We will start by exploring the concept of depression in our current time and culture, its different presentations and symptoms. As an umbrella term depression covers many presentations: the response to a life event or transition; the result of long term hypo or hyper-arousal, negative and depressed thinking; the hidden depression within psychosomatic disorder and the smiling depressive; and the severe depression with biological markers leading to suicidal ideation and breakdown. Many people continue a regular life with depression and others need medication and hospitalisation. Depression is always ABOUT something, it's not just a failure to cope. We will discuss the highly subjective context within which depression arises in our patients, and how we might assess the symptoms and risks to each person.

In this second session we will explore patterns of psychological wounding that may underlie a depressed response. Drawing on Cognitive Analytic Therapy's understanding of learned reciprocal role procedures, and an understanding of attachment needs and developmental learning drawn from Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, we will look at the learned patterns of attitude and behaviour embedded in cognition, emotion and social engagement. I will present recent therapeutic work with a severely depressed patient post-ECT, where we worked within the framework of mindfulness-based Cognitive Analytic Therapy.

One of the powerful countertransference experiences of working with depressed people is the dark, often confused and at times unbearable landscape where everything is coloured by helplessness and hopelessness and rage is held tightly within, unavailable. We will discuss treatment options and choices and nourishment for the therapist. Participants are invited to bring clinical dilemmas for discussion. We will end with a short mindfulness exercise that is applicable to working with depressed patients.

Elizabeth Wilde McCormick has been in private practice as a psychotherapist for over thirty years. She is also a teacher, trainer, supervisor and writer. Her background is in social psychiatry, humanistic and transpersonal psychology and cognitive analytic therapy.

She is a founder member of the Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy. Over the last ten years she has had a growing interest in the contribution of mindfulness and compassion Based approaches to psychotherapy, and in particular to depression. Her books include: Living On The Edge; Surviving Breakdown, Your Heart and You and Change For The Better.

PDF brochure of full programme.