Internal Family Systems Therapy UK
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Depression can feel isolating, confusing, and emotionally draining. If you are looking for therapy for depression in Newcastle Upon Tyne or online, you may be feeling overwhelmed by your symptoms or unsure which type of support is right for you.
I provide a safe, supportive space to help you gently explore the underlying causes of depression. Using a body-based approach, such as Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, we work together to understand the parts of you that may be carrying pain, self-criticism, or hopelessness, helping you process these experiences and reconnect with a sense of calm, clarity, and emotional balance.
Through trauma-informed Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, I support adults to understand and heal the underlying emotional wounds and nervous system patterns that contribute to depression, helping create lasting emotional stability and wellbeing.
Depression can develop for many different reasons. Sometimes it is linked to past trauma or difficult life experiences, sometimes to long-standing patterns such as people-pleasing or self-criticism, and sometimes to chronic stress that has overwhelmed the nervous system over time. Understanding the roots of depression often takes patience, care, and a compassionate therapeutic approach.
In my work, I use body approaches, such as Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy to help you gently explore and understand the emotional experiences and protective patterns that may sit beneath depression. Rather than only focusing on symptoms, we work to understand the parts of you that may feel hopeless, overwhelmed, numb, or self-critical, and the role these parts are trying to play in keeping you safe and protecting you from getting hurt.
Alongside this, I place strong importance on helping you understand how depression affects the nervous system and body. Therapy may include psychoeducation, building emotional regulation skills, somatic exercises and exploring supportive lifestyle changes that help stabilise mood and improve overall well-being.
Therapy is always tailored to your individual needs and moves at a pace that feels safe and manageable. My aim is to provide a supportive and non-judgemental space where you can begin to understand your experiences, process emotional pain, and move towards greater emotional stability, self-compassion, and hope.
Depression is a common but deeply challenging mental health experience that can affect how you feel, think, and move through daily life. Many people experiencing depression describe ongoing feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, or a loss of interest in things that once felt meaningful or enjoyable.
Depression can also affect the body and nervous system. You may notice changes in sleep, appetite, energy levels, motivation, or concentration. Some people feel constantly exhausted or emotionally numb, while others experience anxiety, irritability, or feeling overwhelmed by everyday tasks.
If you are looking for support with therapy for depression in Newcastle, it can help to understand that depression is often connected to a combination of life experiences, emotional stress, relationship difficulties, or past trauma that has impacted the nervous system over time.
Therapy can provide a safe and supportive space to explore these experiences, understand the patterns contributing to depression, and begin to move towards greater emotional stability and wellbeing.
Depression can affect people in many different ways. Not everyone will experience the same symptoms, and depression can sometimes show up emotionally, mentally, physically, and relationally. If you are experiencing several of the symptoms below most days for two weeks or longer, it may be a sign that you could benefit from support.
Depression can sometimes develop gradually, making it difficult to recognise how much it is impacting your daily life. If these experiences feel familiar, seeking therapy for depression in Newcastle can help you understand what may be contributing to these symptoms and support you in finding relief and emotional stability.
Depression is a complex and deeply personal experience that can show up in many different ways. While diagnostic labels can sometimes help us understand patterns of symptoms, each person’s experience of depression is shaped by their unique life history, relationships, nervous system responses, and emotional experiences.
In therapy for depression, my focus is not on fitting you into a category, but on understanding your individual story and what may be contributing to how you are feeling. Using a body-focused Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach, we explore the emotional patterns, protective parts, and past experiences that may sit beneath depressive symptoms.
If you are seeking therapy for depression in Newcastle, support can help you understand the type of depression you may be experiencing and work towards meaningful, lasting change in a safe and compassionate space.
Depression can sometimes be linked to emotional pain and hurt that has been stored within the body and nervous system. Somatic approaches such as Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy can be especially helpful because they work gently with both the mind and body, supporting the safe processing and release of these stored emotional energies.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy for depression is often understood as involving different “parts” of you that have developed in response to past experiences, stress, or emotional pain. These parts are not flaws or weaknesses, they are usually trying to protect you in ways that once made sense, even if they now feel overwhelming or stuck.
IFS therapy for depression focuses on helping you gently get to know these parts with curiosity and compassion, rather than judging or trying to push them away. By understanding what these parts are carrying and protecting, it becomes possible to reduce their intensity and support emotional healing.
Some common parts that may be present in depression include:
Many people experiencing depression notice a part that is highly critical, harsh, or shaming towards themselves. This part may constantly highlight perceived failures, mistakes, or feelings of not being “good enough.” While painful, this part often develops in an attempt to protect you from rejection, disappointment, or vulnerability.
There is often a part that carries deep feelings of loneliness, abandonment, or disconnection. This part may long for closeness and connection but can also feel fearful of being hurt or rejected.
Some people experience parts that feel numb, exhausted, or emotionally shut down. These parts can sometimes reduce emotional pain by creating distance from overwhelming feelings, but they can also contribute to low mood, fatigue, and loss of motivation.
Depression can also include parts that feel overwhelmed by stress, responsibility, or emotional pressure. These parts may contribute to feelings of anxiety, overthinking, or burnout that eventually lead to emotional exhaustion.
Depression is often linked to experiences of trauma, whether big or small, obvious or subtle. Trauma can include emotional neglect, a lack of nurturing, growing up without a consistent support system, feeling isolated, or being in relationships where your basic emotional needs were not met. Over time, these experiences can leave deep imprints on the nervous system, shaping how you respond to stress, connect with others, and manage your emotions.
When the nervous system has been repeatedly overwhelmed, it can become stuck in patterns of hyper-arousal (anxiety, agitation, panic) or hypo-arousal (numbness, withdrawal, low energy). Parts of you may develop protective strategies to keep you safe. For example, withdrawing from relationships, being self-critical, or suppressing emotions, but these same strategies can also contribute to the persistent low mood, hopelessness, or emotional flatness often experienced in depression.
Trauma doesn’t just live in the mind; it is stored in the body and nervous system, affecting how you feel, think, and relate in the present. This is written about in The Body Keeps The Score. Understanding this connection is an important step in healing, and therapies such as Internal Family Systems (IFS) work gently with both the mind and body to help regulate the nervous system, release stored emotional pain, and support long-term emotional wellbeing.
Alongside therapy, lifestyle changes can play a powerful role in supporting emotional wellbeing and managing depression. Small, consistent adjustments to movement, nutrition, and daily routines can help regulate mood, improve energy, and support nervous system balance.
Exercise is a highly effective way to support both mental and physical health. Physical activity releases endorphins, the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals, which can help lift mood. Regular movement also supports better sleep, increases energy levels, and can boost confidence and self-esteem, all of which are often affected by depression.
The foods you eat can influence your mood, energy, and overall wellbeing. Research suggests that diets rich in whole, nutrient-dense foods, like the Mediterranean diet, which includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and olive oil can help support mental health.
Nutritional deficiencies can also impact mood. Common areas to consider include:
Supplements, probiotics, and dietary interventions can be helpful, but it’s important to test for deficiencies and work with a qualified nutrition professional to create a sustainable plan.
Lifestyle changes are most effective when combined with trauma-informed therapy, such as Internal Family Systems (IFS). Therapy for depression can help you explore the emotional and nervous system patterns underlying depression, while lifestyle strategies provide practical support for mood, energy, and overall wellbeing. Together, these approaches can help you feel more balanced, resilient, and connected to yourself.
Our connections with others play a powerful role in our emotional wellbeing. A strong, supportive support system can buffer against stress, provide validation, and help us feel seen and understood. Conversely, a lack of social support can contribute to feelings of isolation, emotional burnout, and low mood.
Many people experiencing depression find themselves over-functioning in relationships, over-extending to meet others’ needs, or choosing emotionally unavailable friends and connections.
This can lead to relying on helplines or others outside your immediate circle for emotional support, while neglecting your own need for companionship, fun, and genuine connection. You may also notice patterns like only having surface-level interactions that leave you feeling unfulfilled.
Cultivating emotionally supportive friendships is an important part of recovery. This involves carving out time to connect with friends, disconnect from work and responsibilities, and engage in shared life experiences rather than just “catch-ups.”
Therapy can support you in recognising patterns that no longer serve you, setting boundaries, and building relationships where you can be open and accepted without fear of judgment.
Even small changes, such as reaching out to one friend, joining a new social group, or prioritising quality time can gradually help rebuild a network of meaningful, supportive relationships that nourish your emotional wellbeing.
While therapy is often the most effective way to work through depression, there are also practical steps you can take to support your wellbeing and regulate your nervous system in everyday life.
Depression can make it hard to look after yourself, but small steps toward physical self-care can support both mood and energy. Eating nourishing foods, staying hydrated, getting regular movement, and prioritising rest can all help your body and nervous system feel more balanced.
When depression feels overwhelming, even simple tasks can feel impossible. Focus on one small, achievable goal at a time, such as getting out of bed, having a shower, or taking a short walk. Each small step can help build momentum and a sense of accomplishment.
Even brief social contact can support emotional wellbeing. Reach out to a friend, family member, or support group, a short message, phone call, or shared activity can help counter feelings of isolation and provide connection.
Depression often comes with self-critical or hopeless thoughts. Gently noticing these thoughts and asking yourself whether they are entirely true can help shift perspective. Over time, this practice can reduce the intensity of self-critical or overwhelming thought patterns. Start noticing the self-critical part and where it is in your body. See if you can mindfully separate from it and say “I notice a critical part of me”.
Try to include small moments of pleasure or interest in your day, even if it feels difficult. Reading, walking, creative activities, or spending time outdoors can provide brief moments of relief and gradually help lift mood.
Self-help strategies are a useful starting point, but if depressive symptoms persist, seeking professional therapy is important. Working with a trained therapist can provide a safe space to explore the emotional and nervous system patterns underlying your depression and help you build lasting emotional resilience.
At Inner Child Work Newcastle Upon Tyne, I offer a compassionate, trauma-informed approach, body-based approach to supporting adults experiencing depression. Using Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and inner child work, I help you explore the emotional patterns, protective parts, and past experiences that may be contributing to your low mood and emotional overwhelm.
Therapy with me focuses on understanding your unique experience, helping you process stored emotional pain, regulate your nervous system, and build strategies to manage depressive symptoms in a way that feels safe and sustainable. You will learn to work with the parts of you that are critical, lonely, or overwhelmed, fostering self-compassion and emotional resilience.
I offer face-to-face sessions in Newcastle upon Tyne as well as online therapy via Zoom for those who live further afield. Each session is designed to provide a safe, supportive space where you can feel heard, understood, and empowered to begin your journey toward emotional stability and wellbeing.
“I just wanted to thank you firstly, for all the incredible sessions. You’ve made a massive difference to my inner children. I’m understanding myself better and I’m checking in with them and some of them are pretty much healed now. So thank you, thank you. Like I’ve said before, I’ve had years of different therapy and nothing has ever got to the root of my issues like what you’ve introduced me to so thank you. I’m very, very grateful to have found you and for all the incredible help you gave me. And I’ve had almost 40 years of just not feeling good enough and my inner critic ruling and I’ve really learned to love my inner children and understand where they’re coming from and I’ve just got a very different relationship with myself now and I don’t feel petrified of people anymore”.
IFS therapy Newcastle is based on the idea that we all have different “parts” within us. These parts often develop as ways of helping us cope with difficult experiences, relationships, or emotions. Sometimes, however, these parts can become stuck in patterns that create distress, anxiety, low mood, or relationship difficulties.
In IFS therapy Newcastle, we gently explore your thoughts, feelings, and life experiences, both past and present to better understand these different parts of your inner world. We work at a safe and manageable pace to help you notice how certain emotions, beliefs, or reactions may be connected to earlier experiences.
As therapy progresses, we often begin to uncover and understand parts of you that may hold painful memories, unmet needs, or strong emotions that have been pushed aside or protected over time.
By bringing compassionate attention and understanding to these experiences, many people find that these parts begin to feel less overwhelming or controlling.
Over time, this process helps reduce the influence that past experiences may have on your current mood, behaviour, and relationships. The aim of IFS therapy is to support a deeper sense of self-understanding, emotional balance, and lasting change.
If you are considering IFS therapy Newcastle or Tyne and Wear and would like to explore whether it feels right for you, you are welcome to get in touch.
It can be difficult to know at the beginning exactly how long therapy will last, as everyone’s experiences, goals, and pace of change are different.
At the start of our work together, we will talk about what you hope to gain from therapy and consider a realistic timeframe. We will also review progress together at regular intervals to make sure therapy continues to feel helpful and aligned with your needs.
Many people begin to notice positive shifts earlier on, but meaningful and lasting change often takes time. For deeper therapeutic work, IFS psychotherapy commonly involves a commitment of anywhere between around 6 months and 3 years.
Our aim is always to support improvement as early as possible, while working at a pace that feels safe, steady, and sustainable for you.
I aim to create a therapeutic space that feels relaxed, welcoming, and safe. I’m a laid-back therapist and I value therapy feeling different from a clinical or medical environment. Many people worry that therapy might feel formal, intimidating, or uncomfortable, and I work intentionally to create a space where you can feel at ease being yourself.
Sessions are guided by you. You’re welcome to bring whatever feels most important, whether that’s something current, something from your past, or simply how you’re feeling in the moment. My role is to listen carefully, support exploration, and gently help you understand patterns, emotions, and experiences that may be affecting you.
I often work with people who are highly sensitive, empathic, gentle and attuned to others. Many of my clients identify as Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) and may find themselves naturally caring for others’ needs, sometimes at the expense of their own.
Clients I work with frequently notice patterns such as people pleasing, over-extending themselves, over-functioning in relationships, or finding it difficult to set and maintain boundaries. Over time, these patterns can contribute to experiences of anxiety, depression, burnout and nervous system collapse.
I also work with many people who have experienced complex or developmental trauma, particularly those who grew up in environments where emotional safety, consistency, or understanding may have been limited. These early experiences can often shape how someone relates to themselves and others in adulthood.
My work often focuses on supporting Highly Sensitive People who are working through the impact of complex trauma, helping them develop healthier boundaries, reconnect with their own needs, and build more balanced and fulfilling relationships.
I support clients with a range of emotional and psychological difficulties, particularly those connected to trauma, relational patterns, and emotional overwhelm.
Some of the experiences clients commonly bring include:
Anxiety and chronic worry
Low mood or depression
Burnout and emotional exhaustion
Difficulties with boundaries and people pleasing
Relationship and attachment difficulties
Low self-worth or harsh self-criticism
Feeling overwhelmed by emotions
Patterns of over-functioning or feeling responsible for others
Effects of complex or developmental trauma
Difficulties linked to childhood emotional neglect or inconsistent caregiving
Feeling stuck in repeated life or relationship patterns
Although it can feel natural to want to go straight to your inner child parts, this can sometimes cause overwhelm or re-traumatisation. In IFS therapy Newcastle, it’s important to first build safety and get to know your protective parts. These are the parts of you that are trying to keep you safe. This part of the process is just as important as working with wounded parts.
Working through resistance and protective patterns gradually helps create a sense of stability and safety in your nervous system. With the support of a skilled therapist, you can approach painful emotions and inner child work safely, at a pace that feels manageable, so healing becomes possible without feeling overwhelmed.
During consultation, you’ll be asked about reasons for seeking therapy with brief information about the presentations you’re struggling with to determine if I am a right fit for your needs. I will talk through my style and approach to therapy and guide you through how to book your first appointment.
Please share your availability and therapy requirements.
I will be in touch to arrange a free 15-minute consultation where we will discuss your reasons for seeking therapy and you can get a feel for whether IFS Therapy Newcastle is right for you.