or mood disorders often report significant disruption to their daily functioning during winter. Shorter days can throw off circadian rhythms, affecting serotonin and melatonin levels — two important regulators of mood and sleep (Mind, 2025)

Clinically, this may look like:

Difficulty initiating tasks
Greater emotional reactivity
Executive function dips
Trouble sustaining attention late in the day
Interrupted sleep patterns

These symptoms can lead clients to misinterpret their experience as a “regression,” when in reality, their neurophysiology is responding to seasonal change. Acknowledging this helps therapists respond with empathy and build interventions that support regulation, motivation, and connection throughout the colder months.

Therapeutic Approaches for Supporting SAD & Co-Occurring Conditions

Evidence-based approaches that help clients navigate winter include:

CBT and CBT-SAD, particularly behavior activation
Light therapy, especially for morning routines
Mindfulness and grounding techniques, supporting emotional balance
Nutrition and movement, which help stabilize energy and mood
Sleep-focused interventions, restoring circadian alignment

These strategies align well with TouchPoint’s holistic health philosophy, strengthening overall functioning across key wellness dimensions. Many therapists also look for practical tools that help clients regulate between appointments — especially when symptoms intensify late at night or early in the morning.

How TouchPoints Support Clients Between Sessions

TouchPoints™ use BLAST (bilateral alternating stimulation-tactile) technology to help calm the fight-or-flight response in real time. According to TouchPoint’s research, BLAST signals shift the brain away from stress-driven patterns and support emotional regulation, improved focus, and better sleep quality.

For clients experiencing SAD and co-occurring conditions, this can complement therapy by:

Reducing emotional flooding during overwhelming moments
Supporting task initiation for clients with depressive or ADHD-related symptoms
Enhancing mindfulness practices
Promoting a calmer baseline before sleep
Helping clients stay grounded during winter-triggered stress spikes

Therapists often find that using TouchPoints both in-session and between sessions helps clients build consistency and resilience throughout the winter months.

Case Study Spotlight: TouchPoints™ in Real Clinical Practice

Therapists have reported meaningful improvements when integrating TouchPoints into sessions with clients who become easily overwhelmed. One clinician shared how TouchPoints provided immediate calming during an emotionally intense session, helping the client feel safe and reducing the risk of emotional flooding. Another therapist found that TouchPoints helped a client stay present and focused, creating a more grounded and productive therapeutic experience.

These combined insights are especially helpful during winter, when clients with SAD and co-occurring conditions may reach their stress threshold more quickly or struggle with emotional overload. Together, these case studies illustrate how TouchPoints can support both in-session regulation and between-session stability.

See TouchPoints Case Study here:

TouchPoints™ as a Calming Aid in Difficult Therapy Sessions

TouchPoints™ for Grounded, Productive Therapy Sessions

Takeaways for Behavioral Health Providers

SAD often intensifies symptoms of anxiety, depression, or ADHD, making early recognition essential.
Winter months disrupt multiple areas of well-being — particularly Sleep, Mindfulness, and Healthy Thinking.
Therapists can help clients stay regulated by combining CBT-SAD, environmental interventions, grounding practices, and tools that support nervous system regulation.
TouchPoints offer a practical, non-invasive way for clients to maintain emotional balance between sessions.

With an integrated approach and a warm, human-centered therapeutic presence, clients can move through the winter season with greater resilience, clarity, and self-understanding.

Looking for ways to support your clients more effectively this winter

Book a consultation to learn how TouchPoints can complement your therapeutic approach, reduce emotional reactivity, and help clients stay grounded between sessions.

Ready to explore tools for your practice? Visit TouchPoints today and discover how they can support clients navigating SAD and co-occurring conditions throughout the winter months.