Joanna Konstantopoulou
Registered Health Psychologist
Cardiology Counselling is a type of therapy that helps patients with cardiac disease. In partnership with a multidisciplinary team of health professionals, we are encouraged and supported to achieve and maintain optimum physical and psychosocial health. A cardiac intervention program consists of exercise, behavioural, educational and psychological change therapy based support.
If you would like to talk to Joanna for available treatment options then please get in touch with us by telephone at 020 8144 3041 or book online by clicking below.
This form of extensive intervention can help any patient suffering from pre or post issues due to cardiac problems. Examples of conditions that can benefit from cardiac intervention counselling are: myocardial infarction, coronary revascularisation, stable angina and chronic heart failure.
Treatment differs for each patient; however, it usually follows a progressive rehabilitation plan of our treatment method. Each phase is fundamental to support the full recovery of a cardiac patient, and the role of health psychology is essential in every phase to support and improve the psychological needs to the individual.
Cardiology counselling aims to support, improve and maintain health within patients who have experienced a cardiac event. Thus, a fundamental aim of intervention is to focus on improving a patient’s quality of life and the various factors that influence perceived life quality. It is evident that the onset, duration and after effect of a cardiac event can lead to decreased life quality, including depression, anxiety, stress, lack of socialisation and work related concerns.
Health psychology interventions will use a variety of techniques to improve quality of life, including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing and theory-based interventions using psychological models such as the stage of change.
Cardiac conditions are linked with long-term conditions such as depression and anxiety. Evidence states that 30.9 per cent of patients report elevated symptoms of depression and 26.1 per cent report elevated anxiety levels.
In order to improve these conditions, support from a psychologist is needed pre and post- surgery to focus on a patients’ negative thoughts and emotions, such as fear, and change them to more supportive and optimistic feelings.
If you would like to talk to someone and find more about Cardiology Counselling,please get in touch with us at the Health Psychology Clinic by telephone at 020 8144 3041 or book online by clicking below.
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