Why you might see a psychologist

Being referred to a Clinical  Psychologist doesn’t mean your pain isn’t real or that it’s “in your mind” – but it can affect your mood, making it harder for your to cope with your pain, and a Clinical Psychologist will help you become more aware of this relationship.

Pain can impact all areas of your life, such as your relationships, self-confidence, your ability to do activities that used to be important to you or make you more socially withdrawn. A Clinical Psychologist can help you build the skills you need to manage psychological difficulties, so they have less impact on your life.

One approach is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which helps develop skills for coping with thoughts, feelings and behaviours associated with pain.

Your first appointment with a Clinical Psychologist is usually a discussion to help us understand how pain affects your life. You can come alone, or you may find it helpful to bring someone who knows how pain affects you.