Compassionate, evidence-based support to Overcome Depression
Understanding Depression
Depression is more than just feeling low or having a bad day. It can affect how you think, feel, and function, making even small tasks feel overwhelming. You may appear to be coping on the outside, while inside, everything feels heavy, numb, or meaningless.
People often describe depression as:
- Feeling flat, empty, or hopeless
- Losing interest in things that used to bring joy
- Constant exhaustion, even after sleep
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or self-criticism
- Withdrawing from others, or feeling disconnected even when around people
- Changes in sleep, appetite, or energy levels
- Thoughts about life not being worth living
Depression can feel isolating, especially when others don’t see or understand the depth of your experience. But you’re not alone—and it is treatable.
Why Depression Happens
Depression doesn’t always have one clear cause. It may develop gradually or be triggered by:
- Prolonged stress or burnout
- Loss, bereavement, or major life transitions
- Childhood trauma or relational difficulties
- Physical health issues or chronic pain
- Hormonal or neurochemical changes
- Social disconnection or marginalisation
- Long-standing patterns of self-criticism or perfectionism
Sometimes, depression arises without any obvious reason. This can be particularly distressing—making it feel as though something is “wrong” with you. In reality, depression is often a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and environmental factors.
Why Depression Feels So Stuck
Depression often creates a vicious cycle: low mood reduces your motivation, which leads to withdrawal from daily activities, relationships, and sources of pleasure or meaning. This withdrawal can then reinforce feelings of guilt, failure, or hopelessness—further deepening the depression.
Over time, this pattern can leave you feeling trapped, even when you want things to change.
You may find yourself experiencing:
- Negative thinking loops – believing you’re a burden, a failure, or fundamentally broken
- Emotional numbness – feeling disconnected from yourself, others, or the world
- Avoidance – putting off responsibilities, social contact, or anything that feels overwhelming
- Increased sensitivity to criticism or a tendency to compare yourself negatively to others
- Loss of identity – struggling to remember what you used to enjoy or who you are beyond the depression
This experience can be confusing and frustrating, especially if you’ve had periods of feeling better in the past. For many people, depression is episodic—it can come and go—but each time it returns, it may feel harder to bounce back. For others, it can feel more chronic or persistent, with symptoms that vary in intensity over time but never fully go away.
It's Not your Fault
Research shows that depression is associated with real changes in the brain and nervous system, including:
- Disruption in mood-regulating areas like the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus
- Altered functioning in reward pathways, making it harder to experience pleasure or motivation
- Heightened threat responses and reduced self-soothing capacity, especially for those with histories of trauma or neglect
These changes aren’t permanent, but they can make everyday tasks feel physically harder. It’s not a lack of willpower—it’s a system that’s become overwhelmed and dysregulated over time.
Depression is rarely caused by a single event. Often, it arises from a combination of vulnerabilities, such as:
- Early experiences of emotional invalidation, neglect, or criticism
- Neurobiological sensitivity – including increased sensitivity to rejection or stress
- Perfectionism or high self-expectations paired with self-criticism
- Unprocessed trauma or chronic stress
- Isolation, marginalisation, or unresolved grief
- Chronic health conditions or hormonal shifts
These vulnerabilities can make the brain and body more reactive to life’s inevitable challenges. Therapy doesn’t just help with the symptoms—it also gives you the tools to understand and shift the patterns that keep the depression in place.
How Therapy Can Help
You don’t have to wait until you’re at breaking point to reach out. Therapy offers a space where you can gently explore what you’re feeling, understand what’s keeping you stuck, and start reconnecting with what matters to you. I offer evidence-based therapy for depression, tailored to your needs and pace. My approach includes:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – to understand and shift the patterns of thought and behaviour that maintain depression
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – to help you take small, values-based steps even when you feel low
- Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) – to soften self-criticism and build a more supportive relationship with yourself
- Narrative Therapy – to help you explore your story and how it may be influencing your self-concept and choices
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) – where relational losses, transitions, or conflict are at the heart of the depression
- Mindfulness and grounding techniques – to manage distress, reconnect with your body, and reduce rumination
Together, we’ll work to:
- Make sense of what you’re feeling
- Reduce the impact of negative thinking
- Rebuild emotional resilience and self-worth
- Reconnect with pleasure, motivation, and relationships
- Create small but meaningful changes that restore direction and energy
Next Steps
I understand how hard it can be to reach out when you're feeling low. That’s why I approach therapy with warmth, non-judgement, and flexibility. You don’t have to present a clear reason or a polished version of yourself—just bring whatever you’re holding, and we’ll work with it together.
Sessions are always adapted to your pace and preferences. Whether you’re looking for structured tools, space to reflect, or a combination of both, we can shape the process in a way that feels manageable and grounded.
If you're struggling with depression, please know that change is possible. I offer a free 30-minute consultation where we can talk about your situation and explore whether working together feels right. There’s no pressure—just a chance to be heard, ask questions, and begin thinking about what support might look like for you.
You don’t have to face this alone. Therapy can help you reconnect—with yourself, with others, and with life.
I offer sessions in-person at my practice in London (Peckham Levels) and online.