Depression

What is depression?

Depression is a mental health condition that affects mood, energy and the ability to find pleasure in everyday life, lasting for weeks or months rather than lifting after a bad day. It can affect anyone, and can develop gradually or follow a difficult period.

The pattern varies from person to person. Some people experience a single episode connected to an identifiable cause, such as bereavement, illness or a major change in circumstances, while others notice symptoms recurring over months or years without any obvious trigger. Either pattern is common, and neither is a sign of weakness or a character flaw.

Symptoms of depression

Depression shows up differently from one person to the next, but common symptoms include a persistent low or flat mood, losing interest in activities that used to matter, low energy and fatigue, and sleep that’s disrupted in either direction, too little or too much. Appetite and weight can shift, concentration often suffers, and everyday decisions can start to feel disproportionately difficult.

Other common features include feelings of guilt or worthlessness, irritability, slowed thinking or movement, unexplained aches, and withdrawing from friends, family or work. For some people, symptoms extend to thoughts of death or self-harm. None of these symptoms need to be present all the time or all at once for depression to be a fair description of what’s going on.

Types of depression

Clinicians usually describe depression by severity, mild, moderate or severe, based on how many symptoms are present and how much they affect daily life. Persistent depressive disorder describes a lower-grade, longer-lasting form that can run for two years or more, sometimes with periods of feeling better in between. Some people notice a seasonal pattern, with symptoms worsening in autumn and winter. Depression frequently occurs alongside anxiety, and the two are often treated together rather than as entirely separate problems.

Online therapy for depression: what to expect

Sessions take place by secure video call, so you can take part from a private space that suits you rather than travelling anywhere. Each session runs at an agreed time in your diary, with the same structure and attention a face to face appointment would involve. Video-based therapy has a solid evidence base for depression and works well for people who prefer not to travel, who have unpredictable schedules, or who simply find it easier to talk from a familiar setting.

We will update this site as the practice develops. For now, everything runs online, and there’s no need to visit anywhere to get started.

Our approach

We draw on approaches recommended in NICE guidance for depression, principally cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and behavioural activation, adapting the pace and focus to the individual rather than applying a fixed template. CBT looks at the connections between thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and helps identify patterns that keep low mood going. Behavioural activation focuses on rebuilding activity and structure, often a practical starting point when motivation and energy are low. For some presentations, interpersonal therapy, which looks at how relationships and life changes connect to mood, may be more suitable.

Whichever approach fits best, sessions are collaborative. You’re not a passive recipient of a programme, the direction of the work reflects what matters to you and what’s realistic in your week.

What does depression therapy involve?

The first session is an assessment, looking at your history, current symptoms and what’s brought you to therapy now. From there, we agree goals and a working plan, drawing on the approach that fits your situation. Sessions typically follow a consistent structure, reviewing the previous week, working through a specific focus, and agreeing something small to try before the next session.

Progress is reviewed at intervals rather than assumed, so the plan can be adjusted if something isn’t working. As symptoms ease, sessions often move from weekly to a less frequent check-in, helping changes settle rather than stopping abruptly.

Frequently asked questions

People considering therapy for depression often want to know how long it takes, whether it’s still worth trying after years of low mood, how it fits alongside medication, and what to do if they’re having difficult thoughts about their own safety. Practical answers to these questions are below.

When to seek help

If low mood has lasted two weeks or more, or is affecting your work, relationships or ability to manage day to day, it’s worth talking to your GP or getting in touch with a therapist. Depression is treatable, and symptoms don’t need to reach crisis point before support is appropriate.

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm and feel at risk right now, contact emergency services on 999 or go to your nearest A&E. You can also call the Samaritans free, any time, on 116 123, or contact NHS 111 for urgent mental health advice. These services are there for exactly this situation, and reaching out is the right response.