There's a particular kind of conversation that keeps appearing in therapy. Someone describes months of feeling flat, disconnected from things they used to enjoy, exhausted by effort that used to be effortless. They've been getting through the days, meeting their responsibilities, appearing fine to most people around them.

"But I don't know if what I'm experiencing counts as depression," they say. "It's not like I can't get out of bed."

Depression has a PR problem. The public image—curtains drawn, unable to function, visibly suffering—is the acute end of a wide spectrum. Most depression doesn't look like that. It looks like someone who keeps up with everything but feels like they're doing it through glass. Someone who can laugh at something funny but doesn't carry the joy with them afterward. Someone who doesn't see the point of things, but can't point to a single reason why.

If you're somewhere on that spectrum and you're looking for depression therapy in London, this guide is for you.

TL;DR: Key Takeaways

Depression exists on a spectrum—you don't need to be non-functional to benefit from therapy
Humanistic therapy treats depression differently to CBT: it explores the meaning and roots of low mood, not just the thought patterns
Finding a depression therapist in London is best done through BACP, Counselling Directory, or NHS referral if waiting times are manageable
Private therapy is typically £70–£130 per session in London; concessions and block discounts are available
Recovery from depression through therapy is gradual—but client-led, humanistic approaches tend to produce durable change

Understanding Depression: What Are We Actually Talking About?

Depression is a clinical term covering a range of experiences, from mild-to-moderate low mood that impairs quality of life without preventing function, through to severe depressive episodes requiring intensive support and sometimes medication.

In clinical diagnosis, significant depression typically involves:

Persistent low mood lasting most of the day, most days, for at least two weeks
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that previously felt meaningful (anhedonia)
Fatigue, low energy, slowed thinking
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Changed sleep patterns (often early-morning waking, or alternatively sleeping too much)
Changed appetite (often reduced, sometimes increased)
Feelings of worthlessness, excessive self-criticism, or inappropriate guilt
In severe cases, thoughts of death or self-harm

What's important to note: you don't need all of these, and you don't need them to be overwhelming, to benefit from therapeutic support. Mild-to-moderate depression responds particularly well to therapy, and intervening early rather than waiting for things to worsen is consistently supported by the evidence.

Depression and the Story Beneath It

One of the things that distinguishes humanistic therapy from more symptom-focused approaches is its interest in what depression is communicating.

Depression—particularly when it has a gradual, pervasive character rather than a sudden onset—often reflects something meaningful about a person's life: a drift away from what they value, a relationship that isn't working, work that conflicts with their sense of themselves, accumulated grief that hasn't been processed, or a long-standing pattern of suppressing needs and emotions in order to function.

This doesn't mean the depression isn't real, or that you should be able to think your way out of it. It means that understanding the context of depression—not just alleviating the symptoms—tends to produce more durable change.

Different Approaches to Depression Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is the approach most widely recommended by NICE guidelines for depression, and most NHS-funded psychological therapy (through IAPT, now known as NHS Talking Therapies) takes a CBT orientation.

CBT works by identifying and challenging negative automatic thoughts—the interpretations and predictions that maintain and worsen depressive states. It's structured, relatively short-term (typically 12–20 sessions), and has a solid evidence base for mild-to-moderate depression.

What CBT does less well: for people whose depression is rooted in relational patterns, identity questions, or long-standing issues, addressing the thought level without exploring what's underneath can produce improvement that doesn't fully last.

Humanistic and Person-Centred Therapy

Humanistic approaches treat depression differently. Rather than identifying faulty thinking patterns, they ask: what is this low mood about? What has this person's life been denying them? What has been suppressed, unacknowledged, or unprocessed?

Carl Rogers' concept of incongruence is particularly relevant to depression: the gap between who we actually are—our genuine values, needs, and feelings—and the self-image we've been required to maintain. This gap is exhausting to sustain, and depression is often, in part, the psyche's response to that exhaustion.

From this perspective, therapy isn't primarily about challenging thoughts. It's about helping someone reconnect with themselves—their authentic experience, their genuine values, their unmet needs—in a relationship that is safe enough to allow that reconnection to happen.

Integrative Approaches

Many therapists working with depression draw on multiple modalities. A therapist trained in person-centred work might incorporate CBT techniques for specific thought patterns, Transactional Analysis for understanding relational scripts that contribute to depression, or mindfulness-based approaches where body awareness supports emotional processing.

The evidence for integrative approaches to depression is positive, and many clients—particularly those who've tried CBT and found it helpful but incomplete—report that integrative humanistic therapy goes further.

NHS vs. Private Depression Therapy in London

NHS Talking Therapies (formerly IAPT)

NHS Talking Therapies provides government-funded psychological therapy, primarily CBT-based, for mild-to-moderate depression and anxiety. You can self-refer without a GP appointment through the NHS Talking Therapies website.

Advantages: Free at the point of use; no need for a GP referral.

Limitations: Waiting times in London vary significantly—typically four to sixteen weeks, sometimes longer in high-demand areas. The approach is primarily CBT-based and relatively structured, which works very well for some people but not for everyone. Session numbers are limited (typically 12–20).

GP Referral to Secondary Care

For moderate-to-severe depression, your GP may refer to secondary mental health services. This pathway is appropriate when symptoms are severe or when there are risk concerns, but waiting times can be substantial and availability is limited.

Private Depression Therapy in London

Private therapy is more immediately accessible and offers a wider range of approaches and therapists.

What to expect to pay: £70–£130 per session for an experienced, BACP-accredited therapist in London. Some therapists offer concessions for students, trainees, or those on lower incomes. Block booking discounts—five or ten sessions at a reduced rate—are available from some practitioners.

Session format: Typically 50 minutes, once a week. As therapy progresses, some clients move to fortnightly sessions.

What you can access: The full range of therapeutic approaches, and therapists who specialise specifically in depression. Online therapy is widely available and extends your options geographically.

Finding a Depression Therapist in London

BACP Therapist Directory

The BACP's Find a Therapist tool lets you filter by specialism (depression) and location. SW London has a solid density of private practitioners, accessible from Fulham, Putney, Chelsea, Wandsworth, and neighbouring areas.

Counselling Directory

Counselling Directory (counselling-directory.org.uk) allows detailed searching by condition, approach, and location, with therapist profiles that include qualifications, fees, and a personal statement about their work.

Psychology Today UK

Psychology Today's UK therapist directory includes detailed profiles and often a short video from the therapist, which can help you get a feel for their approach and personality before making contact.

What to Look for

Professional accreditation: BACP member or accredited, UKCP registered, or equivalent. This indicates minimum training standards and ethical accountability.

Experience with depression specifically: Many therapists work broadly with common mental health difficulties; those with specific experience of depression—particularly longer-standing or treatment-resistant low mood—may offer more tailored support.

Theoretical approach: Consider whether CBT's structured, thought-focused approach appeals to you, or whether a more exploratory humanistic approach feels like a better fit. Be honest with yourself about this—the approach that matches your own way of processing matters.

The first conversation: Most therapists offer a brief initial consultation. Notice how you feel speaking to them. Do you feel genuinely heard? Is there warmth alongside professionalism? Can you imagine being honest with this person? These things matter more than you might expect.

What Depression Therapy Looks Like

The Early Sessions

In the first few sessions, a therapist working with depression will spend time understanding your experience. Not just the symptoms, but the context: how long has this been going on? Has anything shifted recently, or has it been gradual? What's happening in your life—work, relationships, purpose? What have you tried? What's helped, even a little?

This isn't just information-gathering. It's the beginning of the therapeutic relationship, and in humanistic work, the quality of that relationship is where change begins.

The Middle Phase

As therapy progresses, themes emerge. Perhaps a pattern of self-criticism that has historical roots. Perhaps a relationship in which significant needs are being suppressed. Perhaps a drift from something that used to feel meaningful. Perhaps grief—for a person, a relationship, a version of life—that hasn't been fully processed.

This phase can feel destabilising before it feels clarifying. Going toward what's difficult rather than managing the surface level of depression takes courage, and there will often be sessions that leave you with more questions than answers. This is normal and, paradoxically, often a sign that meaningful work is happening.

The Later Phase: Integration and Change

Towards the later stages of therapy for depression, clients typically report: a greater sense of self-understanding, less inner conflict, reduced self-criticism, improved capacity to identify and express needs, and a renewed (if sometimes tentative) sense of what matters to them.

Depression rarely lifts all at once. It usually eases gradually, in stages, and often requires attention to lifestyle factors (sleep, movement, social connection, alcohol) alongside the therapeutic work.

Expert Perspective: "Depression is often the mind's way of saying: something here is not sustainable. The work of therapy isn't to get the person back to where they were before—sometimes that's exactly where the problem began. It's to help them find a way of living that's genuinely more congruent with who they are." — Dr Laura Muir, BACP-accredited counsellor and psychotherapist

Supporting Yourself Alongside Therapy

Therapy doesn't exist in isolation, and depression responds to lifestyle factors as well as psychological work. This isn't about adding pressure—the last thing you need when depressed is another expectation you can't meet. But gradually:

Movement helps, even when it's the last thing you want. Even a ten-minute walk has measurable effects on mood. Outdoor movement—including walking therapy, where some therapists accompany clients outdoors—combines physical and psychological benefit.

Social connection matters, even when isolation feels more manageable. The company of a trusted person—not to talk about depression necessarily, but simply to be with—counteracts the withdrawal that depression encourages.

Alcohol makes it worse. It's a depressant, it disrupts sleep, and it offers temporary relief that compounds the underlying difficulty. Reducing or removing it often has a more significant effect on mood than people expect.

Sleep regularity—maintaining consistent wake times even when you haven't slept well—supports the circadian rhythms that influence mood.

FAQs: Depression Therapy in London

Should I also consider antidepressants? For moderate-to-severe depression, the research supports combining therapy with antidepressant medication. The combination tends to produce better outcomes than either alone. If your depression is significantly impairing your function, speak to your GP about whether medication might support the therapy work. Therapy and medication are not in competition—they serve different mechanisms.

How long will therapy for depression take? For mild-to-moderate depression, many people experience significant improvement in 12–20 sessions of regular weekly therapy. More longstanding or complex depression may require longer. Humanistic therapy tends not to be strictly time-limited—length is determined by the client's progress and needs rather than a predetermined number of sessions.

Can I start therapy while I'm on a waiting list for NHS treatment? Yes. Private therapy and NHS therapy aren't mutually exclusive—if you can access private therapy while waiting, that's worthwhile. If you're offered NHS therapy while already in private therapy, you can discuss with your therapist whether to continue privately, transfer, or run both simultaneously.

What if I've tried therapy before and it didn't help? Therapy working is significantly dependent on the therapeutic approach and the specific relationship with the therapist. CBT, for example, doesn't work for everyone. If previous therapy didn't help, it's worth considering whether a different approach might—and being explicit with a new therapist about what hasn't worked before.

Is online therapy as effective for depression as in-person? For mild-to-moderate depression, the evidence suggests comparable outcomes. For severe depression or where there are safety concerns, in-person therapy allows closer monitoring and a clearer sense of how someone is actually presenting. If you're dealing with significant low mood, raising this with your therapist to decide together on the most appropriate format is advisable.

Annabel is a BACP-registered humanistic counsellor working with depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, and personal growth. She offers in-person therapy from a private room in Fulham, SW London, and online sessions via Zoom. Book a free 15-minute consultation to talk about what's going on and explore whether working together might help.

Depression Therapy in London: Finding Local Support for Low Mood