CBT for depression
Depression can affect far more than your mood. You may find yourself losing interest in things you usually enjoy, feeling exhausted or unmotivated, becoming increasingly critical of yourself, or withdrawing from the people and activities that matter to you.
Sometimes it can feel as though you are stuck in a cycle that is difficult to break, particularly when low mood and low energy make it harder to do the things that might help you feel better.
People experience depression differently, but it often impacts thoughts, emotions, physical wellbeing and behaviour.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help you understand the patterns that are keeping depression going and develop practical strategies to make meaningful changes.
I offer face-to-face CBT for depression in Guildford, Godalming and Farnham, as well as online therapy for adults throughout the UK.
What is depression?
Depression is more than simply feeling sad or having a difficult few days. It can affect how you think, feel and behave, as well as your relationships, work and everyday life.
You might experience:
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Persistent low mood or sadness
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Loss of interest or enjoyment in things you normally value
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Low motivation or difficulty getting started
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Feeling tired or lacking energy
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Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
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Changes in sleep or appetite
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Feeling hopeless about the future
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Increased self-criticism or feelings of worthlessness
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Withdrawing from other people
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Feeling overwhelmed by everyday tasks
Depression can develop gradually, and sometimes it can be difficult to understand why you are feeling this way. You do not necessarily need to be able to identify a clear reason for your depression before starting therapy.
How can CBT help with depression?
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.
CBT for depression may involve:
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Understanding your individual experience of depression
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Identifying patterns of negative or unhelpful thinking
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Exploring self-critical thoughts and beliefs
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Gradually increasing activities that are meaningful or enjoyable
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Breaking down tasks that currently feel overwhelming
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Reducing avoidance and withdrawal
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Developing strategies to manage difficult emotions
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Building more balanced and compassionate ways of responding to yourself
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Learning skills that can help you manage future periods of low mood
Therapy is collaborative and tailored to you. We will work together to understand what is happening and decide which strategies are likely to be most helpful.
Could CBT help me?
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.
What can I expect from therapy with you?
We'll start by developing an understanding of what you've been experiencing and how depression is affecting your life. Together, we'll identify the patterns that may be keeping your low mood going and agree on some goals for therapy.
Depending on your needs, this might involve gradually reintroducing activities that are important to you, working with self-critical or negative thoughts, addressing avoidance and withdrawal, or developing strategies to manage difficult emotions.
We will work at a pace that feels manageable and regularly review your progress together.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sessions will I need for depression?
The number of sessions varies depending on your difficulties, goals and circumstances. CBT is usually a time-limited therapy, and we will regularly review your progress and what you need from therapy.
Can CBT help if I have had depression for a long time?
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.
What if I don't know why I'm depressed?
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.
Will I have to talk about everything that has happened to me?
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.
Can CBT help with low self-esteem as well as depression?
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.
Can CBT help if I have both anxiety and depression?
Yes. Anxiety and depression frequently occur together. CBT can help identify how these difficulties interact and develop strategies tailored to your specific needs.
What if I don't feel motivated to engage in therapy?
Reduced motivation is a common symptom of depression. CBT recognises this and works collaboratively to introduce manageable, realistic steps towards change rather than expecting motivation to appear first.
Take the first step
If depression is affecting your daily life and you'd like to explore whether therapy could help, you can book a free 15-minute initial consultation.
This gives us an opportunity to briefly discuss what you're experiencing, answer any questions you have and consider whether working together might be helpful.
