Clinical and Health Psychology

Clinical psychology and health psychology are specialisations within Psychology.

Clinical psychologists have specialist training in the assessment and diagnosis of major mental illnesses and psychological problems. Clinical psychologists are trained in the delivery of a range of techniques and therapies with demonstrated effectiveness in treating mental health disorders. And they are specialists in applying psychological theory to solve complex clinical psychology problems requiring individually tailored interventions in areas such as perinatal mental health, rehabilitation, oncology and palliative care.

Health psychologists specialise in developing education and behaviour change programs to help people to recover from or self-manage chronic illness, trauma, injury or disability. Psychological treatments also reduce problems that can accompany and contribute to illness and injury, such as chronic pain, addiction, poor sleep, eating problems, anxiety, depression and emotional reactions such as anger and grief. Health psychologists help people to cope with the diagnosis and medical treatment of acute health problems and to facilitate medical care.

Clinical and health psychology services (inpatient and outpatient)at Eastern Health provide a range of supports to patients and members of the community in Eastern Melbourne. Services available include:

Psychology – Integrated Renal Service

Renal psychology provides short-term, outpatient based psychological assessment and treatment for patients of the Eastern Health Integrated Renal Service. We specialise in helping people:

Cope with and adjust to the emotional aspects of living with kidney disease
Manage the symptoms of renal disease (such as fatigue, restless legs, sleep disturbance)
Make lifestyle changes that may be recommended for health or required for transplantation (such as quitting smoking, losing weight, reducing fluid intake)
Manage stress, anxiety or mood problems that can affect how they deal with their kidney disease

Renal psychology also conducts ‘pre-transplant’ psychosocial assessments on all transplant candidates and live donors, as part of their ‘work-up’ for transplant.

By appointment: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9am-5pm.
Contact: 9094 9556

Psychology – Subacute inpatients

Clinical Psychology services are available for inpatients of the Rehabilitation, Orthopaedic and Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) wards at Angliss Hospital, the Peter James Centre and Wantirna Health. Clinical psychologists in these programs specialise in helping patients experiencing depression, anxiety, grief and loss, adjustment, pain management, behavioural difficulties, and family issues. Clinical psychologists work as part of the multidisciplinary team to assist and support the rehabilitation process.

Angliss Hospital: Mondays 9am-4pm (and other times by arrangement) Contact: 9764 6175

Peter James Centre: Mondays and Tuesdays 9am-5pm Contact: 9881 1888

Wantirna Health: Wednesdays and Thursdays 8.30am-4pm Contact: 9955 1210

Psychology – Maternity

Clinical Psychology services are available for women who are booked to have their baby at an Eastern Health maternity hospital
There are outpatient services to provide support and counselling during pregnancy and in the early weeks of the post-natal period. Inpatient services are also available in the days surrounding delivery for any mental health concerns that may arise.

Services include assistance for:

Ante-natal and post-natal depression and anxiety or other pregnancy related mental health concerns
Coping and adjustment to pregnancy, an unexpected or traumatic birth experience or significant difficulties adjusting to a new baby
Grief associated with the loss of a pregnancy. In the event of pregnancy loss, there can be unmet expectations, feelings of depression, sadness, anger, guilt and anxiety and difficulty returning to normal activities.

Services offered are based on individual needs.
Angliss Hospital: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: Contact: 9764 6175