Health psychology involves the study of psychological and behavioral processes involved in health, illness, and healthcare of any patient

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RESPOND TO YVETTE DISCUSSION(4-28-18) WK-4

Yvette Lunday

ThursdayApr 26 at 8:41pm

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Health psychology involves the study of psychological and behavioral processes involved in health, illness, and healthcare of any patient. It also concerns the understanding of how psychological, behavioral and cultural factors tend to affect and contribute in many ways to physical health and illnesses that may arise (Sarafino & Smith, 2014).

The health psychologists tend to focus more on a population when handling health issues compared to just an individual. Their main goal during treatment is for them to be able to apply the health education; information; prevention and control in the best way that will help alleviate the patient’s symptoms and improve his or her health. The health psychologist can work in varied places including hospitals, healthcare clinics and even in universities. Most of the methods used in treatment are based on the psychology of the patient and might not greatly major in the physical treatment. This is because most of the patients handled do face psychological, mental and social challenges (Prince, Comas-Herrera, Knapp, Guerchet& Karagiannidou, 2016).

The common treatment modalities used tend to be psychologically oriented such as cognitive behavioral therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, music therapy, motivation interviewing, art therapy, stage of change, sand tray therapy to help the patient become psychologically, socially and mentally settled. It is important thus for a health psychologist to take a keen attention to the patients that he or she is attending to ensure their well being and success in the psychological challenges and give the best health care for those who are severely affected in one way or another psychologically. Our mental health is very important and preventing mental, social and psychological illnesses is important than curing them (Brugnoli, 2015).

References

Sarafino, E. P., & Smith, T. W. (2014). Health psychology: Biopsychosocial interactions. John Wiley & Sons.

Prince, M., Comas-Herrera, A., Knapp, M., Guerchet, M., & Karagiannidou, M. (2016). World Alzheimer report 2016: improving healthcare for people living with dementia: coverage, quality and costs now and in the future.

Brugnoli, M. P. (2015). Clinical hypnosis in pain therapy and palliative care: a handbook of techniques for improving the patient’s physical and psychological well-being. Charles C Thomas Publisher.