Medical Psychology
It’s not unusual to experience a change in your mood when managing a long-term health condition. People can often feel emotional and notice changes in their mood, lifestyle and relationships.
If you are concerned about how you are feeling, talking to somebody is an important step. This can be a friend or relative, but for some people, they might find it more helpful to talk to a professional such as a psychologist or psychological therapist.
What is the psychology service?
The psychology service is a confidential place where you can speak to a psychologist or psychological therapist about your health condition, how you are feeling and explore coping strategies to help improve your mood and wellbeing.
We offer short-term, evidenced-based therapy which has been shown to be helpful for people with health conditions. We do not prescribe medication, but we do work alongside the medical team including doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.
How can the service help you?
A long-term health condition can be difficult to adjust to and can affect our wellbeing, functioning, and quality of life. You may notice a change in your mood and you may feel low and/or anxious when thinking about your condition. This can then make it more difficult to manage the physical symptoms.
How can you help yourself?
Following your assessment with the psychology service, if it is agreed that therapy is appropriate, you will work jointly with your clinician to achieve your goals. You may be asked to do some work at home between appointments which will help you to get the most out of your sessions.
Important
It’s important to attend all your appointments with the psychology service. Failure to do so may result in discharge from the psychology service.
What will happen at your appointment?
If you have been referred to psychology, you will be contacted and offered an appointment, either face to face, over the telephone, or via ‘attend anywhere’, an online video appointment.
Your first appointment will be an assessment where we will ask you questions to find out a bit more about what your difficulties are and explore how we can help. We will then create a plan going forward which may involve further appointments with ourselves, or we may refer you to another, more appropriate service.
Helpful information
- We can offer an interpreter for planned appointments when required.
- Waiting times vary for individual appointments. Some health conditions also run group sessions which may have shorter waiting lists and run throughout the year.
- We are not a crisis service. If you need urgent psychological support, please call the Crisis Team on telephone: 0800 051 6171.
- If you would like to be seen by the psychology service, please speak to a member of the hospital team managing your health condition.
Common psychological reactions with long term health conditions
Feeling anxious or panicked
Feeling low in mood or depressed
Feeling frustrated or angry
Finding it difficult to cope with changes to work or your social life
Finding relationships difficult
Feeling a sense of loss or grief
Feeling fearful and uncertain about the future
Losing confidence
Where can I find more information?
Recovery College Online – visit: https://www.recoverycollegeonline.co.uk/
It’s been over a month and I am not feeling better what should I do?
If you find you have been struggling for longer than a month or you notice your mood has worsened, contact your GP surgery to discuss support available. Or you could discuss this at your follow up outpatient appointment at the hospital.
Resources specific to your condition
If you live in England and are aged 18 years or over, you can access NHS talking therapies services for anxiety and depression.
Your local services can be found here:
https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-nhs-talking-therapies-service
Where can I find support in a crisis?
If you are struggling right now and just simply want someone to talk to The Samaritans offer a FREE 24 hour confidential telephone Helpline.
- Telephone: 116 123
- Email: [email protected]
- The Samaritans website: https://www.samaritans.org/
If you feel you are in crisis and worry you are unable to keep yourself safe there is help available. You can contact your GP, or local mental health crisis team:
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
- Freephone 0800 051 6171 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- For further information. please visit the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley website: https://www.tewv.nhs.uk/services/crisis-resolution-intensive-home-treatment/
Ring 999 if you are worried that yourself or somebody else is in danger
Contact us
If you require further information please contact us on:
Telephone: 01642 854 123
Email: [email protected]
Patient experience
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust would like your feedback. If you wish to share your experience about your care and treatment or on behalf of a patient, please contact The Patient Experience Department who will advise you on how best to do this.
This service is based at The James Cook University Hospital but also covers the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, our community hospitals and community health services.
To ensure we meet your communication needs please inform the Patient Experience Department of any special requirements, for example; braille or large print.
T: 01642 835964
E: [email protected]