More than low mood

Depression Therapy

Private depression counselling in London for persistent low mood, numbness, loss of motivation and burnout-related depression. Online and in-person sessions available.

Clinical Overview

Depression counselling that works

Depression involves persistent low mood, loss of pleasure, changes in sleep or appetite, and reduced energy or concentration that interfere with daily life. It's common across UK adults and can affect work, parenting, relationships and physical health. The good news is that depression responds well to therapy — often CBT, behavioural activation and interpersonal work — with many people improving within 8 to 16 sessions.

Prevalence

Common across UK adults

Gold-standard treatment

CBT, behavioural activation and interpersonal therapy

Typical recovery

Often 8–16 sessions

NICE recommended

CBT and related therapies are first-line for depression

Structured recovery

Treatment targets mood, avoidance and daily functioning

NICE NG222 depression guideline

1 in 6

UK adults report clinically significant depressive symptoms at times

8–16

Sessions often needed for focused depression treatment

Daily

Progress often begins with sleep, routine and activity changes

Quick check

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DM
Dr Martina Paglia

Clinically reviewed by

Dr Martina Paglia

Founder & CEO of Mind a Porter

HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist

Special interests include anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, burnout, workplace stress, relationship difficulties and high-performance mental wellbeing.

Last reviewed: 13 August 2026

All health information on Mind a Porter is clinically reviewed by our clinical lead. These resources are educational and do not replace professional advice.

AI-ready summary

Depression counselling in London supports people whose low mood, numbness, exhaustion or loss of motivation is starting to affect daily functioning, relationships or work. Evidence-based treatment may include CBT, behavioural activation, compassion-focused work and interpersonal therapy depending on what is driving the depression. Good therapy helps you rebuild safety, routine and meaning at a pace that feels realistic rather than forced.

Understanding depression

When the heaviness doesn't lift

Depression is not just feeling sad. It's a persistent heaviness that settles over everything — your mood, your energy, your ability to care about things that used to matter. Basic tasks start to feel monumental. Getting out of bed, replying to a message, making a decision — each one takes a kind of effort that other people don't seem to need. You might feel numb rather than sad, disconnected rather than distressed, and that numbness can be harder to name and harder to explain to anyone.

In London, depression often hides behind a high-functioning exterior. You keep going to work, keep meeting your responsibilities, keep telling people you're fine — while underneath you feel hollow, exhausted and increasingly cut off from the life you're supposedly living. Many people don't realise how far it's gone until they notice they haven't genuinely enjoyed anything in weeks, or that they're withdrawing from people without quite knowing why. The gap between how you look on the outside and how you feel on the inside is part of what makes it so isolating.

Therapy helps not by forcing positivity or telling you to try harder, but by understanding what's actually driving the depression and working with that specifically. Is it burnout that's tipped into something deeper? Is it loneliness, shame, self-criticism, a loss, or a pattern that's been there for years? Different roots need different approaches — CBT, behavioural activation, compassion-focused work, or deeper psychotherapy. The goal is to help you rebuild safety, routine and meaning at a pace that feels realistic, not to drag you somewhere you're not ready to go.

Understanding causes

What contributes to depression

Depression rarely has a single cause. It usually builds up from a combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors, and understanding your own pattern is an important part of finding the right support.

Biological factors: Genetics, brain chemistry, physical health and sleep patterns can all play a role in how depression develops and is experienced.

Psychological factors: Thinking styles, past experiences, personality traits and learned coping patterns can maintain or worsen depression over time.

Environmental factors: Stress, relationships, work pressure, life transitions and broader social or cultural factors often contribute to when and how depression surfaces.

Benefits

The benefits of Depression Therapy

A clearer understanding of what is keeping your depression going and why

Practical tools from cbt to manage triggers and setbacks in daily life

Reduced intensity and frequency of depression symptoms as the work progresses

Better sleep, focus and energy as depression stops dominating your day

More confidence in social, work and relationship situations

A therapeutic relationship you can return to whenever things feel harder

What depression looks like

How depression starts shaping daily life

Depression can look flat, restless, heavy, numb or quietly relentless. These are the patterns people often notice before they realise how much it has taken over.

  • Persistent low mood, emptiness or tearfulness
  • Loss of interest in work, hobbies or relationships
  • Sleep changes, including insomnia or oversleeping
  • Fatigue, heaviness or reduced motivation most days
  • Difficulty concentrating, deciding or finishing tasks
  • Withdrawing from people or cancelling plans more often
  • Harsh self-criticism, guilt or feelings of worthlessness
  • Changes in appetite, pleasure or hope about the future

When to seek help

When is it time to seek therapy for depression?

It is worth reaching out when depression is starting to affect your daily life, relationships or wellbeing. You do not need to wait until things feel unmanageable. These are the signs that professional support could help.

  • persistent low mood, emptiness or tearfulness
  • loss of interest in work, hobbies or relationships
  • sleep changes, including insomnia or oversleeping
  • fatigue, heaviness or reduced motivation most days
  • difficulty concentrating, deciding or finishing tasks
  • withdrawing from people or cancelling plans more often

Recognise any of these signs?

You don't have to figure it out alone. A 15-minute £1 discovery call can help you make sense of what's happening and what kind of support might help. Therapy for depression is available online or in person in London.

Evidence-backed modalities

Clinical approaches to mood recovery

Our practitioners utilise internationally recognised frameworks to help you break through the symptoms of depression and build long-term resilience.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Interrupting the feedback loop of negative thought patterns and avoidance behaviours that maintain depressive states.

Learn more

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)

Improving the quality of your relationships and life transitions to address the roots of your current distress.

Learn more

Psychodynamic therapy

Uncovering how formative experiences and unconscious patterns continue to influence your present emotional health.

Learn more

Compassion-focused therapy

Cultivating inner kindness to counteract the debilitating effects of shame and persistent self-judgement.

Learn more

Fees & booking

Transparent pricing for depression therapy

50-minute sessions, online or in person across London
Fees set by each therapist and shown before you book
Private insurance accepted by many clinicians

Clients never pay more with us than going direct, and our therapists offer their best rates.

What to expect

What does a first depression counselling session look like?

A first depression session is usually focused on understanding how your mood has changed and what daily life looks like now. Your therapist will ask about energy, sleep, motivation, concentration, appetite, work, relationships and whether there are times when things feel slightly better or markedly worse, so the picture is specific rather than vague.

You may also talk about recent stress, loss, burnout, loneliness, shame, self-criticism or earlier experiences that might be contributing to the depression. If you are already receiving medical support, that can be discussed too. The aim is not to pressure you into explaining everything perfectly, but to build an accurate sense of what the depression is doing and what type of help is likely to move things.

By the end of the session, you should have a clearer understanding of the working formulation, whether the focus needs to be stabilisation, behavioural activation, deeper psychotherapy or a combination, and what the next practical step would be. Good first sessions leave you feeling more understood and less alone, not more overwhelmed.

Ready to take the first step?

Book a £1 discovery call, or browse therapists near you for depression therapy. Online and in-person sessions across London.

Why Choose Us

Why depression care needs steadiness, not clichés

We bridge the gap between rigorous clinical excellence and the compassionate, human-centred care required to navigate the complexities of life in London.

Qualified clinicians

BACP, HCPC and UKCP-registered therapists with strong experience in anxiety, mood and relationship-related work.

Flexible sessions

Online and in-person sessions that can fit around work, family life and the pace of London.

Compassionate approach

Therapy here is warm, thoughtful and grounded in real life, not performance or jargon.

Meaningful progress

The work is practical, thoughtful and aimed at changes you can actually feel in daily life.

Depression Specialists

🔥 Booked in Last 48 hrs
£1 Discovery Call
Roberta Crescenzo
Easy Booking
Woman ChelseaOnline via Google Meet

Mrs Roberta CrescenzoCounsellor

PGDip15+ years of experience

I am a BACP-registered counsellor with 15 years of experience supporting adults across the private and voluntary sectors. I hold a PGDip in Attachment-Based Therapy and an Adv. Dip. in Humanistic Integrative Counselling, providing me with a robust clinical foundation to support clients navigating complex personal, emotional, and relational challenges. I offer both short-term and open-ended therapy, welcoming adults from diverse backgrounds to my practice in South West London and online. My clinical expertise spans a broad spectrum, including bereavement, trauma recovery from domestic abuse and gaslighting, infertility, and various forms of anxiety. I am particularly adept at helping individuals manage the pressures of life transitions, low self-esteem, and relationship complexities. Whether you are dealing with the impact of past experiences or current life stressors, I provide a professional, thoughtful space where we can work together to understand your history and cultivate greater resilience in your everyday life.

EnglishItalian
From £70 /session
£1 Discovery Call
Param Singh Sahni
Easy Booking
Man Sudbury HillOnline via Google Meet

Mr Param Singh SahniPsychotherapist

MSc · PGDip · BA10+ years of experience

I am a UKCP-registered and BACP-accredited psychotherapist with over a decade of clinical experience, offering a warm, collaborative space for adults seeking meaningful change. My practice is informed by an MSc and a breadth of specialist training, allowing me to support clients through a diverse range of challenges including anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, addiction, and complex trauma. As a British Punjabi Sikh therapist, I bring a unique depth to my work, carefully considering the intersections of culture, race, faith, and identity. My expertise spans individual and online therapy, where I integrate modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and Somatic Therapy to meet your specific needs. Whether we are navigating life transitions, relationship dynamics, or professional burnout, my aim is to facilitate genuine understanding. I am committed to providing an inclusive, non-judgemental environment where you can explore your personal history and current experiences to foster lasting emotional growth and wellbeing.

EnglishHindiPunjabi+1
From £120 /session
£1 Discovery Call
Hasina Sarwari
Easy Booking
Woman London BridgeOnline via Google Meet

Dr Hasina SarwariClinical Psychologist

DClinPsy · EMDR · EFT · BSc17+ years of experience

I am a HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist with seventeen years of experience supporting teenagers, adults, seniors, and couples across London and beyond. My practice is built upon a foundation of extensive clinical training, including a DClinPsy, and a diverse range of evidence-based modalities. I have cultivated a broad breadth of expertise, assisting clients with challenges ranging from anxiety, burnout, and PTSD to chronic pain, body image concerns, and complex life transitions. By integrating specialist approaches such as EMDR, EFT, IFS, and somatic therapy alongside traditional frameworks like CBT, ACT, and DBT, I provide a sophisticated, bespoke therapeutic experience. Whether working with individuals, couples, or adolescents, my focus remains on fostering deep, enduring change. I offer a professional, empathetic space where we can navigate your specific circumstances with clinical rigour and human understanding, helping you move towards a more grounded and authentic way of living.

English
From £200 /session
£1 Discovery Call
Sarah Jane Sellors
WomanOnline via Zoom

I am an HCPC-registered Integrative Arts Psychotherapist with seven years of clinical experience supporting adults, teenagers, and children. My practice is built upon a relational foundation, providing a confidential space for clients to explore their challenges at their own pace. Drawing on a diverse toolkit—including psychodynamic, attachment-based, and cognitive behavioural therapies, alongside Gestalt and narrative approaches—I provide bespoke support for a wide range of needs. My professional background spans the NHS, education, and public services, where I have developed a deep understanding of the pressures inherent in modern life. I possess particular expertise in supporting clients through neurodivergence, bereavement, life transitions, and workplace burnout, as well as recovery from trauma and domestic abuse. By integrating my background in art therapy with traditional counselling, I offer a flexible, human-centred environment that encourages curiosity and genuine connection, helping you navigate complex experiences and personal growth.

English
From £100 /session
£1 Discovery Call
Stefan Eason
ManOnline via Zoom

Mr Stefan EasonPsychotherapist

PGDip5+ years of experience

I am a BABCP-accredited psychotherapist with over five years of clinical experience, including extensive work within the NHS. My practice is dedicated to providing evidence-based support for adults navigating a range of challenges, including depression, generalised anxiety, health anxiety, OCD, and PTSD. I hold a PGDip in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and specialise in delivering both CBT and EMDR therapy, which allows me to address complex symptoms such as panic attacks, phobias, and the impact of past trauma. In addition to my clinical work, I am committed to providing inclusive, LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy, ensuring a supportive space for all my clients. Whether you are dealing with grief and bereavement, perfectionism, or persistent low self-esteem, I offer a professional, tailored approach to help you navigate your difficulties. I work primarily through online therapy, providing accessible, high-quality care designed to help you understand your experiences and develop the tools needed for lasting change.

English
From £85 /session
£1 Discovery Call
Clare Drea
Easy Booking
Woman King's CrossOnline via Zoom

Dr Clare DreaClinical Psychologist

BSc · MSc · DClinPsy · PGDip13+ years of experience

I am a Clinical Psychologist with over 13 years experience. I work with successful and accomplished individuals who may internally struggle with confidence, performance anxiety, low mood, relationship problems and trauma. I tend to work at depth, beneath the thinking mind to access emotions stored in the body, nervous system and subconscious. This is where long standing problems and patterns can genuinely be resolved. I use a combination of modalities including Brainspotting which is an advanced brain-body therapy that helps process and release trauma and stress held in the nervous system.

English
From £175 /session

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Resources

Curated external support

These resources offer credible clinical data and further insights to supplement your therapeutic journey.

Questions people often ask about depression counselling

These are some of the most common questions people ask before starting depression therapy in London.

How do I know if this is depression and not just stress or burnout?

Stress and burnout can overlap with depression, but depression usually brings a more persistent sense of heaviness, numbness, hopelessness or loss of pleasure that does not lift properly with rest alone. You may notice that even small tasks feel effortful, your confidence drops, or you stop engaging with people and routines that normally matter to you. A first session helps clarify the pattern rather than forcing you to label it on your own.

What happens in the first depression counselling session?

The first session usually looks at how low mood is affecting your day-to-day life, including sleep, energy, motivation, concentration, work, relationships and your sense of hope. Your therapist will also ask about recent changes, longer-term patterns and any past episodes so they can understand what may be driving the depression rather than treating every low mood in the same way. You do not need to have everything worked out before you come; the first session is there to create clarity and a practical starting point.

How much does depression counselling cost in London?

Session costs vary by therapist, format and whether you choose online or in-person care. Many clinicians on Mind a Porter offer a £1 discovery call, and you can see the fee for a specific therapist before you book a full appointment. If you want to use private insurance, we can help you check whether a therapist is recognised by your provider and whether pre-authorisation is needed.

Can therapy help if I am still functioning on the outside?

Yes. Many people who seek depression counselling are still going to work, parenting or managing responsibilities, but they feel flat, exhausted or disconnected underneath it all. High-functioning depression can still be serious, and therapy can help before the strain becomes even harder to hide or recover from.

Can I do depression therapy online or alongside medical support?

Yes. Online therapy works well for many people, especially when energy is low or travel feels too much, and it can sit alongside support from your GP or psychiatrist where relevant. Therapy focuses on the emotional, behavioural and relational side of recovery, while medical input can be helpful for risk assessment, medication decisions or wider health monitoring.

When should I seek therapy for depression?

It is worth considering therapy when depression is becoming persistent, distressing, or harder to manage on your own, especially if it is affecting work, relationships, sleep, confidence, or day-to-day functioning. You do not need to wait until things feel severe before asking for support. Early therapy can help you understand what is driving the pattern, reduce symptoms sooner, and decide whether focused online treatment, in-person therapy in London, or a broader clinical review is the most appropriate next step.

This page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are concerned about depression, please speak with a qualified therapist or your GP. In a crisis, call 999 or Samaritans on 116 123.

The right therapist for Depression Therapy
is worth finding

Connect with a specialist today to begin your recovery. We are here to support you in rebuilding your life with compassion, structure, and clinical expertise.

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