CBT is an evidence-based psychological therapy that can be helpful for depression. It focuses on understanding and changing patterns that contribute to low mood while helping individuals re-engage with activities that improve wellbeing. CBT focuses on the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and behaviours.​When you are depressed, these areas can interact in ways that keep low mood going. For example, feeling exhausted may lead you to withdraw from activities and other people. This can mean you have fewer opportunities to experience enjoyment, achievement or connection, which can then reinforce negative thoughts and low mood. Together, we can identify these patterns and look at what may be keeping you stuck. We will work together to understand what is happening and decide which strategies are likely to be most helpful.

The number of sessions varies depending on your difficulties, goals and circumstances. CBT is a time-limited therapy, and we will regularly review your progress and what you need from therapy.

Yes. CBT can be helpful for both more recent and longer-standing depression. We will consider how your difficulties have developed and what may be maintaining them now.

You do not need to have a clear explanation for why you are feeling depressed before starting therapy. Part of CBT can involve understanding the factors that may be contributing to and maintaining your difficulties.

Therapy is collaborative, and we will work at a pace that feels manageable. We will focus on the experiences and patterns that are relevant to your current difficulties and therapy goals.

Low self-esteem and depression can often interact with one another. CBT can explore the beliefs and self-critical patterns that contribute to both. If low self-esteem is a significant part of what you are experiencing, we can incorporate this into your therapy.

Yes. Anxiety and depression frequently occur together. CBT can help identify how these difficulties interact and develop strategies tailored to your specific needs.

Reduced motivation is a common symptom of depression. CBT recognises this and we can work together to introduce manageable, realistic steps towards change rather than expecting motivation to appear first.

CBT can be helpful for people experiencing depression across a range of different circumstances and levels of severity.​It may be particularly helpful if you feel that you are caught in patterns of withdrawal, avoidance, self-criticism or negative thinking and would like practical strategies to help you move forward.​Your circumstances and experiences are unique, so therapy will be adapted to your individual needs rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.​If you are unsure whether CBT is right for you, we can discuss this during an initial consultation.