Health psychology is a rapidly developing field of psychology that involves understanding human behaviour in the context of health and illness. Like other areas of psychology, health psychology is based on theoretical foundations and is informed by a large body of research.
Health Psychologists working in clinical practice work with a variety of clients. Common areas of focus include helping people:
- cope with illness, e.g. diabetes, cancer, heart disease, asthma
- with conditions such chronic pain, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome
- change health-related behaviours, e.g. diet, exercise, smoking, medication adherence
- make sense of their illness and their reactions to it
- prepare for and cope with medical procedures, e.g. MRI’s, surgery, needle
