Clinical Health Psychology focuses on exploring the relationship between emotional, behavioural, psychological, social and biological aspects of physical health.
Working in Clinical Health Psychology, we recognise that having a physical health condition or injury can have a significant impact on someone’s life and the lives of those around them, for example, some people might:
Feel overwhelmed by their diagnosis, medical treatment and/or procedures
Find themselves constantly worrying (for example, about test results or the implications of their health problem in the future)
Struggle to come to terms with changes or loss (for example, loss of ability to do daily activities) and things that may have previously been taken for granted
Find it difficult to manage their health condition and/or treatment
Some physical health problems may be ‘invisible’ to others but have a significant effect on the person and make it difficult for others to understand how they feel. Sometimes relationships can be strained.
It is normal to feel strong emotions. There is no right or wrong way to feel. Emotions can include feeling upset, sad, anxious and angry. While many people have good support from family and friends, it can sometimes be helpful to talk to a professional who is specifically trained in helping people adjust to and manage the psychological and emotional challenges related to dealing with physical health problems.
