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When physical illness has a psychological toll

Health Psychology Across The North East

Specialist support for the emotional and psychological impact of physical illness, from the shock of a new diagnosis to living well with a long-term condition.

  • 44 Practitioners
  • 6 North East clinics
  • Free First Pathway call

How Health Psychology works

Understanding the full picture of what illness does to a person.

Physical illness does not stay in the body. A diagnosis changes how you understand yourself, your future, and your relationships. Living with a long-term condition can involve grief, fear, frustration, and exhaustion that does not show up in blood tests but is real and significant. Health Psychology addresses exactly this territory.

Working with a Health Psychologist, you explore how psychological factors are shaping your experience of illness: the beliefs you hold about your condition, the behaviours that maintain or worsen symptoms, and the emotional weight that has built up alongside the physical. Approaches such as CBT, ACT, and CFT are adapted for health contexts, with the focus always on what will genuinely help you function and feel better.

Health Psychologists at Select Psychology are chartered practitioners with specialist training in physical health settings. The work is collaborative and goal-focused, whether that means adjusting to a new diagnosis, reducing pain-related anxiety, improving treatment adherence, or finding a way to live well with something that is not going away.

Health Psychology consultation at Select Psychology

What Health Psychology can help with

Support for the psychological side of physical illness

  • Adjustment to a new or unexpected diagnosis

  • Chronic pain and pain management

  • Cancer and oncology support

  • Long-term conditions: diabetes, heart disease, MS

  • Chronic fatigue and medically unexplained symptoms

  • Anxiety and depression related to physical health

  • Health behaviour change: sleep, weight, smoking

  • Fear of medical procedures or hospitals

  • Treatment adherence and motivation

  • End-of-life adjustment and grief

How Select routes the work

The right health psychologist, matched with care

Our Pathway Team takes the time to understand what you're going through before matching you with a practitioner who has the right health psychology expertise, experience, and availability. The right match helps you feel supported from the very first session and creates a stronger foundation for meaningful progress.

  1. 01

    A confidential first discussion

    The Pathway Team listens to what is happening physically and psychologically, and matches you to the right practitioner. Your therapist then agrees a personalised plan with you.

  2. 02

    Matched to a Health Psychologist

    Select routes you to a chartered Health Psychologist with relevant experience in your type of condition, whether that is chronic pain, cancer, long-term illness, or medically unexplained symptoms.

  3. 03

    Goal-focused, collaborative sessions

    Work begins by mapping the psychological dimensions of your health situation, then developing practical strategies to improve function, reduce distress, and build your capacity to manage what you are living with.

Practitioner fit

Health Psychology matched to your condition and goals.

Health Psychology covers a wide range of presentations, and the right practitioner matters. The Pathway Team takes time to understand your health situation before recommending a psychologist, so the match is based on relevant clinical experience, not just availability.

What the first conversation explores

  • The nature of your health condition and its current impact on daily life
  • Whether the focus is adjustment, symptom management, behaviour change, or something else
  • Location, online preference, and session timing
  • Any risk or safeguarding considerations
  • Which Health Psychologist's background and experience is the right fit

A simple first move

Not sure where to start? Talk it through with the Pathway Team.

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Who you might work with

Practitioners who offer this

Browse the full team, or let the Pathway Team match you.

Where we offer this

Health Psychology across the North East

Select Psychology Tynemouth clinic

Tynemouth

1 Tynemouth Road, NE30 4AY

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Select Psychology Newcastle clinic

Newcastle

The Grainger Suite, Dobson House, Regent Centre, NE3 3PF

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Also available all locations.

Explore related care

Conditions, clinics and related therapies

Conditions this helps with

Related therapies

Fees and insurance

Clear fees, and most major insurers accepted

No GP referral is needed. If you are using private medical insurance, tell the Pathway Team when you get in touch and they will help with authorisation.

Session fees

  • Relationship therapy£95
  • Specialist psychological therapy£110
  • Clinical & counselling psychology£140
  • Psychological assessmentsfrom £350
Insurers accepted

Bupa · Aviva · AXA · Allianz · Simply Health · Vita Health Group

Questions before you start

What people usually ask

1 What is Health Psychology?

Health Psychology is the study and practice of how psychological, behavioural, and social factors influence physical health. In a clinical setting, it means working with a psychologist to understand how a health condition is affecting the way you think, feel, and behave, and developing strategies to improve your wellbeing alongside medical treatment. It is delivered by chartered psychologists with specialist training in physical health settings.

2 What kinds of conditions does Health Psychology help with?

Health Psychology can be helpful at any point in the journey with a physical health condition: following a new diagnosis, during treatment, managing symptoms of a long-term condition, or adjusting to permanent changes in your health. It is particularly relevant for chronic pain, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, neurological conditions, chronic fatigue, and medically unexplained symptoms. It can also support health behaviour change such as improving sleep, managing weight, or stopping smoking.

3 How is Health Psychology different from general therapy?

Health Psychology is specifically focused on the intersection of physical and psychological health. A Health Psychologist understands how illness affects mental wellbeing and how psychological factors, such as anxiety, avoidance, or unhelpful illness beliefs, can in turn affect physical symptoms and recovery. General therapy can be helpful, but a Health Psychologist brings specialist knowledge of the medical landscape alongside the psychological one.

4 Is Health Psychology available online?

Yes. Select Psychology offers Health Psychology both in person at our Tynemouth and Newcastle clinics, and online. For many people managing a health condition, online sessions offer a practical alternative to clinic attendance. The Pathway Team will discuss the best option for your situation during the initial consultation.

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Get in touch

Ready to feel heard?

Leave your details and a member of our Pathway Team will be in touch, usually within one working day. Or call us directly on 0191 258 0008.

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  • No obligation, no pressure to book
  • No GP referral needed
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