Health Psychology

Health psychology focuses on how our biology, social context and psychological states influence health and illness. Historically, the mind and body were viewed as separate and distinct, but scientific studies have demonstrated that they are intimately connected (i.e., via neurochemistry) and that changes in physical health can influence mental and emotional health and vice versa. Environmental and social relationships can also affect our overall health. For example, research has shown that negative feelings such as stress, anxiety, sadness, anger and envy can directly affect a person’s physical condition. A common example of the mind-body relationship is when people experience anxiety or stress the blood pressure rises. The mind-body relationship is often bi-directional. For example, is that uncontrolled diabetes can contribute to depression and that depressed mood often makes it more difficult to maintain effective control of diabetes. By looking at the interrelationship between biological, psychological and social factors, health psychology can increase physical, mental and social well-being.

Areas of expertise include:

Health promotion and disease prevention
Adjustment to a new medical diagnosis
Difficulty managing health issues such as asthma, diabetes, cancer and health related life-style changes.
Individual and family adaptation to acute, traumatic and chronic illness
Alcohol and Substance abuse
Weight management and obesity
Anxiety, uncontrollable worries, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder
Insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep)
Stress Management
Work-life imbalance
Loss and Grief