What is Healthy Psychology?

The Basics

A health psychologist in therapy or coaching examines a person's physical health condition and how this may be impacting mental health, or, vice versa. They will assess, formulate and plan to work with the client to overcome distressing concerns, or manage their mental and physical health goals.

For example, a person with cardiovascular disease or a recent cancer diagnosis may feel highly anxious, stressed or depressed which can further exacerbate the physical health condition. Or a person experiencing high functioning anxiety or OCD may find that they have struggles with sleeping, food habits and noticing their physical health is also taking a toll.

A Health Psychologist will consider a whole person approach to health and will work with a client to improve their confidence, resilience and motivation to make and stick to sustainable health goals. There is a direction for change, and the client will have a level of readiness to make that change.

Not everyone will experience distressing or disabling mental health concerns and so a Health psychologist may also work with people experiencing more milder mental blocks such as lack of motivation and will offer coaching sessions to build a toolbox of skills to implement into their day to day lives.