Depression and low mood therapy in London
What is the difference between low mood and depression?
Depression is a self-maintaining loop: low mood and negative thinking pull you into withdrawal, and withdrawal removes the very things that would lift the mood. CBT interrupts it with behavioural activation, rebuilding activity and contact with what matters on schedule rather than waiting to feel like it, alongside work on the thinking. At The Lyceum, Sanah Younis, a BABCP-accredited CBT therapist, delivers this in Chiswick, Ealing and Richmond, or online. If you are in crisis, call 999 or attend A&E. A period of low mood can have many causes and depression deserves a careful assessment. Where CBT is appropriate, formulation looks at the relationship between mood, withdrawal, routine, self-criticism and the situations that may be keeping the cycle going. The agreed method is Behavioural Activation leading into Cognitive Restructuring. The work starts with manageable activity and contact with what matters, then explores the negative thinking and core beliefs that may keep withdrawal in place. Mindfulness-based CBT may be considered for relapse prevention where appropriate. How we measure progress GAD-7 alongside PHQ-9. These measures inform the clinical conversation; they do not diagnose you or reduce progress to a score. I often describe it as the 'quiet winter'. Clients arrive draped in a heavy stillness, waiting patiently for motivation to return before they re-engage with life. But depression tricks us into reversing the equation. We wait to feel better to do things, when in truth, doing things helps us feel better. I see a profound withdrawal driven by a world that has slowly shrunk. Our first step is behavioural activation, not as a demand, but as a gentle, mechanical bridge back to warmth and movement.
Practical questions
How long does CBT for depression and low mood take?
The pace and scope are set through assessment. Where focused work or a formal review is appropriate, this is agreed collaboratively rather than assumed from a page.
How much does depression and low mood therapy cost in London?
Published fees are £110 for online appointments and £140 for face-to-face sessions. Current availability, practical arrangements and funding options can be discussed before booking. View fees and funding information.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to wait until I feel motivated before starting CBT?
No. Behavioural activation is built around small, realistic actions that can begin before motivation returns. The pace and starting point are agreed through assessment.
Can CBT replace medical or psychiatric care?
No. CBT is not a substitute for medical assessment or psychiatric care when these are needed. If symptoms are severe, changing or associated with immediate risk, appropriate medical or urgent support should be sought.
What if I am in crisis?
If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or attend A&E. A therapy website cannot provide urgent crisis support.
What is behavioural activation?
Behavioural activation is a CBT approach that starts with manageable activity and contact with what matters, rather than waiting for motivation to arrive first. It can help examine the withdrawal cycle while keeping the pace realistic and agreed through assessment.
CBT or antidepressants for depression?
A therapy page cannot make an individual medication decision. CBT can be discussed as a psychological approach for low mood and depression, while medical or psychiatric care remains important when needed. Assessment can help clarify what support is appropriate.
How long does CBT for depression take?
Focused work is commonly planned over 8 to 20 sessions, with formal review every six sessions. The pace and scope depend on the person’s current pattern, safety, practical circumstances and whether further work on underlying beliefs is relevant.
What is the difference between low mood and depression?
A low mood is a temporary emotional weather system; it feels heavy, but it eventually passes without entirely stopping your routine. Depression, however, is a systemic shutdown. It involves persistent withdrawal, profound lethargy, and a harsh, self-critical inner voice that makes engaging with daily life feel like moving through concrete. Rather than reducing this to a single symptom, we collaboratively map your specific pattern of withdrawal, gently building the behavioural activation needed to help the fog lift.
Does CBT help with recurrent depression?
CBT can examine withdrawal, routine, self-criticism and negative thinking where these are relevant. Mindfulness-based CBT may also be considered for relapse prevention in some circumstances, with the focus agreed through assessment rather than promised from a page.