Psychological Medicine

Psychologists in the department of Psychological Medicine help people to live with their health conditions or the after effects of a health problem or treatment.

• Neurology
• Stroke
• Oncology
• Other Health Conditions such as Gastroenterology, Rheumatology and Diabetes.

Who might benefit from seeing a psychologist?

People can be referred to a psychologist for a number of reasons. Psychologists understand that health affects the mind as well as the body. They work with lots of problems which people may have in health and neurological conditions. The problems people experience can be to do with:

• Adjusting to their diagnosis
• Living with a health condition
• Their thinking skills
• How they are feeling
• How they are acting
• Changes to their personality
• Fears about the future
• Managing or coping with treatment.

Meet the Team

Andrea Jones

Andrea qualified as a Health Psychologist in 2007 after completing post-graduate training at the University of Derby. She works with patients facing emotional challenges as a result of a cancer or palliative care condition. Andrea takes a collaborative approach with her patients to find the best way of working through their difficulties. She uses a range of therapy models in her clinical work and has a special interest in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). Andrea provides one to one therapy and also teaches on educational programmes. She is based at Lindsey Lodge Hospice and Scunthorpe General Hospital.

Dr Gail Meadows

Dr Gail Meadows qualified from Lancaster University in 2013. Since that time she has worked within the Stroke and the Neurological and Rehabilitation Specialism. She has completed an MSc in Applied Neuropsychology and is currently pursuing further training in Clinical Neuropsychology. Dr Meadows has a special interest in the following psychotherapies: Compassion Focused Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She is experienced in working with people with neurological conditions. She is currently the interim clinical lead for the department.

Dr Lesley Moody

Lesley completed a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2007 and she went on to qualify as a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist in 2016. Most of her experience is in working with adults experiencing a wide range of psychological difficulties. Her main approach is to try to help people reduce their psychological distress through developing a greater understanding of themselves. She currently works with adults in North East Lincolnshire who have experienced cancer and long term health conditions.

Dr Gemma Whitney

Gemma completed a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2017 and has worked mostly within the Stroke specialism within the department since qualifying. She also spent the year prior to this working within the department on her final placement in her doctoral training. She is currently working cross-site in Northern Lincolnshire (based at Scunthorpe General Hospital and Cottage Beck Road) and North East Lincolnshire (based at Cromwell Primary Care Centre and Diana Princess of Wales Hospital).

Dr Lucy Yaxley

Dr Lucy Yaxley qualified from Hull University in 2010. She has previously worked in the Memory Service for Hull. Since joining NLAG she has been the Service Lead for Stroke and   more recently became the Clinical Lead for the Department   of Psychological Medicine. She has completed a PGDip in   Clinical Neuropsychology and is currently pursuing further   training in Clinical Neuropsychology. She is experienced in   working with people with neurological conditions.

Dr Amy Spratt

Amy completed a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2013 at The University of Hull. Since that time she has worked with individuals with a range of health and neurological conditions but has predominantly worked in chronic pain and stroke. She has a specialist interest in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and other mindfulness-based approaches such as Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). She is currently the Principal Clinical Psychologist in stroke, although she also works with patients with other neurological conditions, and is based in North East Lincolnshire.

Trainee Clinical Psychologists

The Department has close links with the Hull University, and regularly takes Trainee Clinical Psychologists on placements from the Clinical Psychology Doctorate Programme. You may be offered an appointment to see a trainee for your treatment. It is your choice whether you want to be seen by a trainee or not. In order to become Clinical Psychologists, trainees must complete a three year BSc degree in Psychology followed by three years of doctoral training. Trainees complete five clinical placements alongside their academic and research training, and work in a range of settings with people of different ages and with different difficulties. Trainees are supervised by qualified Clinical Psychologists in the department whilst on placement.

Lois Miller

Team administrator, Lois covers both sites and is based at Crowmell Primary Care Centre, Grimsby.

Liz Houchin

Psychology Manager

Information for carers, family and friends

Caring for someone with a health condition, a neurological problem or following an injury can be a difficult experience and can involve a large amount of change. It is normal to experience mixed emotions about caring for a loved one. It is important to look after yourself when you are caring for someone both physically and emotionally, as caring can be tiring.

Useful links and partner organisations

Contact us

The team in North East Lincolnshire are based at Cromwell Primary Care Centre. Our North Lincolnshire team work across several sites, including at Scunthorpe Hospital, Lindsey Lodge Hospice and Cottage Beck Road Medical Centre.

Patient information leaflets

• Seeing a psychologist in North and North East Lincolnshire