Why people use the service
Physical health has a direct effect on psychological wellbeing, and it is normal to experience emotional changes, especially after diagnosis or during a hospital stay. You may be experiencing some anxiety about your health and are looking for ways in which you might be able to manage your symptoms more effectively. You may also be experiencing some low mood as a reaction to your sense of loss and frustration.
How do I access the service?
You can talk to any member of staff involved in your care, from staff at your GP surgery, mental health and Talking Therapies and any health care professional at the hospital including support staff. They can make a referral for you to the service if you feel it would be helpful for you.
What will happen at my appointment?
You can attend in person, via telephone or via “DrDoctor” for an online video appointment. Your first appointment will involve a full assessment of your health problems and how they affect your daily life. In particular, attention will be paid to the way in which your thinking might be affecting your mood, your motivation and your confidence.
If treatment is considered likely to be helpful, this will involve identifying specific problems and learning ways to look at them differently through a variety of therapeutic approaches. The length of treatment is also variable and may range from one or two sessions up to eight or more sessions.
What kinds of health problems respond to psychological treatment?
Psychological factors may influence a wide range of health problems. It is not a matter of a problem being either psychological or physical, but rather the interaction of the different factors. Very often a vicious cycle develops, so that our physical health problem affects our mood, which further affects the way we deal with our symptoms.
Engaging in psychological therapy can help you develop a greater understanding of how you relate to yourself and other people. It can help you change the way you think, feel and act. It aims to help you learn skills to ease and manage any psychological difficulties you may experience throughout your life.
Health problems we frequently provide psychological support for include:
- Adjustment problems
- Health anxiety
- Diabetes and other hormone difficulties
- Chronic (long term) pain
- Symptoms relating to the heart
- Breathing problems
- Cancer
- Stomach problems like IBD and IBS
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Sexual problems linked to ill health
- Eating difficulties linked to our physical health condition
- Body image problems linked to surgery/ill health
Where do we work?
The medical psychology department at the Friarage Hospital is comprised of a team of clinical psychologists, trainee clinical psychologists and a medical secretary. We are based in the main outpatient department at the Friarage and in the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre.
Where else can I get help?
If you are in crisis
We are not a crisis service, but help is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year. If you need urgent psychological support, and feel you cannot keep yourself safe, please call 111 and select option 2, for urgent mental health support. Or Text SHOUT to 85258.
Talking Therapies
You are able to self-refer to North Yorkshire Talking Therapies.
Information about how to refer and the difficulties and presentations they are able to help with are on their website.
For support related to cancer
My Wellbeing Space has been developed to help you cope during and after cancer treatment by providing good quality information and support, whenever you need it.
For emotional/mental health support
- Via the First Contact mental health practitioner at your surgery
- Talking Therapies
- Recovery College Online: Provides a range of co-created, online educational courses and resources to people who might be struggling with mental health issues, families, friends, mental health workers and anyone else who might be interested
- Qwell: Provides free digital mental wellbeing support for adults across the UK
- National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK: 0800 689 5652
- The Samaritans: Telephone: 116 123 (24 hours per day, seven days per week) or email: [email protected]
- The Mix (under 25s): 0808 808 4994 (3pm to midnight, seven days per week)
- SANELINE: 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm to 10.30pm, seven days per week)
- if you require any further information, please contact us on 01609 763780