At Rula, we believe that therapy works best when you and your therapist share a clear picture of how you’re doing over time. That’s why we use something called Measurement-Informed Care (MIC).
MIC involves short check-ins through surveys. These surveys give you tools to reflect on your experiences, helping your therapist tailor care that truly fits you.
One of the surveys we use is called the PHQ-9. It focuses on mood and depression symptoms. Seeing your score can be a helpful starting place for deeper conversations in therapy.
What is the PHQ-9?
The PHQ-9 is the Patient Health Questionnaire for adults, and has 9 items.
It looks at how often you’ve been experiencing things like:
- Feeling down or hopeless
- Loss of interest in things you usually enjoy
- Changes in sleep, appetite, or energy
It’s not a test you “pass” or “fail.” Instead, it’s a tool to show you and your therapist how your symptoms may be affecting your daily life.
What if I’m getting the PHQ-9A?
The PHQ-9A is the Patient Health Questionnaire for adolescents aged 11-17. It has similar questions to the adult-PHQ but with more emphasis on school, peer relationships, and parental involvement as related to mood and depression symptoms.
How to understand your results
Your score gives a sense of the intensity of depression symptoms:
| Score Range | Possible Experience |
| 0–4 | Few or no depression symptoms |
| 5–9 | Mild symptoms, may feel like “low mood” or occasional dips |
| 10–14 | Moderate symptoms, often noticeable in daily life |
| 15–19 | Moderately severe, making daily tasks feel harder |
| 20–27 | Severe, affecting most areas of life |
Keep in mind: This score is not a diagnosis. Only a licensed professional can make that determination. Think of your results as a guide - a way to notice patterns and talk openly about your mental health.
Why this matters
Checking in with the PHQ-9 can:
- Highlight shifts in your mood and functioning over time
- Give you and your therapist a shared language for what feels most challenging
- Support treatment planning, whether that means adjusting coping strategies, routines, or therapy approaches
Your score is a snapshot, not a permanent label. Scores naturally rise and fall with life circumstances, and that information helps you and your therapist track what’s working and where you may need extra support.
What you can do in the meantime
If you’re waiting for your next therapy session, here are a few ways to care for yourself:
- Capture reflections: jot down anything you’ve noticed about your energy, motivation, or stressors
- Use your coping tools: practice skills like grounding exercises, gentle movement, or journaling
- Remind yourself: depression is common, and seeking support shows strength. You are not alone in this.
When to reach out sooner
If your symptoms start to feel overwhelming- for example, if you find it difficult to get out of bed, care for yourself, or connect with others- let your therapist know right away. That’s also a good time to lean on your safety plan.
If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself or feel unsafe, please call 911 immediately or dial 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
The bigger picture
Your PHQ-9 score is just one piece of information- it doesn’t define you. What matters most is how you and your therapist use this insight together. Every time you fill out the PHQ-9, you’re taking an active step toward understanding yourself better and shaping your path forward. That’s real progress.
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