Psychodynamic psychotherapy for depression, low mood, and emotional numbness, in Berlin and online.
Depression can feel heavy, confusing and relentless. It is not only a sadness of the mind but a weight that settles into the body and spirit. Energy slips away, motivation feels out of reach, and even simple tasks can seem overwhelming.
In depression therapy, we begin by understanding how these experiences have taken shape in your life. Rather than trying to push symptoms away, we take time to explore what may be held beneath them, the patterns, pressures, and emotional experiences that have been carried, often internally, over time.
Self-criticism: turning frustration inward rather than expressing it
Withdrawal: pulling back from others to avoid disappointment
Hopelessness: expecting that needs will not be met
People-pleasing: working hard to maintain connection at the cost of your own needs
In childhood and early life, we learn how our emotional needs are met. Some are acknowledged and cared for, while others may be overlooked or neglected. When needs go unmet for long periods, a kind of emotional constriction can take hold. Grief has nowhere to go, anger is pushed down, and longings are hidden away for the sake of survival.
From a psychodynamic and attachment-based perspective, depression is not simply a medical label. It is often a deeply personal experience shaped by early emotional environments, relational wounds, and unprocessed grief.
Over time these adaptations can harden into patterns that leave us feeling numb, hopeless, or harshly critical of ourselves.
While I focus on the emotional and relational roots of depression, I also consider the wider factors that shape how it develops and persists:
Inflammation, hormonal shifts, and genetic vulnerabilities can contribute to low mood
Sleep, nutrition, exercise, and substance use influence both the onset and maintenance of depression
Attachment patterns, early losses, trauma, and unconscious beliefs shape how depression is felt and sustained
I stay informed by evolving research in psychiatry, somatic psychology, and emerging perspectives on emotional health.
Depression is rarely caused by a single factor. It is layered and shaped by history, biology, relationships, and environment.
That complexity deserves to be respected.
In our work together, we approach depression with both depth and practicality. Therapy for depression helps you understand its emotional roots while also supporting ways to ease symptoms and reconnect with life.
In our sessions, you can expect:
A supportive setting where you can share your experience at your own pace.
We explore self-critical beliefs and relational patterns that contribute to low mood.
Notice how depression affects your body and daily rhythms. Find ways to restore vitality.
The therapeutic relationship becomes a source of stability and a new way to relate.
The role of medication in treating depression is complex and continues to evolve.
Early theories often framed depression too simplistically, such as the idea of a “serotonin imbalance.” More recent research suggests a more layered picture.
For some people, medication can be a vital and even life-saving part of recovery. For others, therapy alone is enough. I stay informed about current research and, where appropriate, support you in exploring psychiatric options thoughtfully.
Any decision around medication is always collaborative, respectful, and guided by your individual needs and values.
Depression often speaks of places inside that were unseen, unmet, or overwhelmed for too long. It reflects not personal failure, but personal history that can be honoured, explored, and ultimately accepted.
Healing from depression isn’t about forcing yourself to “be happy.” It’s about reclaiming your emotional vitality, building new inner structures of safety and meaning, and allowing new possibilities for connection, creativity, and joy to emerge.
Finding the right therapist matters because research shows that the best indicator of a successful depression therapy is the therapeutic alliance.
Depression is not simply something to overcome, but something to understand. In therapy, we begin by making sense of the patterns that have formed over time, and gradually create space for feeling, movement, and change. This work can take place in person in Berlin or online, depending on what suits your circumstances.
What might begin to shift if you didn’t have to carry this on your own?
