Counselling in Brighton & Hove

I’m Simon Buckland, an accredited BACP counsellor. I work with adults one-to-one (£70) or in couples (£100) in person and online.

Handling Depression

Depression’s a natural response.

But it can leave you feeling drained, joyless and disconnected. It may arise when prolonged pressure or difficult emotions become overwhelming, causing you to shut down.

A drawing of a person sitting on a rocky shore, looking at the sunset over the ocean.

Depression in many ways is the other face of anxiety – that’s why they so often go together.

When you’re anxious, your system is hyper-aroused; when you’re depressed it’s as if you’ve used up all your energy, all your enthusiasm, all your joie de vivre, and you’re living in black and white.

It’s essentially a healthy, natural response of your organism to too much pressure, too much arousal, too much excitement even. It’s as if your system needed a reset, so you partially shut down.

It’s also an example of a natural post-traumatic reaction.

Depression very often goes with suppressing emotions that feel threatening, such as anger, or fear - or even joy.

The effort of not displaying, or even letting ourselves feel, these emotions can lead us to partially shut down. 

I’ll work with you in two ways to help you to handle depression:

  1. To explore lifestyle changes that can reduce the intensity and frequency of depressive episodes, and to recover from them more quickly.

  2. To understand the origins of your depression: how you’re partially suppressing your own vitality, and how to allow ‘the real you’ to come forward more, so as to live a richer and more satisfying life.

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I trained in humanistic and integrative counselling with the Psychosynthesis Trust, London, in Relationship Counselling  with Relate, and in sexuality and intimacy work with Jan Day.

I've also done a great deal of my own personal development and self-exploration over the years.

I've been practicing as a counsellor since 2014, working with couples and individuals of all ages, from late teens to over-70s.

You'll find me patient, warm, non-judgemental, and a good listener. And wherever we go on our journey together, it's likely that I've been there myself at some point - which makes me an able and reliable guide.

The Therapy Process

How we work together

Together, we pause to consider your goals, hopes, and direction. This is about aligning with yourself and with the journey ahead.

This is a chance to connect with what brought you here—your questions, your hopes, your turning points—and work to build your desired future.

We can work face to face if you live near Brighton or Hove, or online if you prefer, using Zoom, Teams, or any platform of your choice.

My fee is £70 per 50-minute one-to-one session (£100 for couples).

Phone Consultation

You get a feel for how it is to work together and we plan a way forward.

Subsequent Sessions

We push forward, building your understanding and coping strategies.

We spend time identifying the key issues that you’d like to work on.

Trial Session

We will know when you have become confident and self-reliant.

Completion
Commitment

I will continue to be available as long as you find it helpful.

  • "Thank you for all your time and effort with us both together and separately to date, Simon. We have had plenty to consider and put into action going forwards."

    A. F. and R. F., London

  • "Many thanks for this year. You are a source of calm and clarity!"

    R. B., London

  • "You have been a great support and I think I have a good foundation to cope with and strengthen my family relationships."

    F. J., London

  • "I am in a much better place emotionally now."

    K. P., London

Free Phone Consultation

Text or call me on 07557 509 988, or email me, or use the form below to arrange a free 20-minute consultation or if you have any questions.

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