Depression affects millions of people globally. Unlike temporary feelings of sadness or occasional mood swings, depression is when someone experiences persistent low mood, low self-esteem and a lack of interest or pleasure in daily activities that lasts for an extended period. You may experience daily life to feel a struggle and you may feel you cannot cope with day-to-day activities you have to do.
At the Cyprus Institute for Emotion Focused Therapy (CiEFT), we understand that depression is not just sadness — it’s a deep emotional struggle that can affect your thoughts, energy, relationships, and sense of meaning in life. Whether you’re feeling numb, hopeless, or overwhelmed, you don’t have to go through it alone.
Our experienced EFT practitioners offer compassionate, evidence-based therapy that helps you explore and transform the core emotions underlying your depression.
Recognizing the symptoms of depression
Depression can manifest in many different ways, including:
Behavioral Symptoms
- Loss of interest in people or activities
- Withdrawal from social interactions or isolating oneself.
- Reduced participation in previously enjoyed activities or hobbies.
- Increased irritation, agitation, or aggression; losing your temper quickly
- Taking more risks than usual
- Difficulty managing daily responsibilities, such as work, school, or household tasks.
Psychological Symptoms
- Emotional numbness or disconnection
- Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness.
- Finding it difficult to concentrate or focus
- Experiencing excessive guilt or feelings of worthlessness.
- Heightened irritability or frequent mood swings.
- Feeling lack of control over life
- Little interest in sex
- Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep
- Lack of motivation in taking care of yourself (hygiene, sleep, diet).
Physical Symptoms
- Changes in sleep patterns, such as insomnia or excessive sleeping.
- Fatigue or consistently low energy levels.
- Changes in appetite (loss or gain), and thus rapid weigh changes.
- Unexplained aches, pains, or other physical discomfort without a clear medical cause.
These are some of the most common symptoms of depression. However, each person experiences depression differently and these symptoms may vary in persistency and intensity. You may experience some of the symptoms or all of them to varying degrees of severity.
Depression can be described as mild, when daily activities may feel difficult and you feel low satisfaction in life. Depression can be descibed as sever when symptoms prevent your funtioning and have a big impact on your daily life; and due to their intensity you are more likely to have thoughts of harming yourself or you may feel suicidal.
Another type of depression is bi-polar disorder (also known as manic depression), in which you experience mood swings: from euphoria (feeling high) to severe lows.
What causes depression?
Depression can stem from a wide range of factors, or the underlying cause may be less clear. In latter case, the root of depression can become clear in therapy. Issues from childhood, unresolved traumas or current problems can contribute to depression.
Issues from childhood may include: poor relationship with parents; childhood trauma (neglect or psychological/sexual/physical abuse); instability in the household etc.
Current issues may include: including difficult life events, e.g. the loss of a loved one, adverse childhood experiences or chronic stress. Once someone experiences an episode of depression, they may become more vulnerable to future episodes, making early intervention critical.
Intervention for depression
Talking therapy, and/or medication can help manage symptoms and prevent further episodes.
Taking proactive steps can make a significant difference in improving one’s quality of life.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, consider reaching out to a mental health professional for guidance and support.
Feel free to contact us to ask about psychological therapies available at our centre that may help with depression or mood related issues.
How Emotion-Focused Therapy can Help?
These experiences may be rooted in unprocessed emotional pain, loss, or unmet needs. Through Emotion-Focused Therapy, we work with you to understand these emotional patterns and gently support you in transforming them.
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is a powerful, research-backed approach that:
- Helps you access and process underlying emotions
- Creates space to explore and release past hurts
- Strengthens emotional self-awareness and self-compassion
- Supports you in building healthier emotional responses and inner dialogue
Through the therapeutic relationship, you’ll begin to experience healing and rediscover your capacity for joy, connection, and hope.
Therapy Tailored to You
At CiEFT, we believe that every person’s emotional world is unique. There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to healing. That’s why our therapists work collaboratively with each client to understand their specific needs, history, and goals. Whether you’re navigating depression, anxiety, trauma, or relationship difficulties, we tailor each session with care, using Emotion-Focused Therapy to support your personal process at your own pace. Your story matters — and so does the way we walk with you through it.
Can I do my sessions online?
Whether you’re based in Cyprus or living abroad, our therapists provide online psychotherapy and in-person sessions in Nicosia, tailored to your needs and pace.
We welcome adolescents and adults who are looking for meaningful change.
Begin Your Healing Journey
You don’t need to have all the answers — you just need a safe place to begin.
We are here to walk with you.
Contact us to schedule an initial consultation or to ask about working with a practitioner trained in Emotion-Focused Therapy.
Resources for further understanding depression:
- Overcoming depression by Paul Gilbert
This is an accessible self-help book based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). It provides a clear understanding depression and introduces methods rooted in CBT to address negative thought patterns. This book can be useful for readers who want to work in a structured way regain control and build resilience.
- I had a Black Dog by Matthew Johnstone
This is a picture book, almost like a child’s picture book. It is a powerful visual exploration of living with depression, represented metaphorically as a ‘black dog.’ The book uses illustrations and concise text to describe each aspect of depression. It is useful for those who are struggling to come to terms with depression. Also very good for young people. It is useful to offer hope and practical advice for managing depression, making it an inspiring resource for those affected and their loved ones.
- The Compassionate Mind by Paul Gilbert
“We have known for some time that developing compassion for oneself and others can help us face up to and win through the hardship and find a sense of inner peace. Instead we concentrate on ‘doing, achieving’ and having’. Now, a leading authority on depression, Professor Paul Gilbert explains how new research shows how we can all learn to develop compassion for ourselves and others and derive the benefits of this age-old wisdom.”
- The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself From Chronic Unhappiness by M. Williams, J. Teasdale, Z. Segal & J. Kabat-Zinn
This book explores the use of mindfulness practice for those who struggle with depression or simply want to understand their mind and emotions better. It combines mindfulness practices with psychological insights to help readers understand chronic unhappiness. The book offers practical techniques, including meditation and self-awareness exercises, to address negative thought patterns and emotional pain. It empowers readers to cultivate resilience and a greater sense of well-being by fostering a mindful approach to life’s challenges. Mindfulness can be a simple yet powerful way of paying attention to your most difficult emotions and life experiences. The authors of this book explore the reasons for depression and provide guidance, support and tools to find a way through it. It comes with a companion CD of guided meditations.
For further information:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9290-depression
We believe that every person’s emotional world is unique — and therapy should be too.
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