Help with Depression: Counselling and Psychotherapy

Counselling for Depression

How do you know when counselling can help you with depression? Depression is a low mood that can last for some time, impacting your life, self-esteem, joy, and sense of pleasure and fulfilment. When you are depressed everything feels hopeless. During these challenging times, the demand for counselling for depression in London, UK and online is very high.

Depression is more common than most people know; according to Mind, the leading mental health research charity, it affects 1 in 4 people in the UK.

We all encounter struggles and times of conflict throughout our lives. Still, depression can profoundly affect our ability to focus, feel motivated and carry out simple daily tasks.

How Can Depression Counselling Help?

At the Leone Centre, we offer an integrative and relational approach. Our therapists use different counselling and CBT approaches, including EFT and Matrix Re-Imprinting techniques. Our integrative diverse approach offers effective ways to develop strategies for dealing with the challenges of living with depression and managing its impact on your life.

What Is Depression?

Recognising the symptoms and knowing what you can do with some help with depression is valuable when trying to understand and overcome the challenges and effects on your everyday life.

Often the manifestations are physical as well as emotional and behavioural.

Behaviour Changes

• Avoiding social engagement and seeking solitude
• No longer enjoying things the same as you once did, including hobbies and sports.
• Increased substance abuse or substance dependency
• Conflict with loved ones
• Self-Harming behaviours, including excessive alcohol and/or drug use

Physical Symptoms of Depression

• Changes in appetite
• Irritability and reactivity
• Loss of libido and unexplained fluctuations in menstrual cycles
• Loss of energy, extreme lethargy

Mental and Emotional Signs of Depression

• Extremely anxious
• Self-deprecating, suicidal and physically harmful thoughts
• Increased irritability
• Feelings of guilt (sometimes without any known cause)
• Feelings of hopelessness

Types Of Depression

It is key to recognise that there are different depression types and symptoms. Some individuals develop patterns of depressive feelings.

These can result from environmental change, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which means your mood can fluctuate with shifting seasons.

Alternatively, it can result from changes that directly impact your life, for example, the loss of or separation from a loved one. Recent studies also show that too much time spent on social media, or excessive use of cannabis, can also be linked to depressive symptoms. Our counselling services can help you understand these dependencies and how they might impact your mental health.

As a comprehensive counselling service, the Leone Centre can provide counselling for depression and specific bereavement and grief counselling. If you are experiencing any of the depressive symptoms described on this page and looking for help and support, do not hesitate to contact our team at the Leone Centre.

Understanding the Wider Experience of Depression

Depression is not always about feeling sad. It can present itself in many ways, affecting your energy, mood, and how you relate to others. Some may notice physical changes, such as persistent fatigue or unexplained aches, while others may withdraw socially or lose interest in activities they once enjoyed.

There can also be a loss of focus, feelings of guilt, or a sense of disconnection from oneself and others. Therapy offers a space to explore how these experiences connect to the broader picture of your life. Together, we work to shed light on how these challenges interact and how they can shift over time.

Exploring Potential Sources of Depression

Depression can arise for many reasons, and these may not always be immediately apparent. For some, life changes—such as bereavement, the end of a relationship, or a shift in responsibilities—can feel overwhelming. For others, seasonal changes or even social influences might play a part.

Therapy provides an opportunity to explore what might be contributing to how you feel. By looking at past experiences or current circumstances, you may begin to uncover connections and new ways to approach these feelings.

Recognising When Therapy Can Be Helpful With Depression

Depression can sometimes feel like an unending cycle of low mood and difficulty engaging with life. It’s not uncommon to feel isolated, overwhelmed, or unsure where to turn. Seeking therapy can provide a space to explore these feelings and better understand the challenges you face. At the Leone Centre, we offer a relational approach—which emphasises the importance of understanding your experiences within the context of your relationships—to help you address what’s happening in your life with care and attention.

Our therapists work with you to identify patterns, connections, and new ways to approach the difficulties that depression may bring. Whether your experience is tied to a specific life event or feels harder to define, therapy can support you in finding a way forward. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how our relational approach can benefit you.

Benefits of Counselling for Depression

At Leone Centre, we offer therapy and counselling services that have helped many people understand, work with and overcome the challenging impact of depression. Your therapist and counsellor will help and support you with depression by:

1. Understanding the root causes and your symptoms
2. Learning how to stop the negative automatic thoughtsAutomatic thoughts Automatic thoughts are immediate, involuntary thoughts that occur in response to specific stimuli or situations. In Cognitive Behavioural... that hinder your fulfilment and progress in life
3. Working on depression with CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) so that you can better manage your depressive symptoms
4. Develop tools and strategies that will prevent you to get overwhelmed
5. Learning about and getting in touch with your potential and what it takes to enjoy a more fulfilling and joyful life better

The Role of Self-Acceptance in Working With Depression

Depression often brings with it a harsh inner critic, one that may make it harder to feel at peace with yourself. Therapy provides a supportive environment to quieten these inner judgments and focus on accepting yourself as you are.

This might include exploring the pressures you place on yourself or the expectations you feel from others. Your therapist will help you find ways to reconnect with what feels meaningful and fulfilling, enabling you to approach life with renewed clarity and purpose.

When to Seek Help

If you’ve been feeling persistently low, struggling to engage with your daily life, or noticing changes that feel out of the ordinary, therapy can provide the space to explore what’s happening and how you might approach it. Whether you are new to counselling or have sought support in the past, reaching out is a step toward understanding yourself better.

At the Leone Centre, our therapists are here to help you work with what feels difficult in a way that feels thoughtful, respectful, and grounded in connection. If you’d like to find out more or book a session, we welcome you to get in touch.

 

FAQs

What is the relational approach to therapy at the Leone Centre?

The Leone Centre emphasises a relational approach to therapy, which means they consider your relationships—both past and present—as a significant factor in understanding your experiences with depression. This approach views your relationships as a context for exploring your feelings, thoughts, and behaviours. The therapists at the Leone Centre will work with you to identify patterns and connections in your relationships to help you better understand the difficulties you’re facing.

What types of therapy are offered at the Leone Centre for depression?

The Leone Centre uses several approaches to therapy, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), relational therapy, and other integrative methods. CBT focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and helps you develop healthier ways of managing. It has been shown to be helpful in working with depression and other mental health concerns. Relational therapy focuses on how your relationships impact your overall well-being. The therapists at the Leone Centre will work with you to determine the most appropriate approach for your specific needs.

How can therapy help if I’m feeling depressed?

Therapy offers a safe and supportive environment to explore the feelings and challenges associated with depression. It can help you understand the wider experience of depression, which may include physical changes, social withdrawal, loss of interest in activities, difficulty focusing, feelings of guilt, and a sense of disconnection. Through therapy, you can explore potential sources, such as life changes, seasonal shifts, or social influences. You can also learn to manage the challenges of depression, quiet your inner critic, and practice self-acceptance.