Depression Therapy in East Grinstead
Depression can affect much more than your mood. You may feel exhausted, disconnected or numb, lose interest in things you usually enjoy, struggle with motivation or find yourself caught in negative thoughts about yourself and the future.
I work with adults and young people experiencing depression and low mood. Therapy can help you understand what may be contributing to how you feel, recognise patterns that are keeping you stuck and gradually find ways to reconnect with yourself, other people and the things that matter to you.
You may have tried therapy before and found it helpful for a while, or perhaps you’ve spent a long time talking about your difficulties without much changing. Sometimes, a different approach can help.
I offer a supportive, non-judgemental space in East Grinstead, Hove and London, or online, where we can explore what you’re experiencing at a pace that feels manageable.
What Depression Can Feel Like
Depression can look different from person to person. You might notice:
- persistent low mood or sadness
- loss of interest or pleasure in things
- tiredness, low motivation or changes in sleep
- feelings of worthlessness, guilt or self-criticism
- withdrawing from friends, family or activities
- difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- changes in appetite
- anxiety, restlessness or irritability
- thoughts that life feels pointless or that others would be better off without you
For some people, depression comes in waves. For others, it feels like something that has been there for so long they can barely remember life feeling any different.
Depression may be linked to current difficulties, such as relationship problems, work stress, bereavement or loneliness. It may also be connected to earlier experiences, trauma, family patterns or years of feeling unseen or unsupported.
How Therapy Can Help
Depression can narrow your world. You may withdraw from people, avoid activities or put things off until you feel better. Although understandable, these patterns can sometimes reinforce the very feelings you’re struggling with.
As an integrative psychotherapist, I draw on different approaches depending on your needs. These include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), psychodynamic and person-centred therapy.
CBT can help us understand how thoughts, feelings and behaviours interact, while psychodynamic therapy explores how earlier experiences and relationships may influence how you feel today.
Our work might involve understanding the roots of your depression, developing practical strategies or finding ways to make changes in your everyday life. Often, it’s a combination of these.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Getting Unstuck
One approach I find particularly useful when someone feels stuck is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
When we’re depressed, it’s understandable to want difficult thoughts and feelings to disappear before we begin making changes. We may tell ourselves we’ll start doing things again when we feel more motivated, confident or hopeful.
But waiting to feel better before taking action can sometimes keep us stuck.
ACT takes a different approach. Rather than focusing entirely on changing or getting rid of difficult thoughts and feelings, it helps us develop a different relationship with them, so they have less influence over the choices we make.
We might explore questions such as: Is what you’ve been trying so far helping? What matters to you? And what small steps could you take towards the life you want, even if depression is still present?
This doesn’t mean ignoring your feelings or forcing yourself to be positive. It means finding manageable ways to reconnect with the people, activities and experiences that give your life meaning.
What If You’ve Tried Therapy Before?
If you’ve had therapy before but still find yourself struggling, it doesn’t mean that therapy can’t help.
Perhaps you’ve gained insight into your past or recognised unhelpful patterns, yet still find yourself returning to familiar ways of thinking and behaving.
Understanding ourselves is valuable, but insight alone doesn’t always bring about change.
Together, we can explore what has and hasn’t worked for you and consider whether a different approach might be useful. This might involve practical strategies, working with avoidance, reconnecting with your values or gradually building confidence in your ability to make changes.
There is no single approach that works for everyone, and we’ll regularly review how therapy is helping you.
Taking the First Step
When you’re depressed, it can be hard to imagine things changing. Even reaching out can feel like a lot. But you don’t need to have everything figured out or feel motivated from the outset.
We can begin wherever you are, working towards greater self-understanding and finding small, achievable ways forward.
You don’t have to wait until you feel better to begin living differently.
If you’d like to explore how therapy could help, please get in touch to arrange an initial consultation.
If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or feel at risk of harming yourself, please seek urgent support. In the UK, you can contact Samaritans on 116 123, call NHS 111, contact your GP urgently, or call 999 or go to A&E if you are in immediate danger.