Renal health and counselling psychology service

What is renal (kidney) psychology?

Kidney disease can have a major impact on someone’s life. It is normal to experience a range of emotions and to sometimes feel unable to cope with new and complex information. It is also common to have worries about your health, be angry about your situation or feel overwhelmed with your problems.

The RHCP service specialises in helping people cope with and adjust to their kidney disease and its treatment. Speaking with a psychologist in a specialist kidney healthcare setting provides an opportunity for you to discuss your feelings and some of these issues with someone who best understands your medical condition.

Psychologists and psychological therapists are primarily trained in ‘talking therapies’, such as practical problem-solving techniques, as well as counselling and more formal therapy. They are also skilled in helping people to make important changes to their lifestyle to improve their health and general well-being.

What we can help with

At the renal health psychology service, we can help you:

• Overcome difficulties adjusting to or accepting your diagnosis.
• Talk through important treatment decisions.
• Tackle lifestyle changes as part of your medical care.
• Find ways to talk about your condition with your family and friends.
• Learn new skills and techniques to manage the impact of your kidney condition on your mood, e.g., feeling down or anxious.

What to expect at your RHCP appointment

Your first contact with the psychologist will be an informal discussion which will last about an hour. Appointments can take place in person at the hospital, or via video or telephone.

The psychologist will ask you for some background details, and you may be asked to complete a short questionnaire about how you have been feeling. You will also have time to discuss any issues you are concerned about and afterwards you can decide with the psychologist what support from the service would be most helpful to you.

If your problem is not directly related to your kidney disease, we may be able to help you find appropriate talking therapies/social support in your local area.

Pre-transplant psychological assessments

The renal psychologists also see patients who are considering having a kidney transplant. Most patients are referred by the transplant team for a pre-transplant psychological assessment, an important part of the pre-transplant process which explores your readiness and suitability for a transplant.

The psychologist provides information and helps patients think about the process and some of the important requirements for transplant. It is also an opportunity to discuss your expectations and any concerns you might have about the transplant process.

Do I have to see a psychologist?

The RHCP service is a consent-based service. This means that although one of your kidney care team may have suggested you might benefit from seeing a psychologist, you can choose not to.

However, if you have consented to the ‘work up’ for a kidney transplant, you may be asked to see a psychologist. This is an important part of your transplant assessment and so you are strongly encouraged to attend.

A referral to the psychologist should always be discussed and agreed with you by one of the kidney team beforehand.

How to make a referral

If you are a patient under the care of the low clearance, transplant, or renal dialysis team, you can either refer yourself by calling the renal psychology office or ask a member of your care team to make the referral for you.

After your sessions with the psychologist have ended, you can be re-referred by the renal team as appropriate, should you have ongoing difficulties related to your renal condition.