HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY AND COACHING

Health psychology and coaching

what is h ealth psychology?

The goal of health psychology is to study the psychological processes underlying health, illness and health care, and to apply these findings to the promotion and maintenance of health across lifespans and health conditions from The Division of Health Psychology.


Health Psychologists use their knowledge of psychology and health to promote behaviour change and improve general well-being. They work with patients, health care professionals, carers/families, directly with individuals or with organisations. 

why cho ose a h ealth psychologist?

Health Psychologists are specially trained to help people identify any barriers to making lifestyle changes and support people to overcome barriers to help improve their health and wellbeing. Health Psychologists offer psychological therapy in which they are trained and work in collaboration with the client to form solutions to health-related issues, using the most appropriate psychological strategies in a safe and friendly environment. 

what is h ealth CoaChing?

Sometimes people don’t need to have psychological therapy if their health issues or lifestyle habits do not stem from specific traumatic life events, distress for example. In some instances, people may benefit from health coaching sessions to help empower and motivate them to achieve their goals related to health and wellbeing. 


Health Coaching is a practice of health education within a coaching framework and is underpinned by scientific research, psychological principles and behaviour change techniques. 


Health Coaching can help people gain and use the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become active participants in their health so that they can reach their self-identified health and wellbeing goals. 


All health coaching sessions are tailored to the person’s needs to enable long-lasting health behaviour to change in a safe and friendly environment. 

what to Expect from the first session with a h ealth psychologist?

At Evoking Health, you will be greeted with a bespoke, high quality health psychology service that will include:

One to one appointment/s starting with an Initial Assessment to better understand your needs without making assumptions about you or your life. 

You will be asked to complete questionnaires to assess your health status, to gain a thorough appreciation of the difficulties you are experiencing. 

Your barriers to making changes and readiness to change will be explored. 

You will be treated with dignity and respect in a friendly and non-judgmental atmosphere.

what to Expect from th e first session with a h ealth psychologist?

At Evoking Health Limited, you will be greeted with a bespoke, high quality health psychology service that will include:

You will be asked to complete questionnaires to assess your health status, to gain a thorough appreciation of the difficulties you are experiencing. 

You will be treated with dignity and respect in a friendly and non-judgmental atmosphere.

One to one appointment/s starting with an Initial Assessment to better understand your needs without making assumptions about you or your life. 

Your barriers to making changes and readiness to change will be explored. 

You will be asked to complete questionnaires to assess your health status, to gain a thorough appreciation of the difficulties you are experiencing. 

One to one appointment/s starting with an Initial Assessment to better understand your needs without making assumptions about you or your life. 

You will be treated with dignity and respect in a friendly and non-judgmental atmosphere.

Your barriers to making changes and readiness to change will be explored. 

follow up th erapy sessions 

The Health Psychologist will discuss and formulate a treatment plan with you.


  Completing tasks outside of the session will be a key part of the treatment process (e.g., using diaries to record your information related to the issue you are trying to address or change).


  You will learn practical skills and strategies to help you manage and cope more effectively with the difficulties you are currently facing.


How many sessions will I need is a common question that clients usually ask before starting therapy. This is tricky to answer as the same problem will impact on everyone differently. In some cases, people may just want to have a single assessment session to better understand their issues in order to move forwards and makes changes. However, in most cases, 5 to 8 sessions maybe sufficient, followed by some maintenance sessions to help stay on focused on the set goals or to revise goals. 


maintenance sessions 

Building and sustaining motivation to maintain the changes you make to your lifestyle, routines and health is the key to long-long lasting change. 


Motivation can fluctuate from time to time due to reasons beyond your control. That’s why one-off maintenance sessions after you have completed your sessions with the Health Psychologist (or 6/12 months after) can really help to restart and/or reboot your goals and help you stay on track and feel good too.

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blogs

As a Health Psychologist, what motivated me to establish the Mind and Body Retreat?

by Dr Neesha Patel • 13 Mar, 2024
Why a Mind and Body Retreat?

How value-aligned goals can help you to achieve your health and wellbeing goals

by Neesha Patel • 23 Jan, 2024
Think back to the start of the New Year. Many of us have goals to improve our health and this includes weight loss, fitness, having a healthy diet, sleeping well, and to exercise more, but over a short period of time old habits start to kick back in. Emerging evidence shows that when your health and wellbeing goals are aligned with your personal values (what matters to you the most), you are more likely to achieve your long-term goals, even when faced with challenges or setbacks. Why does this happen, you might wonder? Why is it that every year I set goals and have New Year’s resolutions, and by spring just struggle to achieve the goals? Well, often we make the goal too hard for the brain to be able to manage and process the changes that are being made. We often don't realise the power of the brain when making health behaviour changes, but when we restrict or change an old habit too quickly, our brain struggles to either accept, maintain or adapt to the change. Quite often we set the bar too high when we start to do something new by setting unrealistic expectations and goals, and not giving ourselves enough time to be able to undertake the activity to achieve the goal. For example, if the goal is too difficult to achieve, we may give up or reduce the effort in attaining the goal and feel like a failure by the end of January or February once we give up. For some, emotions such as guilt, shame, worry, sadness or even anger and frustration may start to show up, making it harder to keep on track and to stay motivated. It may be hard to believe, but taking a step back and re-framing and rethinking the way we set goals can help you to achieve your goals.

Thinking about your Mental Health

02 Nov, 2022
Thinking about your Mental Health Last month, on Monday 10th October 2022, we celebrated World Mental Health Day. This day raised awareness about the importance of Mental Health and how to look after our mental health. However, I believe that we should be thinking about our mental health on a regular basis and incorporate simple activities into our daily routine that help to boost our mental health. Mental health is a key part of health and well-being that enables us to cope with daily life, learn new skills, work, build relationships and shape the world we live in. However, in health psychology the focus is not just on mental health but mental and physical health. Why? Because research shows that our mind and body are connected. What we think (mind) drives our actions and behaviour (body) and impacts on how we feel (emotions) (see image below). For example: If you get invited to a party but you think that nobody likes you and nobody wants to talk to you, the chances are that you won’t end up going to the party and will feel quite sad and upset. Or If you have a thought such as ‘I can’t be bothered to go to the gym today because I don’t feel like it’, the chances are that you won’t end up going and may feel frustrated and guilty.
Show More

As a Health Psychologist, what motivated me to establish the Mind and Body Retreat?

by Dr Neesha Patel • 13 Mar, 2024
Why a Mind and Body Retreat?

How value-aligned goals can help you to achieve your health and wellbeing goals

by Neesha Patel • 23 Jan, 2024
Think back to the start of the New Year. Many of us have goals to improve our health and this includes weight loss, fitness, having a healthy diet, sleeping well, and to exercise more, but over a short period of time old habits start to kick back in. Emerging evidence shows that when your health and wellbeing goals are aligned with your personal values (what matters to you the most), you are more likely to achieve your long-term goals, even when faced with challenges or setbacks. Why does this happen, you might wonder? Why is it that every year I set goals and have New Year’s resolutions, and by spring just struggle to achieve the goals? Well, often we make the goal too hard for the brain to be able to manage and process the changes that are being made. We often don't realise the power of the brain when making health behaviour changes, but when we restrict or change an old habit too quickly, our brain struggles to either accept, maintain or adapt to the change. Quite often we set the bar too high when we start to do something new by setting unrealistic expectations and goals, and not giving ourselves enough time to be able to undertake the activity to achieve the goal. For example, if the goal is too difficult to achieve, we may give up or reduce the effort in attaining the goal and feel like a failure by the end of January or February once we give up. For some, emotions such as guilt, shame, worry, sadness or even anger and frustration may start to show up, making it harder to keep on track and to stay motivated. It may be hard to believe, but taking a step back and re-framing and rethinking the way we set goals can help you to achieve your goals.

Thinking about your Mental Health

02 Nov, 2022
Thinking about your Mental Health Last month, on Monday 10th October 2022, we celebrated World Mental Health Day. This day raised awareness about the importance of Mental Health and how to look after our mental health. However, I believe that we should be thinking about our mental health on a regular basis and incorporate simple activities into our daily routine that help to boost our mental health. Mental health is a key part of health and well-being that enables us to cope with daily life, learn new skills, work, build relationships and shape the world we live in. However, in health psychology the focus is not just on mental health but mental and physical health. Why? Because research shows that our mind and body are connected. What we think (mind) drives our actions and behaviour (body) and impacts on how we feel (emotions) (see image below). For example: If you get invited to a party but you think that nobody likes you and nobody wants to talk to you, the chances are that you won’t end up going to the party and will feel quite sad and upset. Or If you have a thought such as ‘I can’t be bothered to go to the gym today because I don’t feel like it’, the chances are that you won’t end up going and may feel frustrated and guilty.
Show More

ready to make positive lifestyle changes?

I can help you to move forwards and live a happier and more fulfilling life. Let’s discuss your needs and arrange an initial consultation today. 

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