Depression Therapy
Therapist for expats and internationals
Depression doesn’t always look like staying in bed all day. Sometimes it looks like showing up to your office or your lectures, going through the motions, and feeling absolutely nothing. It’s that heavy, persistent fog that makes even the smallest tasks feel like climbing a mountain. You might find yourself withdrawing from friends, losing interest in the things you used to love, or feeling a bit stuck or flat, even when things seem “fine” on the surface.
At Bloomwave, I provide a space where you don’t have to pretend that you’re fine. We’ll look at the weight you’re carrying, and work together to find a way through it. Book a first session to get to know each other. It’s free of charge, with no waiting list or referral required.
Location
🏠 Leiden
💻 Online
Languages
🇬🇧 English
🇪🇪 Estonian
Useful Info
⏱️ No waiting list
🧍Adults 18+
Who is Depression Therapy for?
Depression looks different for everyone. You might have a formal diagnosis, or you might just notice that something does not feel right. Both experiences are valid. It may not seem “serious enough,” especially if you are still functioning day to day. Still, you don’t have to wait for things to get worse before reaching out for professional support.
You might recognize yourself in some of the experiences below:
- The expat blues
- Feeling numb or empty inside
- Dissociation
- Too much or too little sleep
- Social isolation
- Problems with attention and focus
- Physical and mental exhaustion, or even burn-out
It’s also worth knowing that depression often goes hand-in-hand with (signs of) anxiety.
How Depression Therapy can help you
Therapy is one of the most effective ways to work through depression, and there’s decades of research to back that up. But more importantly, it isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Our work together is tailored entirely to your own experiences, patterns, and needs.
Together we’ll take the time to understand how your depression developed, and more importantly, what is keeping your depression fueled today. From there, I can help you work on interrupting those unhelpful cycles and building healthier ways of thinking, feeling, and responding. My aim is to help you feel more steady and engaged again, at a pace that fits your life and what you can realistically carry.
Some of my approaches to Depression Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT helps you recognize and shift unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that often maintain depression. Together, we work on practical strategies to manage low mood, break negative thinking cycles, and gradually re-engage with daily life.
Schema
Therapy
Schema Therapy looks at deeper, long-standing patterns that may contribute to feelings of worthlessness, rejection, or chronic self-criticism. By understanding where these patterns began, I can help you work toward lasting change and develop better and healthier ways of coping.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
ACT focuses on changing your relationship with difficult thoughts and emotions, rather than fighting them. Especially in depression, where avoidance and withdrawal can take over, ACT helps you reconnect with your values, even when motivation feels low.
Hi, I’m Laura!
Laura Ruusalu (She/Her)
As a licensed therapist and an expat myself, I understand how depression can feel even heavier when you are living between cultures or far from your support system. I’m originally from Estonia and grew up moving between Finland and Norway before finally settling in the Netherlands.
Now I offer English-speaking depression therapy in Leiden and online. I mainly work with expats, international students, and LGBTQIA+ individuals who may be struggling with low mood, loss of motivation, self-doubt, or a lingering sense of disconnection. My approach is evidence-based and focused on creating a safe space where we can work toward getting you back on your feet.
What you can expect when working with me
Free 30-minute session
Your journey begins with a free 30-minute online contact session, where we’ll explore how I can best support you.
Sliding scale pricing
I offer a sliding scale to keep therapy accessible, with rates based on your financial situation. €75 – €130 / hour
Personalised treatment
I use an integrative approach tailored to your individual needs and desires, always in collaboration.
Client testimonials
“Laura is amazing, as someone who intellectualises their feelings and experiences, finding a good psychologist is sometimes very difficult. However, Laura was heaven sent and has really helped me actually feel my feelings and process my traumas while also working on my triggers and coping mechanisms. Cannot recommend her enough. Thank you, Laura!”
– TK
“I had a very good experience with Laura. She is professional but also makes you feel very comfortable and made me realise things about myself that I still think about/use to this day (which is the first time this has happened for me in therapy). To me, this shows that Laura really listens to her clients.”
– ND
“Having tried various therapists in the past, I came in with feeling a little uneasy and curious to see how Laura from Bloomwave would address my issues and working together through therapy. I am a 22 year old female and I am extremely satisfied with my experience. In the past i often felt like I was not able to be fully understood. But with Laura I felt not only understood but also pulled out of my perceptions to think more critically and understand myself even better. Very professional and very good with helping one find comfort in the session environment. I hope to continue working with her for many sessions to come for my foreseeable future.”
– IW
Why choose Bloomwave practice?
- Personalised, integrative approach
- Accessible rates based on your financial situation
- No waiting list, no referral needed
- Safe space, LGBTQIA+ affirmative
Ready to take the next step?
If you are feeling low, stuck, or disconnected from yourself, therapy is a solid place to start changing that. I offer a free 30-minute online consultation so we can chat about what’s been going on and see if working together feels like the right next step for you. There’s no pressure and no obligation. The contact session gives us a chance to see if my approach matches what you need to get moving again.