What is a clinical health psychologist?

Clinical Health : Psychology is a field largely dealing in preventive medicine. A health psychologist may treat chronic illness and how a person's adaptive and coping style impacts the course of disease. Positive lifestyle activities such as relaxation, yoga and meditation have relevance here. This movement is popular among patients who want a holistic approach and want greater control over their treatment.

HP's are often : Clinical psychologists w/ specialized training. Hp's have an important role in medicine b/c maladaptive behavior (poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking & drug use) is a large contributor to probs such as heart disease, diabetes, htn, cancer & stroke. Hps are often part of multidisciplinary health teams. I greatly enjoyed a 2 year post doc fellowship i completed in hp in a family medicine dept!

Lic. psychologist : In most states anyone a psychologists ust be licensed as a psychologist - beware of other mental health professionals using the term loosely. Clinical and health psychologists usually specially in psychiatric disorders as well as medical conditions, neuropsychology or pediatric neuropsychology. A former colleague and resident of mine helped with this: http://cpancf.Com/articles_files/clinicalhe.

Clinical Health : Psychologists work in medical settings, I.e., hospitals and clinics, and focus on helping people cope with physical issues. They deal with psychological issues that impact on physical health like rehab from a heart attack, preparation to be sure someone is emotionally ready for plastic surgery or artificial insemination, helping someone cope with cancer treatments or the end of life.

Emotional management: Health psychology focuses on the emotional issues that are invoked by such conditions as diabetes, heart troubles, cancers, and other serious if not life-threatening physical ailments. People find these to be over whelming to deal with, &often do notdo what is necessary to take proper care of themselves. People often are unaware of this and need to be educated about emotional issues from this.