What is health psychology?

Health psychology is a relatively new and rapidly growing field of psychology in NZ. It sits half way in between clinical psychology and medicine and has a focus on helping people with physical health concerns. It involves looking at how a physical health concern impacts on your life but also how your life impacts on your physical health. More specifically, it looks at thoughts, feelings, behaviours, environment and how these factors affect our body. In the diabetes world, a common example is that people notice when they are stressed that their blood glucose levels are higher. This highlights the link between our emotions and what happens in our physical body. It also shows that if we are able to find ways to harness and work with our emotional states that we can have an impact on our physical health outcomes.

What should I expect in a health psychology session?

At the beginning of our work together we will undertake an assessment. This will usually be for one session but may require more time depending on your needs. An assessment will involve gathering information about your presenting issue/s, your mood, and a range of other factors in your life e.g. working situation, living situation, relationships, other health conditions etc. You will do most of the talking and I will guide the conversation and take notes as we go. We often use a selection of questionnaires in these conversations too. Questionnaires may be completed before the session or during the session. At the end of the assessment, we will decide on some therapy goals and develop a treatment plan going forward. An indication of number of sessions will usually be provided at this point also.

Can you help with general psychology issues?

Some areas of general psychology I am able to help with and others I am not. Review the services provided to get a sense of whether I may be able to help. If you are unsure of whether I can help, get in touch and provide me with an overview of what you are seeking help for. If I am not the right person to help, I may be able to provide some suggestions on other options to find what you are looking for support with.

Which approach do you use?

I use a warm, empathetic approach that is patient centred. I like to be collaborative to make sure that you are getting what you need out of the sessions. I tend to be structured, work on teaching skills rather than simply offering supportive listening, am thorough and prefer having defined therapy goals to guide us. In terms of the psychological models I use, I draw from a range of approaches including:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

• Motivational Interviewing

• Problem Solving Therapy

• Mindfulness-based self-compassion therapy

• Positive psychology

How many sessions?

We will have a better idea of this following the assessment session and after discussing your therapy goals. Brief therapy may be up to 4 sessions, a standard course is approximately 6- 12 sessions and some people require longer-term support. It all depends on your needs and we can discuss this together.

I need immediate support – where can I go?

Firstly, well done on seeking support – there is always help available. If you are feeling overwhelmed and distressed the best place to start is by calling or texting 1737 where free trained counsellors are available 24/7. Alternatively, if you are having suicidal thoughts and are concerned about your safety, you should ring your local mental health crisis service. Other alternative options may include visiting your GP clinic or turning up to your local hospital emergency department for support.

Can I refer myself?

Yes, of course you can refer yourself. Please get in touch by email and provide a summary of what you are seeking help with. I will get back to you and let you know if I am able to help. We will then arrange an appointment.

How can I prepare for therapy?

It is normal to feel nervous about seeking help and being vulnerable with a stranger. The first session is often the worst but it gets better as we get comfortable with each other. In fact, many people say that coming to see a psychologist is less scary than they initially thought. When you are getting ready for your first assessment, it is useful to think about what you would like help with, and what your goals are for therapy. You may wish to consider how you would like to be different if you could make a difference to the problem that you are coming with.