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Our Team

The Diabetes Psychology Service provides psychological input for people managing the impact of diabetes and/or challenges surrounding diabetes management. The service is part of the wider Integrated Diabetes Service (Acute and Community), a multidisciplinary team supporting people to live independently with diabetes in Croydon consisting of Consultant Diabetologists, Diabetes Specialist Nurses (DSNs), Diabetic Specialist Dietitians and a Clinical Psychologist.

 

About Us

The Diabetes Psychology Service supports people with a diagnosis of diabetes aged over 18 years registered with a GP in Croydon. The clinic offers psychological therapy sessions face-to-face (based in health centres in the borough) as well as remotely, via virtual platform Attend Anywhere. The service aims to help people improve their confidence, motivation and skills in managing their physical and mental health through better understanding of the impact of their diabetes and developing strategies to manage this.

 

Our Services

The service offers specialist psychological assessment and intervention for people experiencing distress surrounding living with diabetes (e.g. adapting to lifestyle changes such as diet, physical activity, checking blood glucose, taking medication) as well as people finding their mood or social circumstances are impacting on their diabetes self-care. The service offers 4-12 sessions of psychological therapy via a number of models. These include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), mindfulness and compassion-focussed approaches. Support can be accessed 1:1 or as part of a group.

 

Referral Criteria

 

Inclusion Criteria

1. Adults aged 18 or over with a diagnosis of diabetes
2. People already known to CDS, registered with a Croydon GP or who live in Croydon but not registered with a GP elsewhere
3. People experiencing problems with their emotional wellbeing which is affecting their diabetes management or as direct result of their diabetes diagnosis/treatment.

Problems may include:

1. Low/depressed mood
2. Diabetes distress
3. Anxiety/worry
4. Disordered eating
5. Issues with adjustment to lifestyle changes/medication, low motivation to change behaviour

1. People who are willing to engage with psychological therapy and can attend regularly
2. People whose needs may be too complex for IAPT

 

Exclusion Criteria

• Inpatients
• People referred for/already accessing psychological therapy elsewhere
  • i.e. SLaM services such as CMHT, CIPTS, Psychiatric Liaison, Assessment and Liaison (A&L); Touchstone, Turning Point, private therapy services
• People who are not aware of/have not consented to referral to psychology
• People currently under the influence of substances such as drugs or alcohol
• Patients in a crisis (Please see crisis information) or experiencing mental health problems unrelated to diabetes
  • If the person you are referring does not meet criteria for this service, please consider a referral for psychological support via another mental health service. For example, Croydon Talking therapies (IAPT), drug and alcohol support or specialist eating disorder services. Thank you

 

Referrals:

Referral form

Referrals can be made by email by any healthcare or allied health professional (i.e., GPs, practice nurses, psychologists, psychological therapists, care coordinators, psychiatrists, social workers etc.) Please complete the referral form (also can be found on Emis) and send it to our Admin team ch-tr.croydondiabetes@nhs.net to make a referral. Accepted referrals will be contacted to inform them they have been added to the waiting list for assessment. 

 

Contact details

Main contact: Dr Gemma Knight, Clinical Psychologist

Email: ch-tr.croydondiabetes@nhs.net

Telephone: 0208 401 3414

Address: Community Diabetes Psychology Service, Croydon University Hospital, 530 London Road, Croydon, CR7 7YE

Opening hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays (pm)