How health affects the rest of life
A diagnosis, ongoing treatment or persistent pain can affect your mood, sleep, work, relationships and sense of who you are. Caring for a partner, parent or child with a health condition can be just as demanding, often with little time left for yourself.
What you can work on
- Worry, low mood or grief after a diagnosis.
- Coping with treatment, uncertainty and changed plans.
- Sleep difficulties and the strain of ongoing pain.
- The emotional load of caring, including exhaustion, guilt and boundaries.
- Talking with family and health professionals about what you need.
How sessions can help
Your psychologist asks how your health or caring role is affecting you and what you would like to change. Depending on your goals, sessions may draw on cognitive behavioural strategies, stress management, relaxation and mindfulness, and practical strategies for sleep and pain.
Psychological care works alongside your medical treatment, not in place of it. With your consent, your psychologist can keep your GP informed.
Support for carers
You can seek support for your own mental health while caring for someone else. Sessions can address the worry, guilt, exhaustion or relationship pressures of a caring role, and what you need to look after yourself. More about stress and burnout support.
Experience in this area
Dr Glenda Lattimore (Registered Psychologist) has supported people living with illness, including cancer, and people caring for others. She holds a PhD in Behavioural Science in Medicine. Background and qualifications.
Video and phone sessions
Video sessions use Coviu. Phone sessions are available for individual therapy when video isn’t practical and phone care is clinically suitable. You’ll need to be in Australia, somewhere private, during each session. How sessions work.
A health condition alone doesn’t qualify for a Medicare mental health rebate. If it is affecting your mental health, your GP can assess whether a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral are appropriate. How Medicare works.