Psychological interventions and psychotherapy

Our world class Royal Free London clinical psychology team 

The goal of our team of clinical psychologists and psychotherapists at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is to make a positive difference to our patients’ mental health and the length of time they stay in hospital. 

Each member of our team uses psychological interventions and psychotherapy that have been proven to make a real difference.

Here’s a selection of some common treatments and techniques that our clinical psychologists and psychotherapists use to diagnose, treat and manage patients:

  • Psychological assessments
  • Neurological assessments
  • Cognitive analytical therapy (CAT)
  • Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
  • Psychodynamic therapy

Our clinical psychology aims and goals at Barnet, Chase Farm and the Royal Free hospitals

We aim to reduce levels of anxiety and depression and other forms of mental distress, as well as help to treat specific disorders or illnesses like eating disorders.

When it’s important to the patient we also aim to increase motivation and independence, set goals for treatment, and help our patients reach their goals – like managing anxiety or improving self-esteem.

Mental health benefits, improved symptoms and a shorter stay in hospital for existing Royal Free London patients

When patients come into one of our hospitals to have an illness or condition treated or for an operation, support from our internationally recognised clinical psychology team has shown to help improve symptoms, help people to walk or move parts of their body more easily, reduce the development of or improve a disability and ensure patients go home from hospital sooner.

Many types of patient can need our psychological interventions and psychotherapy services, such as those who are newly diagnosed with HIV and are struggling to come to terms with it. However, our attitude is to treat the person and not the condition, by providing mental health treatment that is tailored to the individual.

This kind of approach has been shown in studies to be the most effective way of treating patients, resulting in a better and shorter patient experience.