7 Types of Practioner Psychologist

8/11/2019 7 Types of Practioner Psychologist

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Forensic Psychologyis the intersection betweenpsychologyand thejustice system. It involves

understanding fundamental legal principles, particularly with regard toexpert witnesstestimony and thespecific content area of concern (e.g., competence to stand trial, child custody and visitation, or workplace

discrimination), as well as relevantjurisdictionalconsiderations (e.g., in the United tates, the definition of

insanityin criminal trials differs from state to state) in order to be able to interact appropriately withjudges,attorneysand other legal professionals. !n important aspect of forensic psychology is the ability to testify in

court as an expert witness, reformulating psychological findings into the legal language of the courtroom,

providing information to legal personnel in a way that can be understood."#$%urther, in order to be acredible

witnessthe forensic psychologist must understand the philosophy, rules, and standards of the judicial system.&rimary is an understanding of the adversarial system. 'here are also rules about hearsay evidenceand most

importantly, the exclusionary rule.ack of a firm grasp of these procedures will result in the forensic

psychologist losing credibilityin the courtroom."$! forensic psychologist can be trained in clinical,social,organi*ationalor any other branch of psychology."+$

enerally, a forensic psychologist is designated as an expert in a particular area of expertise. 'he number of

areas of expertise in which a forensic psychologist -ualifies as an expert increases with experience andreputation. %orensic neuropsychologistsare generally asked to appear as expert witnesses in court to discuss

cases that involve issues with the brain orbrain damage. 'hey may also deal with issues of whether a person

is legally competent to stand trial.uestions asked by the court of a forensic psychologist are generally not -uestions regarding psychology but

are legal -uestions and the response must be in language the court understands. %or example, a forensicpsychologist is fre-uently appointed by the court to assess a defendant/s competence to stand trial. 'he court

also fre-uently appoints a forensic psychologist to assess the state of mind of the defendant at the time of theoffense. 'his is referred to as an evaluation of the defendant/s sanity or insanity (which relates to criminal

responsibility) at the time of the offense."0$'hese are not primarily psychological -uestions but rather legal

ones. 'hus, a forensic psychologist must be able to translate psychological information into a legalframework."1$

%orensic psychologists may be called on to provide sentencing recommendations,treatment

recommendations or any other information the judge re-uests, such as information regardingmitigatingfactors, assessment of future risk and evaluation of witness credibility. %orensic psychology also involves

training and evaluating police or other law enforcement personnel, providing law enforcement with criminal

profiles and in other ways working with police departments. %orensic psychologists may work with any partyand in criminalor familylaw. In the United tates they may also help withjury selection."2$

Areas of forensic psychology

!ccording to 3.4. regory inPsychological Testing: History, Principles, and Application, the main roles of a

psychologistin the court system are eight5fold6

7valuation of possible malingering

!ssessment of mental state for insanityplea

8ompetence to stand trial

&rediction of violence and assessment of risk

7valuation of child custody in divorce

!ssessment of personal injury

Interpretation ofpolygraphdata peciali*ed forensic personality assessment

Professional opportunities in forensic psychology

'here are numerous professional positions and employment possibilities for forensic psychologists. 'hey can

be practiced at several different employment settings.

Academic researcher

!cademic forensic psychologists engage in teaching, research, training and supervision of students, and

other education5related activities."9$'hese professionals usually have an advanced degree in &sychology

(most likely a &h:). ;hile their main focus is research, it is not unusual for them to take on any of the otherpositions of forensic psychologists. 'hese professionals may be employed at various settings, which include
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expert_witnesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competence_(law)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_jurisdictionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insanity_defensehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawyerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_professionalshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testimonyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credible_witnesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credible_witnesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adversarial_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearsay_evidencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusionary_rulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credibilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_psychologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_psychologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organizational_psychologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology#cite_note-specialty-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuropsychologisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_damagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mens_reahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mens_reahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology#cite_note-grisso-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology#cite_note-grisso-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology#cite_note-shapiro1984-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presentence_investigation_reporthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitigating_factorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitigating_factorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_selection_in_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology#cite_note-lawbehavior-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology#cite_note-lawbehavior-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychologisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insanity_defencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competence_(law)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divorcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygraphhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology#cite_note-Handout-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expert_witnesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competence_(law)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_jurisdictionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insanity_defensehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawyerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_professionalshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testimonyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credible_witnesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credible_witnesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adversarial_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearsay_evidencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusionary_rulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credibilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_psychologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_psychologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organizational_psychologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology#cite_note-specialty-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuropsychologisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_damagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mens_reahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mens_reahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology#cite_note-grisso-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology#cite_note-shapiro1984-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presentence_investigation_reporthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitigating_factorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitigating_factorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_selection_in_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology#cite_note-lawbehavior-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychologisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insanity_defencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competence_(law)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divorcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygraphhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology#cite_note-Handout-7


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colleges and universities, research institutes, government or private agencies, and mental health agencies."9$

%orensic psychology research pertains to psychology and the law, whether it be criminal or civil."9$3esearchers test hypotheses empirically and apply the research on issues related to psychology and the law."


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for individuals who are at a high risk of committing a violent offense."9$!s for civil proceedings, treatment

providers may have to treat families going through divorce andEor custody cases. 'hey may also providetreatment to individuals who have suffered psychological injuries due to some kind of trauma."9$'reatment

providers and evaluators work in the same types of settings6 forensic and state psychiatric hospitals, mental

health centers, and private practice. Cot surprisingly, their work may greatly overlap. !nd although notethically encouraged, the same forensic psychologist may take on both the role of treatment provider and

evaluator for the same client.

Trial consultant

%orensic psychologists often are involved in trial consulting and are part of legal psychology.! trialconsultant, a jury consultant, or a litigation consultant, are social scientists who work with legal professionals

such as trial attorneys to aid in case preparation, which includes selection of jury, development of case

strategy, and witness preparation."9$"


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'he forensic psychologist views the client or defendant from a different point of view than does a traditional

clinical psychologist. eeing the situation from the client/s point of view or empathi*ing is not the forensicpsychologist/s task. 'raditional psychological tests and interview procedure are not sufficient when applied

to the forensic situation. In forensic evaluations, it is important to assess the consistency of factual

information across multiple sources. %orensic evaluators must be able to provide the source on which anyinformation is based. 'reating psychologists do not routinely assess response bias or performance validity,

whereas forensic psychologist usually do.

%orensic psychologists perform a wide range of tasks within the criminal justice system.

$alingering!n overriding issue in any type of forensic assessment is the issue of malingering and deception. !n evaluee

may intentionally exaggerate or feign mental disorder symptoms. 'he forensic psychologist must always

keep this possibility in mind. If the forensic psychologist has the opportunity to observe the evaluee acrosstime andEor in diverses settings, the probability that he or she will detect deception likely increases as usually

have difficulty maintaining false symptoms consistently over time and across situations."##$In some criminal

cases, the court views malingering or feigning illness as obstruction of justice and sentences the defendantaccordingly. In United States v. Binion, malingering or feigning illness during a competency evaluation was

held to be obstruction of justiceand led to an enhanced sentence."#$!s such, fabricating mental illness in a

competency5to5stand5trial assessment now can be raised to enhance the sentencing level following a guiltyplea."#$

Competency evaluationsIf there is a -uestion of the accused/s competency to stand trial, a forensic psychologist is appointed by the

court to examine and assess the individual. 'he individual may be in custody or may have been released onbail. Dased on the forensic assessment, a recommendation is made to the court whether or not the defendant

is competent to proceed to trial. If the defendant is considered incompetent to proceed, the report or

testimony will include recommendations for the interim period during which an attempt at restoring theindividual/s competency to understand the court and legal proceedings, as well as participate appropriately in

their defense will be made."#+$>ften, this is an issue of committed, on the advice of a forensic psychologist,

to a psychiatric treatment facility until such time as the individual is deemed competent."0$

!s a result ofFord v. Wainwright,a case by a%lorida inmate on death rowthat was brought before the

upreme 8ourt of the United tates, forensic psychologists are appointed to assess the competency of an

inmate to be executed in death penalty cases."#0$"#1$"#2$

Sanity evaluations%edit&

'he forensic psychologist may also be appointed by the court to evaluate the defendant/s state of mind at the

time of the offense. 'hese are defendants who the judge, prosecutor or public defender believe, through

personal interaction with the defendant or through reading the police report, may have been significantlyimpaired at the time of the offense. In other situations, the defense attorney may decide to have the defendant

plead not guilty by reason of insanity. In this case, usually the court appoints forensic evaluators and the

defense may hire their own forensic expert. In actual practice, this is rarely a plea in a trial. ! plea forinsanity is actually used in only # in #GGG cases. !ssessments that would be used can include the Jental

tate at time of >ffense (J>), an assessment that judges the individual/s mental state when the offense was

committed, helping to decide whether they should be held liable for the crime. 'he individual can also plea

/Cot uilty by 3eason of Insanity/ (C3I) or /uilty but Jentally Ill/ (DJI), cases where the individualwill start their sentence in a mental health facility and then complete it in a correctional facility. Usually any

judgments about the defendant/s state of mind at the time of the offense are made by the court before the trial

process begins."#9$

Sentence mitigation%edit&

7ven in situations where the defendant/smental disorderdoes not meet the criteria for a not guilty by reason

of insanity defense, the defendant/s state of mind at the time, as well as relevant past history of mentaldisorder and psychological abuse can be used to attempt a mitigation of sentence. 'he forensic psychologist/s

evaluation and report is an important element in presenting evidence for sentence mitigation. 'he ixth

8ircuit 8ourt of !ppealsreversed the decision of a lower court because counsel did not thoroughlyinvestigate the defendant/s mental history in preparation for the sentencing phase of the trial. "#


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the court stated that such investigation should include members of the defendant/s immediate and extended

family, medical history, and family and social history (including physical and mental abuse, domesticviolence, exposure to traumatic events and criminal violence)."#?$'his issue was further addressed in Wiggins

v. SmithandBigy v. !ret"e.

'ther evaluations

%orensic psychologists are fre-uently asked to make an assessment of an individual/s dangerousness or riskof re5offending. 'hey may provide information and recommendations necessary for sentencing purposes,

grants of probation, and the formulation of conditions of parole, which often involves an assessment of theoffender/s ability to be rehabilitated. 'hey are also asked -uestions of witness credibility and malingering."##$>ccasionally, they may also providecriminal profiles to law enforcement."G$"#$"$

:ue to the upreme 8ourt decision upholding involuntary commitment laws for predatory sex offenders in

#ansas v. Hendric"s, it is likely that forensic psychologists will become involved in making

recommendations in individual cases of end5of5sentence civil commitment decisions.

Ethical implications

! forensic psychologist generally practices within the confines of the courtroom, incarceration facilities, and

other legal setting. It is important to remember that the forensic psychologist is e-ually likely to be testifying

for the prosecution as for the defense attorney. ! forensic psychologist does not take a side, as do the

psychologists described below."+$

'he ethical standards for a forensic psychologist differ from those of aclinical psychologist or other practicing psychologist because the forensic psychologist is not an advocate for

the client and nothing the client says is guaranteed to be kept confidential. 'his makes evaluation of theclient difficult, as the forensic psychologist needs and wants to obtain all information while it is often not in

the client/s best interest to provide it. 'he client has no control over how that information is used."0$:espite

the signing of a waiver of confidentiality, most clients do not reali*e the nature of the evaluative situation."#G$

%urthermore, the interview techni-ues differ from those typical of a clinical psychologist and re-uire anunderstanding of the criminal mind and criminal and violent behavior."1$%or example, even indicating to a

defendant being interviewed that an effort will be made to get the defendant professional help may be

grounds for excluding the expert/s testimony."2$

In addition, the forensic psychologist deals with a range of clients unlike those of the average practicing

psychologist. Decause the client base is by and large criminal, the forensic psychologist is immersed in anabnormal world."9$!s such, the population evaluated by the forensic psychologist is heavily weighted withspecific personality disorders."


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#) Ciet*el, Jichael (#?


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%orensic psychology is the interaction of the practice or study of psychology and the law. &sychologists

interested in this line of applied work may be found working in prisons, jails, rehabilitation centers, policedepartments, law firms, schools, governmentagencies, or in private practice, to name a few. 'hey may work

directly with attorneys, defendants, offenders, victims, pupils, families, or with patients within the state/s

corrections or rehabilitation centers. >ther psychologists interested in forensic psychology focus on the studyof psychology and the law. 'hey may work in colleges, universities, government agencies, or in other

settings interested in researching and examining the interaction of human behavior, criminology, and the

legal system.

&sychologists working in forensic psychology often come from a wide variety of education,training, andwork experiences. !ll hold a doctorate degree in a field of psychology. ome graduate training programs

now offer speciali*ations in the field. ome of these psychologists also have education or training in the law

or even hold a 4uris :octor 5 the degree earned by attorneys. Jost working in applied settings such as aprivate practice or prison also hold a license to practice granted from their state/s board of psychology

following the successful completion of an approved doctoral degree, pre and post doctoral training years, and

passing scores on a series of board examinations. 'he exception to this is that some governmental agenciesare considered exempt settings, which allows unlicensed psychologists to practice with supervision for a

period of time.

&sychologists working in applied forensic psychology settings may provide a multitude of services, too manyto fully describe here. enerally though, psychologists working in corrections may attend to the mental

healthcare needs of inmates including, screening, psychological assessment, individual therapy,grouptherapy,angermanagement, crisis management, court5ordered evaluations, or daily inpatient rounds. 'hey

may also consult with prison staff, inmate attorneys, advocates, and court systems on a variety of mentalhealth related topics or recommendations garnered as a result of psychological assessment. &sychologists

working directly with attorneys may provide psychological assessment,personalityassessment, assessment

of mitigating factors, assessment of sexual offenders, competency evaluations, and recommendations forparental custody or visitation, to list just a few. &sychologists working in police departments often provide

services for the department employees, such as counseling or crisis management.

&sychologists working in forensic psychology research or academic settings may teach or research on anytopic in which psychology and the law interact. 'he field seems limitless. 'o name a few popular areas6

criminal profiling, crime trends, effective mental health treatment for offenders, effective treatment for

substance abusers, techni-ues for jury selection, impact of divorce, custody, separation, visitation onchildren. 'he list goes on.

http6EEwww.psychologytoday.comEblogEtake5all5prisonersEG#GG2Ewhat5is5forensic5psychology

)ealth Psychology Center Presents* +hat is )ealth Psychology,

;ritten by:r. 8heryl Jac:onald, 3C, &sy@:.on 4uly #, G#+
http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/politicshttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/educationhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/educationhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/psychotherapyhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/psychotherapyhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/angerhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/angerhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/angerhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/leadershiphttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/personalityhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/divorcehttp://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/take-all-prisoners/201006/what-is-forensic-psychologyhttp://healthpsychology.org/author/cheryl-macdonald/http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/politicshttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/educationhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/psychotherapyhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/angerhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/leadershiphttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/personalityhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/divorcehttp://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/take-all-prisoners/201006/what-is-forensic-psychologyhttp://healthpsychology.org/author/cheryl-macdonald/


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In the field of physical health and psychological well5being, health psychologyspeciali*es in exploring

biological, psychological, cultural, societal, and environmental factors of life, and how each of these affectsphysical health.

'here are some who embrace the spiritual or religious aspects to this model, however, traditionally the model

includes biological, psychological, and social components. ;hile it may be common knowledge amongcertain populations to know about the negative effects that a person@s emotional mindset can have on their

health, there continues to be a surprising amount of denial about the roles of theinteractivity of these aspects

in a person@s life. &hysical Kealth can be directly effected by the environment in which we live.

;hat is Kealth &sychologyQ'he central strategy practiced within health psychology is the bio5psycho5social design. 'he Dritish Kealth

ocietyexplains that health and disease are the effects of a blending of biological, psychological and social

factors. Diological determinants consist of genetic conditions and inherited personality traits. &sychologicalfactors are anxiety levels, personality features and lifestyle. ocial determinants consist of cultural views,

family relationships and support systems.

Kealth psychologys roots are in the belief that everyone deserves proper medical and psychological careeven when daily habits, career, or family life problems contribute to the decrease in physical health andEor

psychological well5being. 'he bio5psycho5social model views health, wellness and illness as being a result of

several different inter5related factors effecting a person@s life from biological characteristics, to behavioraland social conditions (Delloc, C. M Dreslow, #?9).

&sychological determinantsin health have been a focus since the beginning of the Gth century and resultsexplain that people who eat regular meals, maintain a healthy weight, do not smoke, drink little alcohol,

receive ade-uate sleep and exercise regularly are in better health and live longer. &sychologists were alsodiscovering associations between psychological and physiological processes. 'hese include the influence of

anxiety on the cardiovascular and immune systems and finding that the functioning of the immune system

could be modified by training. 'here was also a growing awareness of the importance of soundcommunication skills during office visits.

'he !merican &sychological !ssociations division +


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certain age. It would not matter, if the daughter kept away from the damaging rays of the sun or if she did not

smoke. he is a cancer risk because of the genetic predisposition for the disease that runs in the familyhistory. Kowever, there is no guarantee that daughters of mothers that have breast cancer will suffer the

same. It simply means that the :C! (the genetic material that people share with their family) may include a

marker that leaves her more susceptible to the disease than someone else who does not have this marker.ometimes when people feel sick, tired, or overrun, or when they develop certain diseases, it is not only in

response to a virus or bacteria infiltrating the central nervousand immune systems, but rather a response to

what is happening within the body, brain and subconscious mind. 8atching a cold is only one example. 'ake

heart, I am obviously not leaving out the biological component, meaning the virus that attacked theweakened immune system. Keart related conditions,breathing conditions,muscle and joint pain conditions

and various physical ailments are common among people coping with the emotional and psychological

stresses of modern day life. 'he release of the AstressB chemicals in the body weakens the body@s defenses infighting a physical illness. 'he more people understand the power of the mind, the more they will reali*e that

physical well5being directly relates to thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

&eople born from alcoholic parents tend to have more addictive personalities than those whose parents werenot alcoholic. ome emotional and mental ailments directly correlate to the abuse endured in childhood

others tend to be more genetic in nature. Kowever, psychological, social and environmental factors all play

key prominent roles in managing addictions, along with this genetic tendency.>ne way to describe the basics of health psychology is by exploring the smoking addiction. &art of the

smoking habit is the physical component of addiction to nicotine as withdrawal symptoms set in once theprocess of -uitting begins. ! typical physician will prescribe medicines to suppress the physical addiction

symptoms of withdrawal, treating the smoking addiction as any problem. Kowever, studiesshow that there isa remarkably strong probability that the individual will just start smoking again. ! chain smoker that uses a

nicotine patch may have difficulty -uitting if they continue to believe that smoking is not harmful, or that

smoking helps to relax. In these cases, even with the patch, the smoker may easily return to smoking. 'heaverage counselor or physician is only treating the physical withdrawal aspects of smoking. 'here is a

psychological component to the addiction as the smoker stands to gain rewards, no matter how temporary

from each cigarette. moking may suppress the appetite, offer an opportunity to relax and unwind, or providea momentary distraction to current stresses. 'here is also a behavioral aspect to smoking, such as always

lighting up when getting in the car, having a cigarette right after dinner, or using a cigarette as a stress

reliever.7very year scientists are discovering new insights into how the brain, body and mind inter5relate and the

ways in which they link to each other in harmony. 'he human brain is one of the most intricate, mysterious,

and powerful organs in the entire universe. cience has been able to conjure up ideas in the mind such as,

concepts in mathematics and imagine worlds that at this time do not exist. 'hese ideas stem from peoplewanting to explore the unknown aspects of the mind which has a relationship to the brain and the

environment in which they live.

'here is a distinctive respect for what the mind is capable of achieving in relation to the brain, medicine andpsychology. cience understands much more than even twenty years ago regarding the interaction between

emotions and pain, of the thought processes involving healing and the remarkable healing powers of the

human body.

ociety and 8ultural %actors play key roles in physical healthJokdad et al., GG0reveal that fifty percent of all deaths in the United tates can be associated to ways of

life or other risk determinants that are for the most part preventable. Kealth psychologists work with

individuals in hopes of eliminating these risk factors to decrease failing health and improve overall health.7xpectations and gender roles can put a large amount of pressure on someone to behave and act in a distinct

fashion. 3acism and religious factors often are stressors in people@s lives and over time these pressures have

an impact on overall health. %or example, white, middle5class people tend to have better overall health thaninner5city minorities.Health psychologyexplores the underlying factors that have a direct and indirect

impact on -uality of life (8assileth et al., #?


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frustrating the project the more risk people are placing themselves into developing an emotional andEor

psychological illness. ;hen someone is under stress, the body produces chemicals and hormones that it doesnot re-uire and some of these substances may be harmful. 'he difficult conditions and the release of these

substances results in a weakening of the immune system. ;hen an immune system is weak people are more

susceptible to physical and mental ailments (!der, 3. M 8ohen, C. #?91).'he Dio5&sycho5ocial Jodel as it !pplies to Kealth &sychology

Jillions of people around the world are under tremendous amounts of stress as the economy is suffering and

unemployment remains high. &eople who are employed are working more hours and are taking on more

responsibilities for less pay. 'hose that have lost their jobs worry about paying their bills, feeding theirfamilies and holding onto what they have worked so hard to achieve in the past and some are wondering if

they are normal.

;hen health psychologists talk about the bio5psycho5social model, behaviors are key ingredientscontributing to physical health. :o people smokeQ :o they drink alcohol regularlyQ :o they eat junk foodQ

Kave a stressful jobQ !re finances toughQ :o people exercise regularlyQ Kow is the familyQ Kow is the

social lifeQ 'hese are just a few -uestions that a health psychologist may explore. 'here are behavioral andsocial conditions that directly or indirectly relate to the state of overall physical health.

tress derives from the instinctual nature of the desire to survive and the psychological community labels

this concept theSfight or flight@ response. ;hen the mind perceives a warning to the body, whether thatthreat is real or a product of the imagination the brain responds as if in danger. 'he brain calls for adrenaline

to be pumped throughout the body, which allows it to run faster (away from the problem) or fight with a bitmore strength than it naturally possesses (face the problem).

'he production of adrenaline in association with the flight or fight response is only intended to be for briefperiods of time, for survival. ;hen people are facing chronic stress at home or work, the physical body is

under constant tension adapting to this Afight or flight responseB. !s a result, people tend to feel run down

and tired more often, they may experience aching joints, muscle aches,lower back pain,headaches andincreases in blood pressure. !ll of which are the common side effects of repeated stress and increases in

adrenaline.

;hile some do not tend to think about stress as being abnormal, it does indeed take a heavy toll on a person,both physically and emotionally. >ne key factor in lowering stress level is determining how people recogni*e

and respond to stress and how this relates to their behavior. Kealth &sychologists work in clinical settings

promoting behavioral change that relates to the everyday anxieties of life. 'hey inform the public, conductresearch, teach at universities and work in the field of sports medicine.

Clinical )ealth Psychology attempts to provide answers to the following -uestions*

#. ;hat is the relationship between emotional health, physical wellness and illnessQ

. ;hat is the connection between the body, mind and environmentQ+. ;hat role does psychology play in relationship to health and diseaseQ

0. Kow should a particular illness be treatedQ

'he world of health psychology is changing lives one day at a time and with some expert guidance andsupport people can experience the healthy, vibrant life that they desire, and all it takes is unlocking the

secrets of the brain, the body, the mind, and behavior. ! simple fact of life is that human beings are

extraordinarily complex and an illness can be the result of a myriad of factors. 'hese factors emerge from

biological, psychological and environmental facets of everyday life. Jost often medications alone will notprovide the positive results necessary for people to achieve maximum health. 4ust because, medicines do not

fully aid in recovery or reduce the pain, does not mean that all options for improvement have been

exhausted. Kealth psychology principles clearly have not been fully utili*ed or recogni*ed at this point intime, by conventional western medicine.

)ealth Psychology. Pain and llness

&hysical ailments are real, people will say, Athey are not in my head.Bome patients and physicians viewhealth psychology concepts as being a personal affront to the gaining knowledge and do not believe that pain

relates to overall emotional well5being. >thers fear that people working in the health psychology fields will

judge them or their pain as being Aabnormal.B ! few medical professionals, attempt to discredit patientcomplaints of pain and intimidate people into making them think that the problem simply does not exist and
http://healthpsychology.org/am-i-normal-a-self-measure/http://healthpsychology.org/what-is-in-my-food/http://healthpsychology.org/emotional-effects-of-terror/http://healthpsychology.org/learn-to-live-with-chronic-pain/http://healthpsychology.org/am-i-normal-a-self-measure/http://healthpsychology.org/what-is-in-my-food/http://healthpsychology.org/emotional-effects-of-terror/http://healthpsychology.org/learn-to-live-with-chronic-pain/


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that the pain is all a figment of the imagination. cience is evolving and the problem may simply not be

medically understood, or the location of the pain cannot be found in the body at the time. 'here is arelationship between thebrain, the mind and pain.

Kealth psychologists attempt to assist in the manner of communication between doctors and patients during

medical consultations. 'here are many difficulties in this process, with patients showing a significant lack ofcomprehension of many medical terms (Doyle, 8.J. #?9G). >ne central area of investigation relates to

Adoctor5centeredB consultations, which are directive and involves the one seeking help answer -uestions and

performing less of a part in decision5making. Jany people object to the sense of authority or disregard that

this spurs and favors patient5centered consultations which focus on the patient@s needs. &atient centeredconsultations involve listening to the patient completely before reaching a decision and the person seeking

help plays an active role in the process of choosing treatment.

Kealth psychology strives to find strategies to decrease and do away with pain, as well as have knowledge ofpain peculiarities such as analgesia, causalgia, neuralgia, and phantom limb pain. :espite the fact that

measuring and reporting pain are -uestionable, the Jcill &ain uestionnaire has helped make

improvements (Jel*ack, 3. #?91). 'reatments for pain are patient5administered analgesia, acupuncture,biofeedback, and cognitive behavior therapy.

:o not be tricked into believing that an illness is a figment of imagination as this belief may cause

psychological problems and increase physical symptoms. 'he above thoughts are generali*ed examples ofwhat it means when people say healing comes, in part, from the underlying psychological aspects of the

mind (thoughts and feelings), behaviors and the brain. 8linical health psychologists identify this way ofthinking as being a bio5psycho5social model. 'he standard encourages a positive shift in the way people

think about health, illness, and healing.Imagine by changing the way people think and cope about a problem in life which can move clients in a

direction towards pain5free living or assist in decreasing blood pressure. &atients can achieve this by learning

a few techni-ues. !pplying and believing in this theory will increase -uality of life. ;hile healing withAhealth psychologyB is certainly much more complicated than just changing a thought or behavior, most

people do not believe in this concept and until recently it has been overlooked by those in the medical

community.! difficult task for health psychologists is motivating people to adhere to medical direction and follow the

treatment plan. 'his lack of adherence is possibly do to treatment side effects or life circumstances and some

ignore taking medicines or consciously stop. 8ompliance measures are hard to -uantify, however, studiesexplain that this could improve by tailoring medication schedules to an individual@s daily life.

Kealth &sychologists have advanced training in a variety of research designs, which allows them to conduct

investigations, provide expert consultation or collaborate on research. 'hey conduct research to clarify

pu**ling -uestions such as6#. Kow is anxiety connected to heart diseaseQ

. ;hat are the impacts or influences on healthy eatingQ

+. ;hat are the emotional conse-uences of genetic testingQ0. In what ways can therapists help people reach their goalsand change health habits to improve healthQ

1. Kealth psychologists concentrate on how an illness effects a person@s emotional happiness.tressors

can lead to depression, reduced self5esteem and anxiety.

2. Kealth psychology also concerns itself with improving the lives of those with terminal illness. ;henthere is little hope of recovery, these therapists can improve the -uality of life by helping recover

thoughts and feelings associated with psychological well5being. 'hese therapists also identify the best

ways to provide therapeutic services for the bereaved (>@Drien, 4.J.F %orrest, .J. M !ustin, !.7. ,GG).

In conclusion, health psychology is a relatively new sub5category of psychology and is not well known to

many people. 'hese clinical psychologists take a more effective approach by exploring the physical,psychological, and behavioral aspects, and consider the problem in a holistic fashion.

'he practice of using health psychology principles significantly improves the likelihood of successfully

-uitting any addiction. Kealth psychology can help people become more physically fit, assist with decreasingchronic pain, improve the -uality of life with those diagnosed with a terminal illness, prevent further
http://healthpsychology.org/learn-to-live-with-chronic-pain/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12578402http://healthpsychology.org/the-organic-diet-and-physical-health/http://healthpsychology.org/meeting-our-expectations/http://healthpsychology.org/is-there-a-relationship-between-happiness-and-joy/http://healthpsychology.org/life-with-health-psychology-of-san-diego/http://healthpsychology.org/learn-to-live-with-chronic-pain/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12578402http://healthpsychology.org/the-organic-diet-and-physical-health/http://healthpsychology.org/meeting-our-expectations/http://healthpsychology.org/is-there-a-relationship-between-happiness-and-joy/http://healthpsychology.org/life-with-health-psychology-of-san-diego/


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complications of any serious physical ailment and assist in learning new ways to cope with the tensions and

transitionsthat govern everyday life. %or more information please go to the article,;hat is 'herapyandKow to !chieve uccess in 8ounseling.

3eferences

!der, 3. M 8ohen, C. (#?91). Dehaviorally conditioned immunosuppression.Psychosomatic (edicine, 56,+++N+0G.

Delloc, C. M Dreslow. (#?9). 3elationship of physical health status and health practices.Preventive

(edicine, 4,0G?N0#

Derman, D.F ingh D.D.F ao, .F angenberg, &.F i, K.F Kadha*y, H.F Dareta, 4. M Kochberg, J. (#???). !randomi*ed trial of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee.+he%matology, +


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!ll over the globe people associate love with hearts. If love is lost there is destruction of the relationship.

;hen the physical heart is not pumping oxygen sufficiently there is destruction of cells or no life. 'he heart

is a symbol of life. 'here is a link between the physical health of the heart and psychology. 'he heart has

many vital functions, and it seems sensible for all to develop distinct ways to sustain its vitality. :iscover

ways in which to take responsibility for and care of your heart.'heories about the connection between the heart and mind are in the medical documents throughout

anti-uity. ome civili*ations believed the heart to be the foundation and root of emotions. !s ;esternmedicine steadily disclosed this absence of association, notions about the link between the heart and mind

went by the wayside. ! novel field, behavioral cardiology is attempting to join them together again, this time

with reliable scientific strings and this theory is presenting new approaches in the treatment and preventionof heart disease. Keart conditions include the entire cardiovascular system and are the leading cause of death

in the United tates and are primary determinants of deaths throughout the globe. 'he 8enters for :isease

8ontrol and &revention(8:8) explain that roughly 2# million people in !merica have heart disease, and the

;orld Kealth >rgani*ation (;K>),states that ? percent of all deaths worldwide are due to these diseases.'he !merican Keart !ssociation(!K!) continues on to explain that nearly


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'here are four chambers of the heart, chambers on each side. 'he upper chambers are the atrium, and thelower ones are the ventricles. 'he heart functions as two pumps for the circulatory system. 'he right atrium

of the heart receives blood which is non5oxygenated then carries blood to the right ventricle into the lungs in

which the blood absorbs oxygen. ;ithout oxygen, all cells die. 'he heart supplies the body with a freshsupply of oxygen and nutrients and assists in removing ha*ardous waste material. 'he left atrium accepts

oxygenated blood from the lungs to provide all organs and cells of the body with oxygen. 'his blood also

distributes hormones from the glands and nutrients from the digestive system. 'he cells in the immune

system travel throughout the bloodstream seeking out infection, and forwards waste material to the kidneysand liver to be filtered and excreted.

The )earts Electrical and the Electrocardiogram :E;


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#. %irst tage (ystole) Is when the ventricles of the heart are s-uee*ing or contracting which results in

blood being pumped out to the lungs and onward to the rest of the body. 'his is the top number of theblood pressure.

. econd tage (:iastole) 'he ventricles of the heart are relaxing and the atriums of the heart are filling

with blood. 'his is the bottom number of the blood pressure.

The Physical illnesses related to the heart

8ardiovascular disease includes many disorders. 'hese conditions alter the blood vessels which are veins and

arteries leading to and from the heart or the heart muscle. ;omen who have cardiovascular disease tend to

exhibit forms which affect blood vessels while men develop conditions that impact the muscle. 8onditionssuch as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia are causes of cardiovascular disease.

#. !ngina &ectoris is a heart disease that causes severe mid chest pain or discomfort on the left side the

chest along with pain in the jaw, throat, stomach, and between the shoulder blades. 'he thickening ofthe arteries supplying blood to the heart causes this discomfort.

. !ortic !neurysm is a bulge or out pouching of the main artery, the aorta. 'hese bulges can occur in

the abdomen below the kidneys or the chest cavity. 'he aneurysm occurs when the lining of the aortabecomes weakened and thin by the buildup of pla-ue. !neurysms are dangerous because of the

possibility of rupturing which causes massive bleeding.

+. !therosclerosis is the disease process caused by pla-ue buildup (cholesterol, fatty substances) in theinner lining of an artery. >ver time, the pla-ue ruptures the lining which in turn produces blood clots.

'hese blood clots inhibit blood flow to the cells causing them to die. 8omplications of a blockedartery can lead to the development of gangrene, heart attacks and strokes.

0. 8ardiomyopathy in the strict sense means Aheart muscle diseaseB (cardio heart, myo muscle,pathy disease). 8ardiomyopathy is the breakdown in functioning and health of the heart muscle.

'hose diagnosed are at risk of developing arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms) that precipitate

unexpected cardiac death. 'here are two types61. :ilated 8ardiomyopathy is more common and is when the heart cavity has inflammation. &rogression

of the disease includes the development of arrhythmias and congestive heart failure.

2. Kypertrophic 8ardiomyopathy is the growth or thickening of the wall between the ventricles creatinga blockage in blood flow. &hysical symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting and

di**iness.

9. 8ongenital Keart :isease is an error that takes place during the development of the heart duringgestation. 'he blood vessels near the heart or the heart muscle develop improperly. 3esearchers and

physicians often do not understand the basis of these defects, but some attribute the mistakes in

development to viral infections or drug and alcohol abuse during pregnancy.


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remarkably soft to exceptionally loud and the different -ualities can be identified and heard using a

stethoscope.#+. Kypertensive Keart :iseases are induced by high blood pressure. !ilments include congestive heart

failure, coronary heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, left ventricular hypertrophy and hypertensive

cardiomyopathy.#0. &eripheral Hascular :isease is of two types/ >rganic peripheral vascular diseases are abnormal blood

vessels surrounding the heart and brain. 'his ailment can cause narrowing of the blood vessels that

supply oxygen and nutrients to the kidneys, stomach, arms and legs. %unctional peripheral vascular

diseases do not reveal anomalies in blood vessels@ and are produced by spasms. Janifestationsinclude numbness, a cramping pain, and may involve skin discoloration.

#1. Halvular Keart :isease is the process that alters one or more heart valves. 'here are four primary

heart valves which may be influenced by this illness, the aortic and mitral valves on the left side ofthe heart, and the aortic and tricuspid valves on the right side of the heart.

The Psychological Factors related to )eart Disease

'heCational Institutes of Jental Kealth(CIJK) states that up to 21 percent of coronary heart diseasesufferers who have a history of having a heart attack experience some form of depression. !lthough these

symptoms are not unusual, they should be treated as soon as possible. Jajor depression can hamper the

recovery process and worsen the disease. &rolonged depression associated with cardiovascular diseasecontributes to subse-uent strokes and heart attacks.

&eople may believe heart disease correlates solely with physical actions (a lack of exercise, poor diets,smoking, excessive drinking), however, attitudes, emotions, and thoughts are e-ually significant. 'hought

processes can accelerate the onset of heart disease and hinder taking concrete strides to promote health. !few may sense a loss of control over their life with taking medication, making time for exercise and giving

up favorite foods. Jaking modifications in everyday life is not easy as it takes training to instill these new

practices. 'o sneak a cigarette or cheat on a diet may satisfy an immediate desire, but will hinder the long5term goal of improving health. 8ultivating a healthy lifestyle can diminish the risk of heart disease or

manage the condition, even if a higher risk is due to uncontrollable determinants such as sex, family history

or age.&sychological determinants can influence health directly (such as stress causing the release of the hormone

cortisol) and indirectly (via behavioral decisions) which can harm or preserve health (exercise, diet and

smoking). Kealth psychologists use a biopsychosocial guide in recogni*ing health practices. 'his methodcenters on understanding wellness to be the result not only of biological processes (hormonal and endocrine

functioning) but also of mental processes such as approaches toward health and how people cope with stress

in their lives. Kealth psychologists then look at factors that relate to socioeconomic status, culture and

ethnicity to formulate treatment plans, interventions and prognoses. 3esearchconfirms that while roughly Gpercent of the U population endures an episode of depression in their life, the number soars to 1G percent

among folks with heart disease. ong5term investigationsreport that men and women diagnosed with clinical

depression are more than twice as likely to ac-uire coronary artery disease or experience a heart attack.Keart disease has several mind5body associations. &rolonged stress due to difficulties at home or work can

contribute to circulation problems that link to high blood pressure and other heart conditions. !s with many

conditions, the effects on the body vary from person to person. ome manage anxiety to motivate while

others may just lose their temper and become frustrated. Kow people manage tension, influencescardiovascular responses. tudieshave shown that if stress makes someone irritable or angry then the

individual is more likely to develop heart disease. In fact, how people respond to anxiety may be a greater

risk factor contributing to the development of future heart related ailments than high cholesterol or smoking.8linically depressed people are at substantially higher risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke because they

are twice as likely to suffer heart related conditions. :epression can also hamper the aftereffect of a stroke,

recuperation from heart surgeries or heart attacks. 'he immediate shock of coming so close to death alongwith the stress of possibly having a long recuperation, as well as the fear that another, potentially more

dangerous event could occur without warning.

=ent and hapiro(GG?) found that the pervasiveness of heart disease in sufferers of depressionis high, andthe connections between heart disease and depression are obvious in investigations of community
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-and-heart-disease/index.shtmlhttp://www.cdc.gov/features/dsdepression/http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-and-heart-disease/index.shtmlhttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF00991890#page-1http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/10673220903463333http://healthpsychology.org/depression-and-the-bio-psycho-social-approach/http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-and-heart-disease/index.shtmlhttp://www.cdc.gov/features/dsdepression/http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-and-heart-disease/index.shtmlhttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF00991890#page-1http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/10673220903463333http://healthpsychology.org/depression-and-the-bio-psycho-social-approach/


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representations, heart disease patients, and those with depression. 'hey also illustrate the ties between heart

disease and psychological determinants involving 'ype ! behavioral pattern, anger and hostility and fatigue.Understanding and harnessing psychological factors, can improve health by working directly with individual

patients, indirectly in large5scale public health programs, or by training healthcare professionals. Kealth

&sychology can be associated with the similar field of clinical psychology, with divisions within healthpsychology, which, include public and occupational health. 'he relationship between psychosocial

determinants and heart disease is so clear that cardiologists should begin the conversation by -uestioning

patients about stress, energy, mood and support systems. 8onventional cardiologists do not, at least not at the

point of this printing.The Psychosocial Factors related to )eart Disease

&sychosocial factors have been associated with increases in tumor necrosis factor, interleukins and 85

reactive protein. !ll of which are signs of increased inflammation, which represents significant parts indeveloping the artery5clogging atherosclerosis. &sychosocial determinants could impact heart disease via a

secondary physiologic route, through practices that point toward heart disease or away from it. %or example,

isolation or depression can hinder people from taking the heart medications they need while a positiveviewpoint or active social network can assist people watch their weight or stop smoking. 'here are plenty of

theories of how social situations, behaviors and emotions affect heart disease, however, studies related to

stress hormonestop the list. tress hormones speed up the heartbeat, constricts blood vessels and make bloodvessels exceptionally reactive to further stress. &sychosocial factors affect heart disease in two fundamental

directions. ome add to atherosclerosis, the gradual, destructive means that weaken artery walls and placespeople at risk for a stroke or heart attack. >thers can add to ultimate insult that triggers a heart assault or

stroke.'he ancet, in GG0, discusses a comprehensive international study affirming that the psychosocial

contributions to heart attacks are on a level with obesity, high cholesterol, smoking and high blood pressure.

'here conclusions did not just relate to the wild pace world of the ;est but in 8hina, the Jiddle 7ast, Kong=ong, !frica and atin !merica. Delow is a summary of the results6

#. !nxiety. Intense fear, the kind associated with heights, crowds, enclosed places, snakes and the like,

can at times produce a sudden cardiac arrest. 'hese often5fatal heart attacks occur when the heartbeatabruptly becomes fast and irregular.

. !ngerEhostility. In the Karvard5based :eterminants of Jyocardial Infarction >nset tudy, # in every

0G heart attack patients report an incident of agitation in the two hours before the heart symptomsdevelopment. !nger can trigger heart attacks. !therosclerosis appears to progress faster in people

who score high on hostility or anger ranges.

+. :epression. %olks who display the symptoms of depression after a heart attack, stroke, heart surgery,

or the onset of heart failure do not manage as well as those who are not exhibiting signs. Indicationsof depression, as well as full5blown major depression, contribute to heart disease.

0. Unexpected emotional stress. udden emotional disturbance can set off a critical, but reversible heart

failure named broken heart syndrome. 3esearchers at 4ohns Kopkins have documented its occurrencein people after a loss in the family, a surprise party, a burglary, a car collision, and even fear of talking

in public.

1. 8hronic stress. &ersistent stress that associates with a shaky marriage, financial difficulties, work,

taking care of a parent or spouse, or residing in an unsafe community correlates highly with theappearance of heart disease. &eople that have chronic stress also have challenges with rehabilitation,

after a diagnosis of a heart condition.

2. ocial supports. ocial isolation is nearly as significant as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, andsmoking at prophesying long5term survival, among heart attack victims.

)eart Disease #is( Factors


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Diabetes $ellitus'he risk of developing a severe heart disease is two to three times more among diabetics.

'ype :iabetes is a highly preventable disease.

)igh Cholesterol(Cormal VGG mgEdl) 8holesterol has two components, the low density lipoprotein (:)

and high density lipoprotein (K:). : is the most directly associated with 8oronary Keart :isease.

Kowever, Kigh density lipoprotein (K:) cholesterol is considered to be protective against development of8oronary Keart :isease. (It should be more than 0G mgEdl).

'ral Contraceptive Pillslead to higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure which in turn increases cardiac

risk.

>eing 'verweightis associated with high rates of cardiovascular deaths and heart failure with different ratesamong men and women. >besity affects the blood pressure, increases levels of lipids in the blood, and

increases the risk for developing 'ype :iabetes.

Smo(ing'he toxins in the cigarettes are considered to be one of the main causes of development ofatherosclerosis. !therosclerosis is a thickening of the walls of arteries which result from the accumulation of

fatty pla-ues, scarring and hardening of the walls.

Physical nactivityis associated with high risk because inactivity increases the lipid levels in the blood.&hysical inactivity and diet are considered to be leading causes of obesity, lipid panel abnormalities,

elevation of blood pressure and diabetes mellitus.

Alcohol nta(eof more than three drinks a day has a harmful effect on the heart muscle. Keavy drinkingraises the triglyceride level by supplying excess fats into the body circulation. >ver time, heavy drinking can

damage the heart and leads to high blood pressure, stroke and congestive heart failure.$ultiple #is( Factor CombinationsIncreased body weight is a good example of a risk factor for heart

disease that plays a role for development of other risk factors, like increased lipids level in blood(hyperlipidemia), elevation of blood pressure (hypertension) and other diseases like diabetes mellitus.

Jultiple risk factors significantly increase one@s chances of developing heart disease.

Tips on )ow to Prevent )eart Disease

#. &eople are in command. 'he mind reports to the body and the body reports to the mind. 7veryone can

learn to manage their mental self5talk to improve health.

. 'ake time out each day to relax. Degin to take note of things that cause stress. 'ry to accept the factthat some situations are not reversible

+. 'ake responsibility and care for the body. et enough sleep. 7xercise on most days. 7at a healthy

diet.0. 8ontrol stress at work. eave work at lunchtime and take a short walk or relax outside the business

environment. 'ake a #15minute leisure break to practice a relaxation exercise. witch from

caffeinated to decaffeinated coffee or herbal tea.

1. et the help. If people have a hard time managing the stress alone or are using habits, such as drugs,alcohol or cigarettes, to diminish the tension, they may re-uire help discovering ways to regulate

anxiety. Kere are a few of the many possibilities6 Individual counseling, roup counseling, upport

groups elf5help books, tress management courses.2. 'ake control over the schedule. &rioriti*e what needs to be done every day.

9. !void negative self5talk. 'ry not to concentrate on situations in which there is no control. 'ake a

moment to give yourself recognition for jobs well performed.


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ive ;ell,

Dr/ Cheryl $acDonald. #0/. Psy1D/

Image 8redit to 4onathon 3osen of Deautiful &athologies

3eferences

#. ! ook into 'he Keart%unction of Keart3etrieved !ugust #, G#+. !merican &sychological !ssociation, AJindEDody Kealth Keart :iseaseB 3etrieved !ugust #, G#+

+. Dhupathiraju, C and 'ucker, = (G## !ug #9). A8oronary heart disease prevention6 nutrients,

foods, and dietary patterns.BInternational journal of clinical chemistry 0# (#95#@8onnor 8., (GG) A:epression and Keart :iseaseB8C :rugs

9. =elly, Dridget and %uster, Halentin Institute of Jedicine (G#G). &romoting 8ardiovascular Kealth inthe :eveloping ;orld6 ! 8ritical 8hallenge to !chieve lobal Kealth. ;ashington, :.86 Cational

!cademies &ress. IDCG5+G?5#09905+.

besity in older adults6 a systematic review of

the evidence for diagnosis and treatmentB. >besity (ilver pring) #0 (?)6 #0


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In a sentence, that is what health psychologists strive to do Y educate and inform patients so that they can

take control of their health. Dut what exactly is health psychologyQ 8an a health psychologist potentiallyhelp youQ 3ead on to get a detailed look at this burgeoning field from two health psychologists.

+hat s )ealth Psychology, )ow Can t )elp ?ou,

AKealth psychology really comes from where medicine and psychology can work symbiotically,B ;ithrowsaid. It is taking our knowledge of mind and body and using it to understand and help individuals cope better

manage their pain and essentially learn to empower themselves.

Kealth psychology encompasses a wide range of issues Y from chronic pain to terminal illness Y with the

goals of helping people improve their -uality of life and addressing specific health issues. Jaureen yon,&h.:., clinical health psychologist and associate research professor in pediatrics at eorge ;ashington

University, said, AKealth psychologists do a lot of prevention work around a range of issues from preventing

obesity, maintaining a positive outlook in life, preventing anxietyand depression and trying to enhance the-uality of life of individuals.B

Kealth psychologists also play a big role in the military, helping soldiers and veterans with post5traumatic

stress disorder (&':), life adjustment and suicide prevention.'hey also promote healthy behaviors and deal with underlying psychological issues such as stress,

depression and anxiety. Unlike other clinical psychologists, ;ithrow explained that health psychologists are

trained to know about the Adisease processes and physiology and how the mind and body can work togetheron what@s going on with a specific illness in order to help that person deal with whatever issues they are

being presented with.B! person who has insomnia, for example, may work with a health psychologist on creating a regular bedtime

routine, limiting their caffeine intake and participating in relaxation activities before bed. omeone who issuffering from chronic pain could also benefit from seeing a health psychologist. ;hile health psychologists

do not solely advocate patients to stop taking their medication, ;ithrow said, Athere are a lot of things we

can do behaviorally, things we can do using your mind and behavior to better manage pain without needingto rely on medication or on the same dosage of medication.B %or example, stress management tools and

relaxation techni-ues can help chronic pain patients cope more effectively with stress. 'his is important, she

said, since stress often exacerbates pain.

@nderstanding the Thoughts >ehind >ehavior

>ne of the ways health psychologists help patients is through education. 'hey inform patients on a basic

level about their body and their illness. If patients can understand why their body is acting or reacting acertain way, then they will be able to understand how things like stress management, for example, can help.

!nother part of patient education is learning about the relationship between thought and behavior. ;ithrow

gives an example of a person with chronic pain. >n a good day, this person may overcompensate by doing

too much. !s a result, stress and fatigue may cause an increase in pain. ! health psychologist would thenwork with this patient on trying to find ways to Akeep a consistent level of activity.B

he also uses cognitive tools to help patients. AIf you@re really, really worried about something, if you really

think there@s going to be a flareup, you may think yourself into a flareup instead of being able to step backand taking a more objective look.B Using cognitive5behavioral techni-ues can help patients reduce their pain

and anxiety and could potentially reduce their dependency on medication.

)ealth Psychology1s )olistic Approach

Kealth psychology provides a holistic perspective to health. It takes into account not only a person@s physicalillness and symptoms but also their life experience. !ccording to ;ithrow, this means that patients should be

seen in context, Anot just what@s going on physically and emotionally, but what their relationships are like,

how much support they have, their community and how all that fits together to present the person we@reseeing in front of us.B 'he information they collect about a patient includes biological characteristics (e.g.,

genetic predisposition to illness), behavior (stress, negative thoughts, values) and social factors (social

support, relationships).In the case of a diabetic, ;ithrow explained that it is important to consider a patient@s resources. Is walking

around their neighborhood something they can comfortably and safely doQ !re they able to afford fresh fruits

and vegetablesQ If you can understand, for example, what resources are available for that person, you can
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/anxiety/http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/07/09/6-steps-for-beating-depression/http://psychcentral.com/disorders/ptsd/http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/about-cognitive-psychotherapy/http://psychcentral.com/disorders/anxiety/http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/07/09/6-steps-for-beating-depression/http://psychcentral.com/disorders/ptsd/http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/about-cognitive-psychotherapy/


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work with them where they are and with what they have. ! full assessment of a person@s situation can better

serve the needs of the individual.

)ow )ealth Psychologists Empower Patients

Kealth psychologists provide tools and teach their patients new skills so that they can learn to help

themselves. A'he nice thing about learning these tools is it puts people in the driver@s seat of their pain andthey@re not reliant on their doctors for prescriptions and the pharmacy for filling it or, you know, the

insurance company for authori*ing it.B

! health psychologist@s role is to provide information so that patients can ultimately make their own

informed and conscious decision. A'hings we do, what we eat, how we behave, what we think and themedicationswe take have conse-uencesWI talk about this a lot with pain patients, in that narcotics, opiate

medications can be really useful for controlling pain, but they have a lot of side effects and they have a lot of

long5term conse-uences. !nd being able to consciously make a decision of how much they are going to use,what their limits are, whether they want to use it or not is far better when they can weigh the costs and

benefits and conse-uences and make that conscious decision rather than just taking a passive role and say,

S>kay, I@m just going to take this for the rest of my life.@B

+hat ?ou $ight 0ot ;now About )ealth Psychology

!ccording to yon, health psychologists work on multidisciplinary teams in integrated care settings

including working with physicians, nutritionists, dieticians, and physical therapists. ;ithrow also adds thatthey work side by side with physicians so they can discuss and share relevant information to best serve their

patient.In addition to helping doctors with patient compliance and personality conflict between physicians and their

patients, they also help doctors and nursesand other health care staff deal with burnout. AKealthpsychologists working alongside with these providers on a regular basis in these settings have a uni-ue

opportunity and potential to really help the providers as much as they do the patients,B said ;ithrow.

Should ?ou See a )ealth Psychologist,

Kealth psychologists see people with a wide range of issues, including cancer, sexual dysfunction, obesity,

chronic pain, depressionand anxiety. In deciding on whether you should see a health psychologist, ;ithrow

said to ask yourself these three -uestions6#. Is there a physical illness or chronic illness that@s underlying my depression or anxiety or other issues

that I@m seeking help withQ

. !m I looking to treat a specific symptom (e.g. insomnia, migraines)Q+. :o I want somebody who will work closely with my physicianQ

If you answered AyesB to any of the above, you might want to consider consulting a health psychologist.

!lthough she receives the majority of her patients through doctor referrals, it@s perfectly fine to seek a health

psychologist on your own.

)ow To Find a )ealth Psychologist

;hen looking for a health psychologist, yon advises interested individuals to find someone who has been

certified by the !merican Doard of &rofessional &sychology (!D&&). Jost health psychologists are boardcertified and to find one you can ask your doctor for a referral or go to the !&! website. ;hen searching in

their database under Apsychological locatorB look for things like behavioral change, stress management,

chronic illness and sexual dysfunction since these are key areas of expertise for a health psychologist.

+hat ?ou Should ;now if ?ou1re +or(ing with a )ealth Psychologist;ithrow reminds patients that the path toward health and healing takes time. &atients need both

determination and patience to be successful. Aometimes they@ll get a lot of symptom relief or make

improvements in a couple of sessions, but sometimes they may not really see the true, full benefit for awhileand it takes a lot of hard work and perseverance to actually get to that point.B Dut she says it@s worth it. AI@ve

had patients who have felt really empowered and have had really ama*ing, life5changing experiences from

doing the work.B

+hat Does an 'ccupational Psychologist Do,
http://psychcentral.com/drugs/http://blogs.psychcentral.com/unplugged/2010/08/depression-in-medical-hospitals/http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/stress-a-cause-of-cancer/http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/07/09/6-steps-for-beating-depression/http://psychcentral.com/disorders/anxiety/http://psychcentral.com/drugs/http://blogs.psychcentral.com/unplugged/2010/08/depression-in-medical-hospitals/http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/stress-a-cause-of-cancer/http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/07/09/6-steps-for-beating-depression/http://psychcentral.com/disorders/anxiety/


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So you thin( you want to be a

'ccupational psychologist,

ee how well you suit this Bobin 8areer &lanner.

'ry 8areer &lanner

>ccupational psychologists apply psychological knowledge, theory and practice to the world of work. 'heyaim to help an organisation get the best performance from their employees and also to improve employees/

job satisfaction.

>ccupational psychologists apply expert knowledge to all levels of working and may work on organisational

issues, such as culture and change, as well as issues at an individual or team level.'hey may work in a consultancy role or in5house as an employee of an organisation. 8ollaboration is

common with management, human resources officersand training and development officers, careers advisers

and management consultants, business coaches, ergonomistsand psychologists, trade union representatives,and staff in teams and individually. 3oles may also overlap.

Typical wor( activities

Doth in5house and consultancy5based occupational psychologists carry out a range of activities according tothe needs of their clients or the organisation they work for. 'heDritish &sychological ociety (D&)divides

this work into eight key knowledge areas. 7xamples of activities for occupational psychologists working in

these areas include6#. )uman8machine interaction5 assessing the usability and functionality of a system, such as a

computer or workstation, and making recommendations for improvements to ensure ease of use for theoperator. Investigating problems that ariseEaccidents that occur as a result of poorly designed human5

machine interfaces, designing and applying change interventions.. Design of wor( environments5 reviewing the ergonomic design of a workplace by assessing the

suitability of elements such as lighting, noise levels and furniture, and providing recommendations for

changesEimprovements. ;orking with engineersEdesigners to provide input into the design of e-uipment,like vehicles and workspaces.

+. Personnel selection and assessment5 developing, implementing or evaluating employee selection

procedures, including psychometric tests, assessment centre exercises and structured interviews.:eveloping talent management processes and systems so organisations can identify and develop their

high5potential employees.

0. Performance appraisal and career development5 providing coaching, guidance and advice toemployees or students in order to help them plan and manage their careers. :esigning performance

appraisal systems that enable an organisation to measure, manage and reward the performance of its

employees.

1. Counselling and personal development5 working one5to5one with individuals to support them inbecoming more successful and effective in delivering their organisational objectives, while also

enhancing their personal well5being.

2. Training 5 analysing the training needs of employees, identifying skills gaps and determining how toaddress that gap in a cost5effective manner. :esigning, developing and delivering training and

development programmes.

9. Employee relations and motivation 5 mediating in situations where there is interpersonal conflict

between employeesEmanagement or an employment dispute.


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7 Types of Practioner Psychologist

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