In counselling, low mood describes a period when someone feels emotionally down, sad, unhappy, orlesspositive than usual. It can affect how a person thinks, feels, behaves, and manages everyday life.

You might describe low mood as:

• Feeling sad, upset, or tearful.

• Feeling emotionally drained or overwhelmed.

• Having little motivation or energy.

• Losing interest in activities you usually enjoy.

• Feeling lonely, isolated, or disconnected from others.

• Overthinking or having negative thoughts.

• Feeling hopeless, worthless, or lacking confidence.

• Finding it difficult to concentrate or make decisions.

• Having changes in sleep or appetite.

• Struggling to cope with everyday responsibilities.

What causes low mood?

Low mood can be linked to:

• Stress and anxiety.

• Relationship or family difficulties.

• Work or financial pressures.

• Loneliness or life changes.

• Grief or loss.

• Lack of sleep or burnout.

• Depression.

Stress is the emotional, mental, and physical response a person experiences when they feel overwhelmed, pressured, or unable to cope with the demands and challenges in their life.

Stress can affect a person's thoughts, emotions, behaviour, relationships, and overall wellbeing.

Major Depressive Disorder, commonly referred to as depression, is a mental health condition that affects how you feel, think, and function in daily life. It is more than just feeling sad or going through a difficult period—it is a persistent state that can impact your mood, energy, relationships, and sense of self.

Anxiety Disorders are a group of common mental health conditions that involve excessive worry, fear, or nervous system arousal. While anxiety is a natural and often helpful response to stress or danger, it can become overwhelming when it is persistent, intense, or out of proportion to the situation.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. It can create significant distress and interfere with daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. OCD is not simply about being neat or organized—it involves persistent, intrusive thoughts and urges that feel difficult to control, along with behaviors or mental rituals aimed at reducing anxiety.

Grief is a natural and deeply human response to loss. It can arise after the death of a loved one, but also from other significant life changes—such as the end of a relationship, loss of health, identity shifts, or major transitions. Grief is not something to “fix,” but something to move through with care and support.

An abusive relationship is a pattern of behavior in which one person uses power and control over another through harmful, manipulative, or coercive actions. Abuse can occur in romantic partnerships, family relationships, friendships, or caregiving situations, and it can take many forms—not only physical harm.

When an individual is going through a breakup or divorce they will need to grieve the relationship, the life they imagined, and in some cases they may also need to make sense of the past abuse by their partner.

Trauma refers to the emotional, psychological, and physiological response to an event or series of events that feel overwhelming, threatening, or deeply distressing. It occurs when a person’s ability to cope is overwhelmed, leaving a lasting impact on how they experience safety, relationships, and themselves.

Trauma can result from a single incident or from ongoing, repeated experiences over time.

What Can Be Experienced as Trauma

Trauma may arise from a wide range of experiences, including:

• Abuse (emotional, physical, sexual, or neglect)

• Accidents, injuries, or medical emergencies

• Sudden loss or bereavement

• Domestic violence or unsafe relationships

• Childhood adversity or chronic stress

• Community violence, discrimination, or systemic oppression

• Ongoing instability or unpredictable environments

What feels traumatic is subjective—two people can experience the same event very differently.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a medical and psychological condition characterized by difficulty controlling alcohol use despite negative consequences. It exists on a spectrum, ranging from mild to severe, and can affect a person’s physical health, emotional well-being, relationships, and daily functioning. AUD is not a matter of willpower or character—it is a complex condition influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.

In the treatment of anger management there will be psycho-education alongside DBT skills provided.