Clinical Psychology at Sydney Endocrinology
Clinical Psychology & Endocrinology
Endocrinologists often work closely with psychologists to ensure the best long term outcomes for their patients. Endocrine conditions can involve a lot of self-care. This can be draining and require difficult lifestyle changes. As psychologists are experts in changing habits, they are well placed to help people with these changes.
Other conditions involve a big emotional load, either due to the changes that occur with the condition, or because the condition itself can affect mood. Psychologists can work with people to cope with the issues that arise as a result of endocrine changes.
As many endocrine conditions are closely related to stress, learning good stress management can make management a lot easier. Endocrinologists often refer patients to psychologists for help with stress management skills.
Psychologists are experts at helping people change habits.
When a bad habit is stopping you moving forward with your life, it’s worth considering an assessment with a clinical psychologist.
Issues a clinical psychologist can help with include:
Struggling with making or maintaining lifestyle changes (eg activity or food).
Having trouble staying on track with diabetes.
Feeling overwhelmed by the demands of a medical condition.
Struggling with a new diagnosis.
Experiencing diabetes distress.
Difficulty with sleep hygiene.
Struggling with emotional eating, fussy eating, binge eating or restricted eating.
Experiencing high levels of depression or anxiety.
If you are struggling with lifestyle changes, you may benefit from an appointment with our clinical psychologist. Psychologists are experts at changing habits. Jodie can work with you on ways to make lifestyle changes that you can keep for the long haul.
What is a Clinical Psychologist?
A clinical psychologist is an expert in mental health. They have undertaken highly specialised and advanced training in the assessment, diagnosis, formulation, and psychological treatment of mental health, behavioural, and emotional disorders across the lifespan.
Our clinical psychologist, Dr Jodie Landstra, translates and integrates theory and clinical practice to understand, prevent, and relieve psychological problems or disorders. She has:
A comprehensive understanding of a wide range of mental health issues and how they may occur at any age.
Extensive knowledge of mental illness assessment, diagnosis and treatment.
Skills in psychological testing - to assess problems, and effectively understand and treat individuals dealing with psychological distress.
Experience consulting with a wide range of health professionals and organisations regarding behaviour, emotions, and severe mental distress.
What services does a clinical psychologist provide?
Our clinical psychologist provides services such as:
Individual and group assessment and therapy.
Working with you individually, or, with you and your partner, family, or carer.
Assess the causes of psychological distress within the context of the history of the problems and contributing factors, such as genetics, social and family factors, and coping styles.
Develop a management or treatment plan for stabilisation, recovery, or for managing a long-term mental health condition.
Provide advice about lifestyle changes to help manage psychological distress.
Liaise with your healthcare team to ensure multidisciplinary care is achieved to support you best.
Our psychologist, Jodie, is trained in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), which is an evidence-based and widely used psychological treatment. She has subsequently received additional evidenced-based treatment trainings in:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
This extensive skill set, paired with Jodie’s clinical experience, allows her to customise treatment to the client so that the best outcome is reached.
How can your Clinical Psychologist help me?
Using her expertise in psychology, Jodie equips her clients with skills and strategies to facilitate changes, to improve circumstances in their personal or social situations.
Dr Landstra:
Empowers her clients through personalised counselling and treatment, to address her client’s issues and circumstances.
Provides support to university students, families and carers, as required,
Helps address concerns with burnout in the area of diabetes and weight management.
Has personal and extensive experience in mindfulness practice.
Jodie, our psychologist, works with her clients to help manage and recover from:
Adjusting to major life changes, stresses, or trauma
Anxiety, depression/ low mood, phobias or fears
Psychosis
Eating disorders
Pre or post natal mood disorders
Weight management
Diabetes burnout / distress
Establishing healthy diet and lifestyle patterns – sleep, eating, exercise, stress
Does your Clinical Psychologist conduct any mental health programs?
Yes, our psychologist is a trained facilitator for the following program:
Reclaim Program
Our RECLAIM Program is an investment in your health. Our bespoke, evidence-based multidisciplinary program aims to reverse insulin resistance and prevent diabetes.
Our specialised team individually tailors your program to work with your current lifestyle and preferences. We work with you over 90 days to build your skills, knowledge, and motivation to make small but effective changes to your day-to-day. This allows you to Reclaim your Energy, Confidence, Lifestyle, Activity levels and most importantly, reverse insulin resistance - regaining Insulin sensitivity and Metabolic fitness.
This program is suitable for individuals with impaired glucose tolerance, impaired fasting glucose, PCOS, and a history of gestational diabetes. Contact us for a health assessment, to see if you are eligible.
FAQs about our Clinical Psychology Services
Why does Sydney Endocrinology employ a clinical psychologist? +
When you see an endocrinologist, your condition will often require self-management – you will need to learn a new set of habits. Psychologists are experts in helping people change their habits. They can help you focus on your priorities, and work towards these. We think that every medical practice should include a clinical psychologist on the team. With diabetes and endocrinology, this is extra important.
The clinical psychologist at Sydney Endocrinology has a wealth of experience in many different areas of psychology, and has a particular interest in health psychology and endocrinology. Our patients have found her input beneficial to their endocrinology care.
What’s the difference between a clinical psychologist and a personal coach? +
The roles can be very similar, but psychologists are specifically trained in fully understanding behaviour change methods. They can provide personal support as well as technical help with the best researched-based models of change. A psychologist will also be able to work with you on sustainable changes, so you don’t slip back into your old habits when your sessions are over.
What is diabetes distress, and how can a clinical psychologist help? +
Diabetes Distress occurs when the demands of diabetes feel overwhelming. It can lead to feelings such as depression, anger, hopelessness and guilt. It can impact not only on your diabetes outcomes, but on your whole life. A clinical psychologist can help you work out your priorities and barriers to these, and break your diabetes tasks down into smaller and more manageable tasks. A clinical psychologist can also help you to identify other areas of your life that may be contributing to you feeling overwhelmed.
My doctor suggested I see a clinical psychologist, but I don’t think I have a mental health problem. Why should I go? +
Clinical psychologists are trained in helping people make lifestyle changes that are holding them back from living a full life, and are not only trained to assess and treat a range of mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders. Lifestyle changes they can help with include getting into better exercise or food routines, clarifying life direction, learning assertiveness skills, learning self-kindness, improving sleep routines, and many more areas. If you are concerned, talk to your doctor about how s/he thinks you would benefit from seeing a clinical psychologist.