Depression Counselling in Canterbury
Find Space, Support, and Hope.
If life feels heavy, your mood is persistently low, or the activities you once enjoyed now seem unappealing, you might be experiencing depression. It is more than just "feeling sad"—depression can impact every aspect of your life, making even simple tasks feel overwhelming.
At The Pickle Jar Therapy Practice, we understand how isolating this experience can be. We offer a supportive, confidential, and non-judgmental space for you to explore these feelings, understand their roots, and work towards rediscovering a sense of meaning and engagement with life.
Request an Initial Assessment
What Does Depression Feel Like?
Depression manifests differently for everyone, but it often involves a persistent shadow that is hard to shake. You might recognise some of these experiences in your own life:
Emotional Numbness:
A feeling of emptiness, hopelessness, or just "going through the motions."
Loss of Spark:
Hobbies, socialising, or interests that used to bring joy now feel draining or pointless.
Physical Changes:
Significant shifts in your sleep (sleeping too much or too little) or appetite.
The Inner Critic:
Feelings of worthlessness, excessive guilt, or a constant internal voice of self-blame.
Isolation:
Pulling away from friends and family because connecting feels too difficult.
Important: If you are experiencing recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, please do not wait. Visit our Urgent Help page or contact emergency services (999) immediately.
How Can Counselling Help with Depression?
Therapy provides a vital lifeline when you feel stuck. It is a dedicated environment where you do not have to "put on a brave face." Together, we can:
- Explore Without Judgement: Talk openly about your darkest thoughts and feelings in a space that is safe and accepting.
- Understand the Roots: Gently uncover potential triggers, past events, or underlying patterns that may be contributing to your low mood.
- Rebuild Self-Compassion: Work on silencing the inner critic and cultivating a kinder, more understanding relationship with yourself.
- Find a Path Forward: We help you build resilience and develop personalised strategies to cope with difficult emotions and prevent relapse.
Compassionate and Integrative Support
At The Pickle Jar, we recognise that your experience of depression is unique to you. We do not use a "one-size-fits-all" model. Instead, we use an Integrative Approach, blending evidence-based techniques to suit your personality and needs.
Our work is grounded in Compassionate Care and may include:
Relational Connection
Depression can be lonely. We prioritise building a trusting, empathetic relationship where you feel truly seen and heard. This connection often forms the foundation of recovery.
Exploring Your Story
Where appropriate, we may gently look at past experiences or unmet needs (sometimes called inner child work) to help heal old wounds that are affecting your present.
Practical Engagement
We may use creative methods or practical tools to help you process stuck emotions and gradually re-engage with the world at a pace that feels safe for you.
Is This Right for You?
Our depression therapy services in Canterbury are designed for both adults and teenagers. You do not need a formal diagnosis to seek help. We support individuals experiencing:
- Persistent low mood or sadness.
- Diagnosed mild, moderate, or severe depression.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
- Depression linked to grief, loss, or significant life changes.
- Postnatal depression.
- A general sense of being "stuck" or lacking motivation.
Request Your Initial Assessment
Acknowledging you need help is a significant and courageous first step. We are here to make the next part of the process as smooth as possible.
How to Request an Appointment
Because we take care to match you with the therapist best suited to your needs, we do not use an automated booking calendar.
- Click the button below to complete our secure New Client Intake.
- We will personally review your details to ensure we are the right fit for you.
- We will email you directly (usually within 48 hours) to arrange a specific time for your Initial Assessment.