When good care means more than one professional
There is a quiet assumption in mental health that the right therapist, working alone, is always enough. For a great deal of ordinary difficulty, one skilled clinician is exactly what is needed. But some conditions ask for more than one kind of expertise, and recognising when is a mark of clinical maturity rather than a limitation. Sometimes adequate support means a small team, working around you, so that nothing important is missed.
Depression is a common example.
When depression needs more than therapy
A good deal of low mood responds well to psychotherapy on its own. But depression exists on a spectrum, and the more severe or stubborn it becomes, the more a second perspective helps:
- A psychotherapist for the meaning and the pattern — the losses, the self-criticism, the shape of a life that has stopped working. This is my part of the work.
- A psychiatrist where depression is severe, recurrent or treatment-resistant, where there may be a question of bipolarity, or where medication needs consultant-level judgement rather than a first prescription.
- A GP, who often holds the overall medical picture, can begin first-line treatment, and keeps an eye on physical health and risk.
For moderate to severe depression, therapy and medication together often work better than either alone. The medication can lift a person just enough to make use of the therapy; the therapy reaches what medication cannot.
Coordinating care across central London
Central London puts the whole of this within reach. From Fitzrovia and the West End, consultant psychiatrists, private GPs and specialist services are all close by, which makes genuinely coordinated care practical rather than aspirational. The aim is simple: the right people, talking to each other, around one person.
How I coordinate your care
Through established relationships with consultant psychiatrists and GPs in central London, I can arrange a prompt referral when depression needs medical input as well as therapy, and — with your consent — keep the professionals involved in touch with one another, so you are not left relaying messages between them. You remain at the centre of your own care.
If you already have a psychiatrist or GP, I am glad to work alongside them. If not, I can help you find the right one.
You can read more about how the professions differ in psychiatrist, psychologist or psychotherapist: which do you need? — and if you would like to think through what adequate support might look like for you, arrange a consultation.
Common questions
Does depression always need a psychiatrist?
No. Much depression responds well to psychotherapy alone. A psychiatrist becomes valuable when depression is severe, persistent, recurrent or treatment-resistant, when there is a question of bipolarity, or when medication needs specialist rather than GP-level oversight.
Can I have therapy and medication at the same time?
Yes — for moderate to severe depression the combination is often more effective than either alone. Medication can lift you enough to use the therapy; the therapy addresses what the medication cannot reach.
Will you work with my GP?
With your consent, yes. Your GP often holds the medical overview and can prescribe first-line treatment; keeping them informed is part of safe, joined-up care.
Is this available online?
Yes. Sessions are available in person in central London or online, and coordination with a psychiatrist or GP works the same way in both.