Physical Health Psychology Service

About the service

The Physical Health Psychology Service is a specialist service within North Staffordshire Combined Health Care Trust. The service offers psychological therapy for people who are experiencing psychological distress as a result of a long-term health condition, chronic pain, medically caused trauma, or cancer.

Living with a health condition can contribute to a range of psychological issues due to difficulties with adjustment. People can start to feel hopeless and helpless about the future and can struggle to engage in their lives in a way that is meaningful to them. They can become withdrawn and isolated.

Talking therapies can help with these feelings. Therapies offered by the service include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EDMR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), and Integrative Therapy as required.

Therapies are delivered either as group sessions or on an individual basis. Both group and individual sessions are offered in-person, via telephone or virtually, depending on individual needs and preferences.

We also work closely with the Staffordshire Talking Therapies services (formally known as IAPT and Wellbeing). We can advise which service is most suitable to meet your needs.

The team follows the most up-to-date NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines recommended by professionals.

Who we offer support to

Long-Term Health Conditions Pathway: The service is for people 18 years old and above who are registered with a GP within the Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire area.

Pain Psychology Pathway: This service is for people 18 years old and above who are registered with a GP within the Stoke-on-Trent area only.

Cancer Psychology Service: This service is for people who are 18 years and above who are registered with the GP within the Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire area. The service accepts referrals from any health professional. Clients can access psychological therapy at any point on their cancer journey, from initial diagnosis, treatment or survivorship. We can accept referrals for those who have been given a terminal diagnosis or are undergoing palliative care.

Referrals

Referrals can be made by any health professional who can confirm the diagnosis of a long-term health condition. Professionals can email a referral form or letter to neuropsychologyadmin@combined.nhs.uk.

Please see referral form for Physical Health/ Pain Psychology

Please see referral form for Cancer Psychology services

This service does not accept self-referrals. However, clients can self-refer to the Talking Therapies long-term health conditions services here. Talking Therapies will refer you onto the Physical Health Psychology Service if they believe that you would benefit more from our service.

Will the information I share remain confidential?

Confidentiality is important to us and this means that the things we discuss will be kept within the our team. Following attending your assessment, you will receive a care plan letter, briefly summarising what was discussed and agreed with you at your appointment.

This care plan letter will be shared with your referrer and your GP and form part of your healthcare records.

Meet the team

Julie Lyons – Secretary

Angela Leach – Secretary

Sue Murchison – Team Administrator

Dr Sobia Khan – Lead for the Physical Health Psychology Team & Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Kerry Wheat – Senior Psychological Therapist, Long-Term Health Conditions and Pain Psychology Service

Dr Laura Glinn – Senior Clinical Psychologist, Bariatric Psychology, Long-Term Health Conditions and Pain Psychology Service

Dr Anja Steiner – Senior Clinical Psychologist, Cancer Psychology & Bariatric Psychology

Emily Harrison – Psychological Therapist, Long-Term Health Conditions & Bariatric Psychology

Ruth Nutt – Assistant Psychologist

Service leaflets

View our Physical Health Psychology service leaflet by clicking here.

View our Cancer Psychology service leaflet by clicking here. 

View our Living Beyond Pain information leaflet by clicking here. 

View our Living Beyond Cancer information leaflet by clicking here.

Equity and equality event

In February 2025, the Physical Health Psychology team hosted an event focused on ways to improve equity and equality in psychological therapy for people from global majority groups. Speakers included representatives from the trust’s psychology services and leadership team, along with external organisations, you can watch a summary video from the day via the link below:

Location

The Bennett Centre, Richmond Terrace, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 4ND

The Bennett Centre