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Paediatric clinical psychology
What is paediatric clinical psychology?
Paediatric clinical psychologists are here to help and support children and young people, as well as their families and carers. Clinical psychologists work alongside the hospital team and all referrals to this service are made by the consultant paediatricians.
Paediatric clinical psychologists specialise in helping you and your family understand the links between physical health, how you think, feel and what you do. We are often asked to meet with children and their families This is usually because they are having a tough time in one way or another. Meeting with a psychologist gives people a chance to think and talk about things and to come up with some new ideas for managing any difficulties. It may also help them to understand a bit better about how each person in the family is feeling.
What help is provided?
People come to see a psychologist for lots of different reasons, whether they just want to talk things over or need help with a specific problem. In addition to listening and talking, clinical psychologists can offer suggestions for change and practical ways of coping with difficult situations.
Confidentiality
The psychologist works closely with medical colleagues and will need to share information with them as it impacts on the care of the child or young person. However, if there are things you would prefer not to be shared, please say so and the psychologist can discuss the limits of confidentiality with you. There may also be some information that would be useful to share with school so they can help you as much as possible.
Clinical psychology at Queen Mary's Hospital for Children
At Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children, the clinical psychologist is Dr Marie Hanson. She offers appointments in outpatients on Tuesday, Thursday and some Friday afternoons. You can contact her by email at marie.hanson@nhs.net or you can call her on 020 8296 3604.
Clinical psychology for paediatric diabetes
Our role
The role of the clinical psychologist in the children’s diabetes team is to help and support children and young people with diabetes, as well as their families and carers. People come to see us for lots of different reasons, whether they just want to talk things over or need help with a specific problem. In addition to listening and talking, clinical psychologists can offer suggestions for change and practical ways of coping with difficult situations.
How to meet us
- We offer an appointment to every family with a child or young person who has recently been diagnosed with diabetes. This is a chance to reflect on the process of adjustment to the diagnosis and to meet the clinical psychologist and find out more about what we offer.
- Each year, families will be asked to complete a questionnaire which is designed to screen for emotional distress and a follow-up appointment offered if required.
- You may meet us at clinic appointments or at events with other members of the team.
- You can contact us directly (contact details below) if there is anything you would like to discuss with us and we can either talk on the phone or arrange an appointment. Alternatively, talk to another member of the team and they will pass on your request to us.
Confidentiality
We work closely with our colleagues in the Paediatric Diabetes Team and will need to share information with them as it impacts on the care of the child or young person. However, if there are things you would prefer we did not share, please say so and we can discuss the limits of confidentiality.
Contact us
At Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children, the clinical psychologist for paediatric diabetes is Sara Bentwood. You can contact her through Debbie Russell on 020 8296 3021 or by emailing sara.bentwood@nhs.net. Sara works at Queen Mary’s on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays.
At Epsom Hospital, the clinical psychologist for paediatric diabetes is Marie Hanson. She offers appointments in out-patients on Wednesday afternoons. You can contact Marie by emailing marie.hanson@nhs.net or call 020 8296 3604.
You can find more information about general information about the trusts diabetes service for children and adolescents here.
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