Depression and loss of energy
Depression is not weakness of character and not laziness. It is a condition with understandable mechanisms that can be acted on. CBT for depression is one of the most studied treatments there is.
How depression works
In depression a person stops doing the things that used to bring pleasure and a sense of meaning. The logic is understandable: there is no energy, there will be no joy, so why start. But it is precisely the withdrawal from activity that deprives the brain of its sources of reinforcement — and the mood falls further. A loop forms: fewer actions → worse mood → fewer actions still.
The second mechanism is the way of thinking. In depression not only mood changes but perception: the past looks like a chain of failures, the present meaningless, the future hopeless. These thoughts are not experienced as a symptom — they look like objective truth, finally seen without illusions.
What therapy does
Behavioural activation. We do not wait for energy and desire to appear — we start with small actions and observe how they affect your state. The order is the reverse of the familiar one: action first, motivation afterwards. This is the key tool in depression, and it works even with a marked loss of energy.
Working with thoughts. We learn to notice automatic thoughts and test them: is it really true that “I ruined everything”, “nobody needs me”, “nothing will change”. We do not talk ourselves into positive thinking — we look for facts.
Working with self-criticism. In a person with depression the inner critic often runs non-stop. Here the tools of compassion focused therapy help: not “learning to love yourself”, but learning to treat yourself the way you treat someone close to you in a difficult moment.
Relapse prevention. Depression has a tendency to return. At the end of the work we assemble your individual set of early warning signs and a plan of action for when they appear. For recurring episodes MBCT has performed well — a mindfulness-based programme developed specifically for relapse prevention.
How long it takes
Usually 16–30 sessions. The first shifts — most often in activity and sleep — are noticeable before the general feeling about life changes.
When a doctor is needed
In moderate and severe depression it is recommended to combine psychotherapy with medication: that is for a psychiatrist to decide. The combination is more effective than either method on its own.
If thoughts of suicide appear, do not wait for an appointment. Call emergency services on 112. That is not an overreaction but the right step.
The methods we use for this concern
Cognitive behavioural therapy
The most researched approach in psychotherapy. Short, focused, structured work with the connection between thoughts, emotions and behaviour.
Acceptance and commitment therapy
An approach that shifts the aim of therapy: not to get rid of unpleasant experiences, but to stop letting them run your life.
Compassion focused therapy
Paul Gilbert's approach for working with shame and inner self-criticism — where ordinary cognitive techniques do not work.
Mindfulness for depression (MBCT)
A programme developed specifically to prevent recurrent episodes of depression. It combines mindfulness practice with the tools of cognitive therapy.
Book a psychologist
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