Long Term Condition Psychology Service image banner of nurse and doctors with brain

Long-Term Conditions Psychology Service Barking & Dagenham

We provide a specialist psychology service to adults diagnosed with long-term diabetes, cardiac, or respiratory health conditions. Our team of psychologists and psychotherapists deliver an in-house service as part of the Barking & Dagenham Long-Term Conditions Integrated Service.
The service encompasses the following:
  • Community Diabetes Service
  • Community Respiratory Service
  • Community Coronary Heart Disease Service
Additionally, we accept referrals from other NELFT services and general practitioners in Barking & Dagenham. Our offerings include psychological assessment, evidence-based psychological therapies, and case consultation/link working. We collaborate with individuals and, where appropriate, their carers. Interpreters are available for individuals who do not speak English.

How may we support you?

We understand that living with a long-term health condition can significantly impact your daily life, often causing distress and discomfort. Our team is here to support you in coping with and managing various challenges related to your condition through tailored talking therapy sessions.

We can assist with the following issues:

  • Emotional distress related to managing the condition
  • Relationship difficulties stemming from the condition
  • Feelings of being a burden to others
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Struggles with making lifestyle changes
  • Emotional responses to the impact of the condition, including:
    ➢ Frustration
    ➢ Fear, worry, or stress
    ➢ Low mood or loss of interest
    ➢ A sense of loss of control or feeling overwhelmed
    ➢ Feelings of isolation or loneliness

Through talking therapies, we can help you with:

  • Exploring your concerns
  • Accepting changes and limitations due to your condition
  • Implementing lifestyle changes
  • Finding long-term solutions
  • Developing coping skills and self-care strategies
  • Enhancing your strengths
  • Improving self-worth and self-esteem
  • Building resilience and support networks
  • Practicing relaxation and breathing exercises
  • Supporting carers and partners
  • Identifying helpful resources
  • Signposting to other services

FAQs

How may I access the service?

Individuals are referred to our service through the Integrated Long-Term Conditions teams at Porters Avenue Health Centre, other NELFT services, or Barking & Dagenham GPs. If you wish to be referred, please consult with your healthcare professional (e.g., diabetes, respiratory, or cardiac nurse, physiotherapist, dietitian, doctor, or mental health professional), who can complete our referral form on your behalf. 

Self-referrals are not accepted. For more information, please contact us at ClinicalHealthPsychology@nelft.nhs.uk.

Eligibility criteria 

Adults aged 18 and over, registered with a GP in Barking and Dagenham, who meet the following criteria:

  • Experiencing psychological or emotional distress related to their health condition, diagnosis, or treatment
  • Struggling to manage, cope with, or adjust to their health condition
  • Presenting with medically unexplained symptoms and/or health-related anxieties

Exclusion criteria 

  • Adults presenting with a high risk to themselves and/or others, who require a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) approach to mental health risk management, should initially be referred to the Barking & Dagenham Mental Health & Wellness Teams.
  • Adults with eating disorders should be referred to the Eating Disorder Service.
  • Adults with addictions should be referred to the local substance misuse service, St. Luke’s, as the primary referral route, with triage to the Long-Term Conditions Psychology Service on a case-by-case basis.
  • Adults requiring assessment and/or rehabilitation for cognitive, emotional, and behavioural difficulties due to a brain injury or neurological condition should be referred to their local neuropsychology service or the national service at UCLH.

Case consultation / link working 

Local staff and services are encouraged to contact us for case discussions, supervision, and training regarding patients whose long-term conditions are contributing to their presenting difficulties.

What happens next?

Following referral from your healthcare professional, we will contact you to arrange a pre-assessment appointment. During this appointment, you will have the opportunity to discuss your concerns and the support you need. We will also address any questions you may have about the process.

We offer three modes of therapy (in-person, video, and telephone sessions) with flexible frequency options (weekly, fortnightly, or monthly) based on your needs. Therapy requires a level of commitment, and you will be expected to attend sessions as agreed upon.

Is the process confidential?

All advice and therapeutic input are provided on a non-judgmental basis, respecting each individual’s uniqueness, cultural background, and personal circumstances. The therapy process is kept confidential. However, we may need to share relevant information or concerns with your healthcare team if they are pertinent to your care. This ensures you receive the best possible service. Any such sharing of information will be done with your consent and in consultation with you.

Resources

An introduction to Long Term Conditions Psychology Services:

Cardiac conditions: Heart health questions, information and support - BHF

Respiratory conditions: COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) | Asthma + Lung UK

Diabetes: Diabetes UK - Know diabetes. Fight diabetes. | Diabetes UK

For crisis support, please call 111 and select Option 2, or contact Mental Health Direct at 0800 995 1000. If you are in immediate danger and require urgent medical attention, call 999 immediately. 

  • Sessions were beneficial and very helpful. Gave me a new lease of life, helped accept condition and never thought I would. Realised to accept condition as it is. Talking things through has helped. I felt understood and supported.
  • Learnt techniques for relaxation and dealing with emotions through calm analysis of situations and behaviours. Explored different perspectives. Support was professional. Found internal resources. We worked as a team and multi-disciplinary approach with connections to other services.
  • Having someone to talk to was really helpful for me. Finding out ways to cope with mental health really helped. I was able to put myself first and take time for myself.
  • Being able to speak openly helped me to stop worrying about the past and think about the future. Therapy gave me the ability to realise I can only do what I can do and there is help out there if I ask for it.