What is Diabetes Psychology?

Diabetes Burnout and Overwhelm

Diabetes comes with a number of physical and emotional challenges. Those who are living with diabetes are aware of the number of daily tasks they must complete in order to sustain their health. Over time, the intensity and the high emotional impact begins to wear at a person. Using evidence-based strategies, the aim is to support individuals to recover from diabetes burnout and lessen diabetes distress. Additionally, the goal is to support other mental health providers and organizations in developing diabetes programs to better address the needs of people with diabetes (PWDs).

Diabetes Perfectionism

There is a tremendous amount of shaming and judging that exists of persons with diabetes. This often leads to feelings of wanting to complete tasks perfectly. If you are a person living with diabetes, you can identify a more realistic method of managing diabetes by taking away the pressure. Learn strategies to work past the perfectionism and continue to make progress in your health.

Mood Disorders

Persons with diabetes are at higher risk for depression and anxiety. A trained mental health professional can provide strategies on how to manage the symptoms of these mood disorders but a diabetes psychologist can help link the physical factors to the emotional impact.

Specialized treatment for diabulimia, diabetes trauma, and gestational diabetes are also available. Please reach out for more details.

What is Health Psychology?

Health psychology is about understanding how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors/actions can impact us. If negative narratives, depression, anxiety, life’s stresses, or physical and chronic illness are getting in the way of living an impassioned life, a health psychologist can be a guide to making changes.

How does it work?

We all exist in systems, internal and external. This means that in addition to reviewing what’s happening in your physical and mental health, we’ll discuss how your relationships are going, how much support you perceive, and how you take care of yourself. We’ll cast a wide net to see if the problems you encounter are related to:

-depression and/or anxiety

-chronic stress and/or trauma

-emotional management of a physical condition like diabetes or other chronic health conditions

-amongst multiple other disorders

What do you have to do?

Be open to talking about what feels bothersome to you and what you would like to get out of therapy, this time around. Our first session will involve talking about the history of the concern, mood, health concerns, relationships, and lifestyle. We’ll work together to come up with an action plan that works for you.