If life has felt flat, heavy or exhausting for a while, you don’t have to work it out on your own. I offer depression counselling in Bolton for adults experiencing depression or persistent low mood, either at Douglas House or online across the UK.
You don’t need a diagnosis or the right words to explain how you feel. We can start with how things are for you now.
Low mood and depression
Low mood isn’t always obvious, even to the person living with it. It can build slowly, and many people manage for a long time before they say anything. People describe things like:
You don’t have to tick every box, and you don’t have to wait until things feel bad enough. Many people worry they’d be taking up a counsellor’s time when someone else has it worse. If this has been going on for a while and is affecting everyday life, it’s reasonable to look for support. Low mood and anxiety often go together too, and if worry is the bigger part of the picture, anxiety counselling may be a better starting point.
If you need help now: call 999 in an emergency, NHS 111 (mental health option) if you feel very distressed, or Samaritans free on 116 123. More about urgent help
Who you’ll be talking to
I’m a BACP-registered counsellor and psychotherapist (MBACP 414595). I trained in counselling and Transactional Analysis at South Manchester Centre for Psychotherapy, and I see adults in Bolton, online and outdoors. I’ll go at a pace that feels manageable for you. When you get in touch I reply personally, and the free introductory call is with me.
Andrea’s perspective
“…your therapist is there to listen, to hold you in that moment, to validate your feelings.”Andrea Long
I don’t think low mood has a single cause. BACP notes that it can follow life changes, a difficult relationship or a loss, and sometimes there’s no clear reason at all. You don’t need to know why you feel this way to begin.
I think people often reach out when they no longer have the tools and resources to deal with what everyday life brings. They fall back on old patterns of behaviour and realise those patterns aren’t helping them now. That can contribute to low mood, and counselling gives you space to explore all of this.
My approach is Transactional Analysis (TA), which looks at how our experiences have shaped the way we think, feel and react today. I introduce its ideas gradually, in plain English, only when they help make sense of what you’re describing. If your low mood followed a loss, you may also want to read about counselling after a bereavement.
In sessions
There’s no set order, and what we do depends on what you bring. Sessions may involve some of the following.
You don’t need a prepared account. We can begin with how this week has been, or with an ordinary moment from today. Even a small one can say a lot.
Low mood often brings pressure to look fine or to cheer up. Here you can say how it really is. I listen, take your feelings seriously and go at a pace that feels manageable.
Together we can look at what may sit behind how you feel, whether that’s an event, a loss or a pattern that has run for years. There’s no pressure to look at anything before you’re ready.
There’s no script and no fixed number of sessions. How many you have depends on what you’d like to work on, and we can talk about it on the introductory call.
The free introductory call is partly for me to listen for what you’re hoping for. The relationship between us matters, and you need to be able to trust the person you’re talking to for the space to feel safe. If it doesn’t feel right, there’s no obligation to book. You can read more in what to expect from counselling.
Progress
Low mood rarely lifts in a straight line, and I can’t promise any particular result. When counselling helps, over time people often find they:
Your options
Counselling is one route among several, and none is better than the others. They suit different people at different times, and some people prefer to choose their own counsellor and format.
If you’re already seeing your GP or taking medication, you’re welcome to tell me on the call and we can talk about how counselling might fit around that.
If you need help now. I’m not an emergency or crisis service. If there’s an immediate risk to your life, or you don’t feel you can keep yourself safe, call 999 or go to A&E. If you feel mentally unsafe or very distressed, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option. Samaritans are free on 116 123, day or night. More about urgent help on the NHS website
A first step
You don’t need to make a big decision now. The free introductory call is a chance to tell me a little about what’s happening, ask any questions and see whether working together feels right.
Prefer to start with a message? WhatsApp me
Ways to meet
In person · Bolton BL1
A private, quiet room at Douglas House on Belmont Road, with free parking nearby. Press button 3 when you arrive.
Anywhere in the UK
On days when going out feels like a lot, online sessions let you start from somewhere familiar, at the same £50 fee.
Explore online sessionsOutdoors
Some people find it easier to talk side by side than face to face. We agree a location in advance, weather permitting.
Explore walking sessionsQuestions
For general questions about starting counselling, see what to expect.
No. You don’t need a diagnosis, a GP letter or the right word for how you feel. If low mood is affecting your everyday life, that’s enough to get in touch. Only a GP or another healthcare professional can diagnose depression, so if you’ve felt low most of the day, every day, for more than two weeks, it’s worth speaking to your GP as well.
Yes. You can contact me directly, with no referral needed. You can also refer yourself online to Bolton Talking Therapies, the free NHS service for people aged 16 and over in Bolton. One isn’t better than the other; they suit different people.
You’re welcome to tell me if you’re seeing your GP or taking medication, and we can talk about how counselling might fit around that. Medication is a decision for you and your GP; it isn’t something I advise on.
There isn’t one approach that suits everyone. Some people prefer something structured and skills-based; others want space to understand what sits behind how they feel. I offer Transactional Analysis, which looks at how earlier experiences shape the way you think, feel and react now. The introductory call can help you decide whether that feels right for you.
The number of sessions varies depending on what you would like to work on. We can discuss this during the introductory call.
Yes. Online sessions are available to adults anywhere in the UK, at the same £50 fee as face-to-face sessions. More about Online Counselling
You don’t have to wait for counselling to get help. Counselling isn’t an emergency or crisis service, so if you need support urgently, please don’t wait for a reply from me. If there’s an immediate risk to your life, or you don’t feel you can keep yourself safe, call 999 or go to A&E. If you feel mentally unsafe or very distressed, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option; it’s free and available 24 hours a day. You can also call Samaritans free on 116 123, day or night, or text SHOUT to 85258 if talking feels too much.
Getting started
Send me a WhatsApp message to arrange a free introductory call. A sentence is plenty, and I’ll reply personally.
Douglas House, 196 Belmont Road, Bolton BL1 7ARPress button 3 when you arrive. Free parking around the building.