How Therapy and Counselling Can Help Heal Depression

If you are considering having psychotherapy for depression, you are walking a well-trodden path. Approximately 1 in 6 people in the UK are suffering from depression at any one time, so around 8 million in this country are feeling hopeless, bleak and despairing right now. Depression touches every family at some point, and it is one of the most common mental health conditions. I encounter it constantly in my counselling work.

Depression goes beyond temporary sadness. It's a persistent condition that affects how you think, feel, and function in daily life. Symptoms can include persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, and difficulty concentrating.

Conventional medicine offers pharmacological solutions, and some of them are very effective. But they are no more than a sticking plaster, dealing with the symptoms but not the cause. In my Oxford-based counselling practice, I use a wide range of tools to understand and manage emotions, change negative thought patterns, and develop coping strategies that last a lifetime.

I use two primary approaches to help deal with depression:

Person-Centered Therapy

This creates a safe, non-judgmental space where you're truly heard. This approach believes in your inherent capacity for growth and self-understanding. I will listen without judgement, challenging you gently to help you reconnect with your authentic self and inner resources.

Gestalt Therapy

This focuses on present experiences and awareness. By bringing attention to how you feel and behave in the moment, I help identify and resolve unfinished emotional business. I will help you to shoulder the burden of personal responsibility and to experience emotions fully rather than avoiding them.

Recovery from depression is possible. Therapy provides deeper understanding of yourself and your patterns. This leads to lasting positive changes in how you relate to yourself and others, empowering you to rediscover joy, meaning, and connection in your life.

To book an initial exploratory session with me (15 minutes free of charge), click here.