Bromley · online by video, with the Hove room for occasional sessions
Depression counselling for Bromley
Depression counselling with me is for Bromley adults who have lost the colour in things: people who keep going to work and answering messages yet feel very little, and people who stopped managing even that some weeks ago. We meet by secure video, so getting to a session asks no more of you than switching on a screen.
If you are thinking about ending your life, call 999 or the Samaritans free on 116 123, day or night. More urgent help is on this page.
The practical facts for Bromley
- Where sessions happen
- A private room at Intergen House, 65-67 Western Road, Hove BN3 2JQ, or secure video.
- From Bromley by car
- About 75 minutes with clear roads (50.3 miles); longer at busy times.
- By train
- From Bromley South, change at London Victoria for trains towards Brighton and Hove.
- Free NHS talking therapy
- NHS Bromley Talking Therapies, 0300 003 3000
- Fees
- £80 for 60 minutes, £100 for 90, £120 for 120. The first 15-minute call is free.
- Registration
- BACP registered member, no. 109340 (check the register); UKCP student member in advanced psychotherapy training.
When the things you loved stop pulling you in
Loss of interest is often one of the first things people notice, and in Bromley it can show up in very particular places.
The season ticket for Hayes Lane goes unused, and you tell yourself you'll go next week. You stop booking anything at the Churchill Theatre. A wander round the Charter Market becomes something you skip, then something you can't imagine bothering with. You might still go to Bromley Central Library, only to sit among people without having to speak to anyone. Depression can arrive after a loss, a long illness or years of exhaustion, or with no reason you can point to, which can be the hardest part to explain. Often it shows up as heaviness: sleep that doesn't refresh you, and a voice that says it's all your own fault. None of that needs to be put into neat words before you get in touch.
Working with flatness, one week at a time
When you're low, even arranging a session can take more than you have, so the first weeks ask very little. We start by mapping an ordinary week: when you wake, what you eat, who you see, what has fallen away, and the harsh things you say to yourself in the gaps. Then we look at what may be keeping the low mood going. It might be a loss nobody gave you room to grieve, a health condition that has narrowed your life, a role that vanished, or anger that had nowhere to go. Change comes from small, realistic pieces, perhaps one short walk or one reply to a friend. I'll also ask, calmly and directly, whether you've had thoughts of harming yourself or of not wanting to be alive. If you have, we talk about keeping you safe, and the urgent help section lower down this page lists people you can reach at any hour, including the Samaritans. Antidepressants and other medication are handled by your GP, and counselling with me can carry on alongside them.
Signs of flatness in a Bromley week
Living with a long-term condition
When an illness that won't go away has shrunk your world, low mood often follows. Bromley Well supports people with long-term conditions, and our sessions can hold the emotional side.
Through the motions to Victoria
Catching the same train to Victoria or Blackfriars, getting through the day, then coming home to sit in front of a programme you aren't really watching.
Numb months after a death
When the funeral is long past and the sadness has turned into nothing much at all. Grief and depression overlap, and we can make room for both.
When it has a darker edge
If low mood has brought thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please don't wait for a session. The South London crisis WhatsApp line is on 0303 330 1511.
Free and low-cost support for Bromley
For free help, NHS Bromley Talking Therapies works with low mood and depression and takes self-referrals. For adults aged 18 to 64, the Bromley Mental Health Hub, an Oxleas NHS and South East London Mind partnership, is a single way in that points you to the service that suits you; it is a way in, not an emergency line. If a death sits underneath how you feel, Cruse Bereavement Support has a Bexley and Bromley branch.
- Free NHS talking therapyNHS Bromley Talking Therapies0300 003 3000Free NHS talking therapy for anxiety, low mood and related difficulties. You can refer yourself, with no GP referral needed.
- If drinking or drug use is part of itChange Grow Live (CGL) Bromley Drug and Alcohol Service020 8289 1999Free and confidential.
- Local organisationBromley Well (unpaid adult carers support)
- Local organisationBromley and Orpington SamaritansLocal Samaritans branch.
For gambling, the National Gambling Helpline is free, day or night, on 0808 8020 133 (NHS gambling support).
Private counselling with me can run alongside any of these; you do not have to choose one or the other.
If someone at home is hurting, threatening or controlling you, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline is free, day or night, on 0808 2000 247.
If you need urgent help now
If you need help right now, please don't wait for a session.
The South London NHS Mental Health Crisis WhatsApp Service () is another option: WhatsApp 0303 330 1511.
What people in Bromley ask before starting
Is there free NHS support for low mood and depression in Bromley?
Yes. NHS Bromley Talking Therapies covers low mood and depression at no charge, and it takes self-referrals on 0300 003 3000, no GP visit required. The Bromley Mental Health Hub is another way into NHS and Mind support for adults aged 18 to 64. Accessible Counselling and Therapy (ACT) is a local charity offering lower-cost counselling if you'd prefer that.
I'm in Bromley and have no energy at all. Is a video session realistic?
Usually, yes. There's no travel, no waiting room and nothing to dress up for, so a session can happen from the sofa or the edge of the bed. A regular time and a private space help most. If a screen ever feels too far away, say so, and we'll think together about what would make it easier.
Should I see my Bromley GP before starting counselling for depression?
You don't have to, and you needn't wait for an appointment before booking the free call with me. It is worth seeing your GP if the flatness has lasted for weeks, both to check for physical causes and to talk about whether medication might help. When we speak on the free call, I'll be clear about when a weekly slot is likely to open.
If I tell you I've thought about ending my life, what will you do?
I'll take it seriously, and I won't panic or end our work. We'll talk about how strong the thoughts are, what keeps you safe, and who else can help. Should you be in immediate danger, dial 999. The Samaritans answer on 116 123 at any hour, and the South London crisis WhatsApp line is on 0303 330 1511.
How much do sessions cost, and is the first call free?
Sessions are £80 for 60 minutes, £100 for 90 minutes and £120 for 120 minutes, the same in person in Hove or by video. The first 15-minute call is free, with no obligation to book. There is no NHS referral needed to see me privately.
Get in touch, even on a flat day
When you feel ready, a short conversation is the easiest way to see whether we are a good fit. There is no obligation.