Medical Psychotherapy

Medical psychology applies psychological theories, scientific psychological findings, and techniques of psychotherapy, behavior modification, cognitive, interpersonal, family, and lifestyle therapy to improve the psychological and physical health of the patient.

 

Aside from the trauma cases as well as mental health issues that clients are faced with on a daily basis, there is an increase in the need for therapy when patients are dealing with diagnosis’, prognosis, treatments and life-threatening illness.

 

This includes patients who have been diagnosed with cancer, are struggling with physical health and wellness such as being hospitalised as well as surgery and their evaluation as well as support during these times.

 

When a patient is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, their lives crumble and they are often caught in a trap of despair. Our role is then to discuss the facts with them, discuss their emotions and feelings as well as guiding them to the understanding and steps of the last stage of life. Clients and their families are seen and supported in the therapeutic process as well as being provided with information and documents as to what should happen when they are in their last stages of life such as getting their Will and Testament in order, discussing their funeral and death wishes as well as a life file which will contain all their information for relatives to find easily when it is necessary.

 

Surgery can be daunting, whether you have had a bad experience or not, whether it is a lower risk or high risk surgery, the emotional implications are still relevant and how you feel about it to. It is for that reason that patients often book a session to discuss the facts of the surgery, their feelings and fear about the surgery too.

 

Other surgeries such as the Gastric Bypass Surgery require assessment and evaluation before the surgery as well as assistance before and after the surgery to make sure that they are on the right path. The surgeon needs to be made aware of certain risk factors of the patient and that falls into the responsibility of the therapist who gets this information in their assessments as well as in their sessions.