Psychologist

Psychologists use principles developed from research into human experience and behaviour to help you make changes in your behaviour to live your life more effectively.

They can help you to:

• manage pain and fatigue
• keep healthy habits
• follow methods to reduce disability
• deal with other challenges more skilfully.

Many psychologists use cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

All psychologists providing treatment are registered as ‘practitioner’ psychologists within the Health Professions Council (HPC).

Clinical psychologists

Clinical psychologists are primarily interested in mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety-related disorders, although they work with people with many different kinds of health problems.

Health psychologists

Health psychologists or clinical health psychologists are mainly interested in physical health and illness. They focus on how your behaviour and psychological influences on your behaviour can interact with their health, their symptoms and their daily functioning.

Psychologists are trained to understand and alter (when needed) the following behaviours:

• diet
• exercise
• smoking
• disease management strategies
• patterns of daily life
• following doctors’ advice.