Transformative Depression Therapy:
Online Treatments for Overcoming Depression

How to Know if You are Depressed?

Each year millions of people suffer with depression, with 1 in 6 people in England reporting experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week.

Depression and anxiety are the most commonly diagnosed mental health conditions. Therefore, to help you clarify what depression actually is, I have included a definition here:

What is Depression?

Depression is a complex psychological condition that affects all levels of our being including our thinking, our feeling world, our bodies, our behaviours and actions – what we do, or what we don’t feel able to do.

These different aspects and layers of depression are all interconnected and influence each other. For example, what effects the body often effects the mind, which in turn impacts on our feelings. Let me describe the different levels of depression in more detail and their most common characteristics, to help you better understand what depression looks like from the outside and feels like on the inside.

Depression on the Physical Level:

We can experience a lack of energy, exhaustion, feeling tired, slowed down. You may feel a lack of energy, exhaustion, or tiredness.

Often people describe having lost their vitality and zest for life.

Depression can effect your sleeping and eating patterns.

Some people feel sluggish, others restless, and often there are difficulties with concentration.

Depression on the Thinking Level:

• Depression is marked by negative thinking patterns, most often focused on feeling bad about yourself, the world and future.
• Depressed people tend to ruminate a lot, their thinking tends to be fixed, circular and repetitive.
• Depressed thinking is characterised by black and white thinking, rather than recognising the nuances and different shades of your life experiences.

Depression on the Feeling Level:

Depression is marked by low mood and having difficulty experiencing pleasure – life feels empty and joyless.

Depression is often associated with feelings of loneliness, sadness, guilt, shame, anger and a sense of worthlessness.

Many people I have worked with have described feeling emotionally numb, emotionally frozen, empty or disconnected inside, which tends to  alternate with feeling overwhelmed.

You may also feel that life is ‘too much’, which often goes hand in hand with socially disengaging and hiding yourself away.

Depression can be present with differing intensity and severity. Imagine a spectrum from mild to moderate to severe – we can think about depression on this spectrum. Some people feel so depressed that they cannot get out of bed, and others are still managing work and all their responsibilities, but feel very unhappy inside.

Now you have read the symptoms of depression above, which of these or similar signs are you experiencing?

If you recognise at least some signs on most days, there is a strong possibility you might be depressed. Contact me today and take advantage of my FREE 15-20 minute telephone consultation.

Regardless of why you may be depressed, the most important action for you to take now is to connect with someone who is able to listen, understand, and professionally support and guide you through and out of your struggles.

You certainly don’t have to face these challenges alone!

I am here to support you with getting better and overcoming your depression.

What is Living With Depression Like?

Depression can sometimes feel as if it has taken control of your life. It can leave you feeling isolated, lonely and ashamed. The nature of these feelings can make it hard to openly talk about what you are going through.

Being depressed can totally disrupt our lives, much like other serious illnesses can. However, a key difference is that depression is invisible, and therefore it can be difficult to recognise.

I have had the privilege to psychologically work with many individuals experiencing depression, and I found that every single person has their own very unique and individual life experience and life story, in which their depression is embedded in.

The important message is that with professional help from a trained psychologist specialising in depression therapy, you will have the opportunity to explore and make sense of your depression and its deeper meaning. This process will help you change and support you in starting or returning to living a more authentic and satisfied life.

Most individuals with depression I have worked with have responded very well to psychological therapy; and managed to not only recover and overcome their depression, but grow from the experience – your first step to getting on that road to recovery is to arrange your FREE, 15-20 minute telephone consultation with me.

With Depression Therapy Your Life Can Open to New Possibilities 

During my professional career, which involved over 25 years of study and clinical work, I have helped many people recover from depression.

In my therapy practice, it is one of my priorities to create a space in which a trusting therapeutic relationship can develop. This will allow and encourage you to gently and gradually explore and  process any current and past distress, difficulties and trauma.

Remember, you are not alone.

With support, an open mind, and some courage to taking these positive steps, you can find relief from the often overwhelming and debilitating experience of depression.

Depression therapy can lead to profound changes and new opportunities. When you start to better understand yourself and you begin to shift unhelpful patterns involving your feelings, thoughts and behaviours – life will open up again and bring new opportunities. This is likely to take some time. However, with commitment and support, you can discover or re-discover a sense of hope, enjoyment and meaning in your life.

What Makes Therapy Successful? 

Most clients I work with achieve a satisfying and very postive outcome. It is important to understand what makes therapy most successful. A good and positive outcome is achieved when both of us bring a certain set of ingredients to the process. For me, it is professional competence, authenticity, empathy, good intuition, a curious and open mind. For you, it is your readiness and motivation to get better and change.

What happens during Depression Therapy Sessions? 

In the early sessions, we will talk about your symptoms and difficulties. We will explore in some detail your current difficulties, early life experiences, work situation, family set up, important relationships and life events. It is a bit like putting together a complex puzzle.

Why do we do this? We are collaboratively exploring and putting together an understanding of the causes of your depression within the context of your whole life.

In the process of your depression therapy sessions, I will introduce you to new psychological ideas, perspectives and tools, which are aimed at developing a deeper understanding of your difficulties. This new awareness and understanding is a prerequisite for change.

For example, we will collaboratively identify and review psychological patters that you have developed over time. These patterns involve your thinking, your emotional responses, your perceptions and beliefs. Recognising recurring and self-limiting patterns will help you to begin changing those patterns into new and more fruitful responses.

Our work will of course also support you in developing new skills and inner resources. For example, I will support you in developing new ways of managing and regulating your thoughts and feelings, which is what depressed individuals struggle with most. These skills are vital in managing life, especially when we are faced with emotionally challenging situations such as disappointment, loss, trauma and change.

What are the most common Therapeutic Approaches used during your Depression Therapy? 

I have had substantial training and experience in the following treatment modalities, which I will draw on in your depression therapy:

• Psychodynamic Therapy
• Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Attachment – Mentalization based Therapy (MBT)

These 3 therapy models combined have proven to be a powerful and effective method in alleviating and overcoming depression and helping you deal with your emotional difficulties in a more fruitful, effective and life-enhancing way.

Arrange your FREE, 15-20 minute telephone consultation with me today and get depression therapy working for you.

(*Source – Mind.org.uk)