When your partner's depressed, you worry. You wonder how to help, where to get advice, what to expect, how long it could last and how you can cope. You might blame yourself, and feel very isolated. Your feelings are all over the place as you notice that your relationship is changing.

What I do is show you that it is OK to ask for help, that it is OK to look after your own needs, and that - if you choose - you can be OK with whatever happens next.

• MiniBreak Workshop

  An afternoon workshop for a very small group in Central London. Learn techniques to help you to stay strong and get advice on how best to help your partner and yourself.

  find out more about MiniBreaks

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• DayBreak Workshop

  A day's workshop for a very small group at a beautiful hotel in the countryside. Get away from it all, recharge your batteries and feel inspired!

  find out more about DayBreaks

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• VIP PerfectDay

  A whole day just for you, in a wonderful location; just the thing if you want to focus on your own unique situation and needs and receive one-to-one support from me.

  find out more about VIP PerfectDays

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How I can help you

I recognise that partners need special support, and I'm in a great position to help you, both as a therapist, and because my life partner was depressed for some time.

I am the author of several books on anxiety and depression, I have masses of experience of working therapeutically with groups and individuals, and I have developed a range of techniques to help you to stay strong.

I have been interviewed on TV and radio and I've written for magazines and websites - find out more on the Media page.

I offer personal support in a range of ways. If you'd like personal support from me call 0207 74678517 or 01202 731385

Sign up for my FREE eBook: Staying Strong - how to live with your partner's depression. This will give you:

• insight into why your partner's depression is so hard on you.
• ways that you can help your partner
• ways that you can help yourself to stay strong

When you sign up, you will get regular updates about new postings and information on this site. It's easy to do -  just put your name and email address in the sign-up box at the top of this page on the right.

Here's a thought...

"Crippling depression and chronic anxiety are the biggest causes of misery in Britain today. They are the great submerged problem, which shame keeps out of sight. But if you mention them, you soon discover how many families are affected. According to the respected Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, one in six of us would be diagnosed as having depression or chronic anxiety disorder, which means that one family in three is affected."

Professor Lord Richard Layard 'The Depression Report - A New Deal for Depression and Anxiety Disorders

Depression and Anxiety – information for partners

Depression and anxiety often occur together, and some of the symptoms are similar. But one of the key differences is that

• Depression is to do with helplessness and hopelessness, and a general 'shrinking inwards'. The person's outlook and horizons shrink in until there is a black hopeless and helpless core in the middle.
• Severe anxiety is about fear of the future, and what might or might not happen. Generally the individual will mentally search for future possible threats to themselves, and worry about the consequences.

A person who is depressed or highly anxious cannot just 'snap out of it'. The experience of either can be all-consuming, overwhelming and very frightening.

Richard Layard heads the Wellbeing Research Programme at the Centre forEconomic Performance, London School of Economics and Political Science( http://cep.lse.ac.uk ) The Depression Report was published online in June 2006 by the Centre for Economic Performance.