Depression is not always dramatic. It can be a heaviness that settles in gradually: things that used to matter feel flat, getting through the day takes effort, and it becomes hard to remember feeling any other way. Some people feel sad; others mostly feel numb, irritable, or tired in a way that rest doesn’t fix. Many keep going – working, looking after others – while privately feeling far from themselves.
A psychoanalytic approach to treating depression
In psychoanalytic psychotherapy, low mood is taken seriously as something that carries meaning. It may be connected to a loss that hasn’t been fully grieved, to anger that has had nowhere to go, to a harsh inner voice, or to long-standing ways of relating that leave you feeling unseen. These links are not always obvious at first. Over time, and at a pace that feels bearable, we try to understand what your depression is about, not only how to get through it.
Finding a reliable space to explore low mood
When mood is low, even reaching out can feel like too much, so knowing there is a fixed time set aside for you can matter more than it might seem.
Therapy offers a regular, reliable space with someone who is paying careful attention to you. For people who have learned to keep their feelings to themselves, that can matter in its own right. As patterns become clearer, people often find more room to feel, to make choices, and to connect with others.
Individual therapy for depression in South Kensington
We begin with an initial assessment. After that we usually meet weekly for 50-minute sessions, sometimes more often, which we can discuss, in person or online where appropriate.
I am an adult psychoanalytic psychotherapist, trained at the Tavistock Clinic and registered with the British Psychoanalytic Council, and I see adults at the Liberis Practice, 27 Emperor’s Gate, South Kensington.
If you’d like a conversation first, please book your time.