Please note we are not an emergency mental health service. We are unable to respond to any urgent mental heath concerns. If you are in crisis, please contact your GP , the NELFT crisis team on 0800 995 1000 , or please attend your local A&E Service.
Clinical Health Psychology services (CHPS)
Being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness or chronic painful condition, experiencing a sudden physical trauma such as a heart attack or stroke, or having to undergo painful or complex medical and surgical procedures are associated with very high levels of psychological distress (Johnston, 1998).
About the CHPS service
Our Clinical Health Psychology Service at NELFT is composed of a dedicated and experienced group of psychological therapists, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, psychotherapists, a range of trainees from accredited course, such as the North Thames doctoral clinical psychology programme and the Masters in Dramatherapy at Roehampton University, and other professional groups.
Our Clinical Health psychological therapists work in both acute hospital and community settings and offer assessment and evidence-based treatment of psychological difficulties directly related to physical health conditions. Some patients have both co-morbid physical health and mental health difficulties.
Our service model
Our service model includes offering the following:
- Direct assessment and therapeutic work with patients, individually, with families, carers or in groups.
- Work in teams, including consultation, advice and supervision of non-psychological staff (such as London Cancer Alliance approved Level 2 supervision), staff support and joint clinical work with other
professionals.
- Teaching and training staff in the application of psychological principles to improving health care, e.g. detecting anxiety and depression in patients, application of cognitive-behavioural therapy principles to practice and communication skills.
- Work at Clinical Service, Directorate or Trust level to develop policies, procedures or interventions that enhance the quality of psychological and physical care given to patients and staff e.g. management of staff stress and promoting well-being.
- Research and evaluation. Clinical Health psychological therapists are active in NELFT research and play a leading role in research and audit activities.
CHPS helpful links
IAPT
IAPT provides psychological input to clients with various long term physical health conditions, functional symptoms, chronic pain, low mood/depression and/or anxiety. Clients can be transferred between IAPT and specialist clinical health psychological services depending on where their needs can best be met. This can be decided on a case- by -case discussion. Either service may refer the client on to secondary care mental health services if their needs can better be met there. Please visit the website at NHS England » Adult Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme
Samaritans
Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen or call 116 123 for free.
Kooth
Visit Kooth, an online mental wellbeing community for young people at https://www.kooth.com/
Meet the CHPS team
Lindsay Royan
Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Trust Lead for Clinical Health and Specialist Psychological Services:
It is increasingly recognised that many physical health conditions may be caused by or worsened by psychological distress. I have always believed that health and well-being depends on taking into account the needs of the whole person – body, mind and spirit.
It is difficult to feel well if one or more of these aspects of ourselves is ignored. I would like to see a service in which anyone with a challenging physical condition can receive prompt and expert support and treatment from a dedicated psychological practitioner. I aim to develop the resources and services available to help people cope better with the psychological demands placed on them when dealing with physical illness or supporting another with health problems.
I specialise in working with older people, many of whom have complex health challenges. I work in a memory service and am interested in the effect of delirium on patients post-surgery. I worked with the Department of Health to secure a requirement that all stroke services have a dedicated clinical psychologist as part of the team. I have also worked in pain management services and specialise in treating trauma, whether or not associated with pain.
I have trained as a dramatherapist as well as a clinical psychologist as I am keen to be able to provide a range of evidence-based psychological interventions. I have also trained in mindfulness and other approaches to enhance well-being. I am an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, a Chartered Scientist, and a member of a number of Faculties and groups including older people, cancer, community psychology, and holistic psychology.
Marc Kingsley
Consultant Clinical Psychologist/ Registered Psychotherapist
I am the Strategic and Clinical Lead for Clinical Health Psychological Service. I have trained as both a clinical psychologist in 1995 and adult psychotherapist in 2003, and worked extensively in both mental health and physical health settings.
I have a keen interest in working together with our Trust Lead for CHPS and team in providing the best practice and highest quality or psychological care for patients, carers and families living with physical health conditions. I am also involved in the regular ongoing Psychological training and supervision of non-Psychological staff, such as in the provision of Level 2 supervision to cancer nurse specialists, consultation and training for teams and management of clinical health psychological practitioners.
I am deeply committed to the ongoing local and national development of Clinical Health Psychology. In 2016, I was privileged to be afforded the opportunity to be elected as a member of the British Psychological Society, Division of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Clinical Health Psychology . I am also a member of the British Psychological Society's Cardio-Respiratory, Critical Care & Liaison Psychology Network.
I work within the NELFT/ BHRUT collaborative partnership and clinically specialise in psycho-oncology. I am privileged to form part of the London Cancer Network Expert Reference Group, a dedicated forum for the promotion of pan-London excellence in cancer care.
Role definitions
HCPC registered Practitioner psychologists
Psychology is the scientific study of people, the mind and behaviour. Psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental functions in individual and social behaviour.
CHPS has registered psychologists from following areas/domains of practice:
- Clinical psychologists
- Counselling psychologists
Please see the following HCPC document on Standards of proficiency for practitioner psychologists:
http://www.hcpc-uk.co.uk/assets/documents/10002963SOP_Practitioner_psychologists.pdf
Psychotherapist
A healthcare professional who works with people delivering talking therapies over a long-term period to help them bring about effective change or enhance their well-being.
Counsellor
A healthcare professional who helps people talk about their feelings and to deal with personal or psychological problems.
Assistant Psychologist
A healthcare professional under the direct supervision of a qualified clinical or counselling psychologist who helps support people with mental health problems.
Administration Co-ordinator
A professional who provides business support to clinical and non-clinical staff.