Dr Sharon Cook

Chartered Health Psychologist, PhD, MSc, PGDip, BSc

I am a Practitioner Health Psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) and the British Psychological Society (BPS)

I have worked in Health Psychology research and practice for over 20 years and currently work part time part time in an NHS Acute Trust Clinical Health Psychology Department and Local Hospice.

My interest in health psychology began while working for a firm that developed Quality of Life Questionnaires. Time and again I heard accounts from people who had been diagnosed with a long-term health condition, treated for the physical aspect but left with little understanding of how to adjust to the significant changes in their life.

Since this time, I have maintained an interest in understanding how people respond and adjust to living with long term or life-limiting health conditions so that they can move forward with living their lives.  I have been fortunate to work with with people with a variety of physical health conditions including cancer, COPD, heart disease, diabetes, IBS, stroke, MND, chronic pain, arthritic and skin conditions.

I have training in a range of therapies including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) and Hypnotherapy. I can provide assessment, psychological therapy, and support in the following areas:

• Coming to terms with the trauma of diagnosis or sudden illness/injury
• Adjusting to living with long-term or life-limiting illness
• Managing anxiety and worry related to illness (including Fear of Recurrence)
• Managing low mood/depression related to illness.
• Health-related behaviour change
• Exploring treatment decision-making

Email: DrSACook@outlook.com
Website: www.chpsych.co.uk