Medical Psychology
You may have some questions about what psychological therapy can offer you. This leaflet aims to address some of the things that people commonly ask.
What are psychological therapies?
These are therapies that are provided by either a psychologist or a psychological therapist who are specifically trained and professionally qualified to help people cope with stressful situations, such as cancer.
They will focus on helping you understand your difficulties better and to strengthen your own abilities to cope.
Some of the therapies used will include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Why have I been asked if I would like a psychological therapy?
When you are ill, it is natural to feel anxious about what may happen, sad about the things you can no longer do or angry about what seems unfair.
Sometimes sharing these feelings with family and friends, or doctors and nurses is all you may need. At other times there are thoughts and feelings that are too difficult to share, or with which you have trouble coping. Psychological therapy can help you to find different ways of managing these difficulties.
What sort of problems can a psychological therapy help with?
The diagnosis, symptoms and treatment of a life limiting illness can mean that people find it difficult to cope.
We recognise that illness affects the whole person, not just the body. Some of the following concerns can be helped by a Psychological Therapist:
Coping with symptoms or treatment
Making decisions about care
Feeling worried, fearful and angry
Dealing with uncertainty
Feeling unhappy about changes to the way you look
Coping with adjustments and change
Coming to terms with losses, depression and anxiety
Who can receive a psychological therapy?
You can be referred to the service if you have been diagnosed with cancer or a life limiting illness and are being seen by the South Tees community specialist palliative care team. Any member of the team can suggest a referral, or you can make this request via a member of the South Tees community specialist palliative care team.
What will happen at my appointment?
Following your referral, you will be sent an opt-in letter. After you opt-in, you will be offered an initial assessment appointment. In the first meeting, the clinical psychologist or psychological therapist will spend time finding out all the concerns and worries that are important to you. Together, you will decide if any further appointments are necessary within the service, and if not, will signpost you or make referral to a more appropriate service.
If you do not respond to the opt-in letter, you will be discharged from the service, but you are welcome to be re-referred.
Where will I be seen?
Appointments can be over the telephone, video call, face to face, at Redcar Primary Care Hospital or we can also arrange home visits.
How long do appointments last?
Appointments vary in length according to personal circumstances but would usually last around 50 minutes.
How many appointments will I have?
The number and frequency of appointments will vary according to the nature of the psychological work. If, at any time, you no longer wish to be seen please let the team know in advance so that your appointment can be offered to someone else. This will not have any effect on your medical care or treatment.
What about confidentiality?
What you talk about in sessions is generally kept confidential. However, in a healthcare setting, information that is relevant to your medical treatment may be discussed with doctors and nurses. Your Clinical Psychologist or Psychological Therapist will discuss this with you in the first appointment.
Please tell the clinician if there is something you do not wish for them to share. This is not usually a problem apart from in exceptional cases where there is a risk of harm to yourself or someone else.
Contact us
You can contact the Clinical Psychologist or Psychological Therapist via the South Tees community specialist palliative care team on.
Telephone: 01642 282708, Monday to Friday, 9am until 4pm
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 by emailing: [email protected]