UKCP Psychotherapist · Therapeutic Coach
Persistent low mood, low motivation and self-criticism are treatable. I offer CBT-informed and psychodynamic therapy for depression, in person in London or online across the UK.
Planned support, not crisis care
Years of experience
Depression is often misread as simply feeling low, or a sadness that should pass on its own. Lived day to day it is heavier and more stubborn than that, and it rarely lifts with positive thinking or the passing of time alone.
If any of this sounds familiar, it does not mean something is wrong with you. It means the low mood has become self-reinforcing, and that is exactly the kind of pattern therapy is built to interrupt.
Getting through the day takes everything I have, and I still feel like I am failing
I have stopped enjoying the things that used to matter to me.
I am exhausted, but I cannot sleep, and mornings are the hardest part.
The self-criticism is constant, and it sounds completely reasonable from the inside.
Client examples are anonymised or composite.
Book a free 20-minute initial consultation. No commitment. Just a conversation about where you are and whether we’re the right fit.
Low mood that does not lift often needs steady, personalised therapy. Here is how that care is structured in this practice.
| What matters | This practice · UKCP psychotherapist | Other common models |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation | UKCP-registered and accountable to a professional body. | May follow different professional frameworks or organizational guidelines. |
| Clinical depth | CBT-informed and psychodynamic, working with root causes. | May focus on specific techniques, self-help tools, or modular skills. |
| One named clinician | You see the same psychotherapist every session. | Some services use rotating teams or app-allocated practitioners. |
| Personalised | Therapy shaped around your history and goals. | Often follows structured, fixed-curriculum programmes. |
| Alongside your care | Coordinates with your GP or psychiatrist, with consent. | Typically operates independently of GP or psychiatric care. |
Depression is a complex condition, and knowing what you are dealing with is the first step towards recovery. These are the areas we make sense of together.
A mood disorder marked by persistent low mood and loss of interest, affecting an estimated 280 million people worldwide (WHO, 2023). It rarely lifts with positive thinking or time alone, which is why active treatment matters.
Everyone experiences depression differently. Common signs include persistent low mood, loss of interest, fatigue and low motivation, changes to sleep and appetite, difficulty concentrating, harsh self-criticism and a sense of hopelessness.
Most diagnoses fall under a few types, including major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), seasonal patterns and postnatal depression. Naming the type shapes the treatment plan.
Causes are biological, psychological and environmental. Recent research frames it less as a simple chemical imbalance and more as altered activity across brain regions (Harvard Health, 2022). Chronic stress, low self-esteem, trauma and financial or work pressure can all trigger or deepen it.
Yes. Depression is a treatable condition, not a permanent state. With the right support, including therapy and lifestyle change, many people see meaningful improvement. Early and consistent care makes a real difference.
Therapy builds coping skills and resilience, and helps identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. CBT is widely used in depression counselling in London, while psychodynamic therapy addresses deeper emotional patterns alongside practical day-to-day tools.
There is no single fix for depression. I combine approaches, matched to what is keeping your low mood in place, so the work is both practical and deep.
We build a clear picture of the thoughts, behaviours and circumstances feeding the low mood, so the work has a focus from the start.
CBT-informed tools and behavioural activation help you recognise and shift unhelpful patterns, and re-engage with what matters to you.
Psychodynamic therapy makes space for suppressed emotion and long-standing patterns that keep depression returning.
We review progress regularly and plan for relapse prevention, so the gains hold beyond the sessions.
Before starting therapy with Sabbir, I couldn’t bring myself to do my daily tasks, I felt isolated and glued to my bed, barely able to leave my room. Working with Sabbir completely changed that experience. Over time, I started spending more time with my loved ones and focusing on my goals.
Graduate student
Over the past year, Sabbir has supported me through some of the most challenging experiences of my life. He taught me how to deal with losing a loved one, cope with the uncertainties of the future, and heal from a troubled past.
International student
I am deeply grateful for Sabbir’s profound positive impact on my life. His unique approach, coupled with the safe and supportive space he creates, has been truly transformative. Over the past two years, his guidance has helped me grow in confidence, heal from deep trauma, and embrace self-acceptance. Thanks to Sabbir, I feel empowered to live authentically and to build the life I’ve always dreamed of for myself and my family.
Product professional
Transparent private fees. You can book a free 20-minute call to discuss what you need.
Starting from
£195
Coaching, if that is ever the better fit, is from £350. Full details are on the coaching fees page.
Studied CBT at King's College London
I am Sabbir Ahmed, a UKCP-registered psychotherapist. I completed clinical training at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust and studied CBT at King’s College London. I work with depression from consulting rooms in Harley Street and City Road, and online across the UK.
I work with depression steadily and without rushing the harder parts of the work. You see the same clinician throughout, in person in London or online across the UK.
Questions about depression therapy.
If low mood, loss of interest or exhaustion have lasted most days for more than two weeks and are affecting your work, sleep or relationships, it is worth taking seriously. A low patch tends to lift on its own, whereas depression usually does not. We can think it through together on a free 20-minute initial consultation, and I will be honest if I am not the right fit.
Both, matched to you. CBT-informed work and behavioural activation help with the thought and behaviour patterns that keep low mood going, while psychodynamic work addresses longer-standing emotional patterns, such as suppressed emotion. Many people benefit from a blend of the two.
Yes. Therapy works well alongside medication, and many people combine the two. I am not able to prescribe or adjust medication, so your GP or psychiatrist stays in charge of that, and with your consent I am happy to coordinate.
It varies, and I cannot promise a timeline. Many people notice some shift within the first 6 to 12 sessions, and I review progress every few sessions so the work keeps a clear shape rather than drifting open-ended.
Yes. I see people online by secure video anywhere in the UK, with the same clinician and approach as in the room. In person, I work from 96 Harley Street and 335 City Road in Angel.
I do not work through insurance providers. Paying directly ensures complete privacy and flexibility in our session planning.
My practice is planned support, not an emergency service. If you are in crisis right now, call the Samaritans free, 24/7, on 116 123, or call 999 in an emergency. Once you are safe and stable, I am here for the longer-term work.
In person at 96 Harley Street, in London’s medical district, a few minutes from Oxford Circus and Bond Street, or at 335 City Road in Angel, a short walk from Angel station. Or online, wherever you are in the UK, with the same clinician either way.
Harley Street: 96 Harley Street, London W1G 7HY
London City Road: 335 City Rd, London EC1V 1LJ (Angel)
Online: Secure video sessions UK-wide and globally
