Clinical psychology for children and young people at the eye clinic

This leaflet is for children and families attending the ophthalmology department at Addenbrooke’s. It aims to explain why there is a clinical psychologist in the team and how to access the service.

Clinical psychology

We have developed this service to provide psychological support to families who attend the eye clinic with a child/young person with visual problems.

How could clinical psychology input help your family?

Some of the things families seek help with are:

• adjustment to the diagnosis of an eye condition (for parents and children)
• concern about educational and social issues
• feelings of anger, anxiety or low mood associated with the eye condition
• coping with medical procedures and medicines associated with the eye condition
• ways of coping with some of the possible difficulties that may arise from living with a visual impairment, eg school transitions, increasing independence, relationships, ‘being different’, using visual aids, separation anxiety, sleep difficulties

How to arrange a referral

You can ask to be referred by the orthoptist or eye doctor you see in clinic. The clinical psychologist will then telephone you to see how things are, and to discuss how the psychology service might be able to help. An appointment can then be arranged.

Where will we meet?

The clinical psychologist works in clinic 3 on a Friday afternoon. It may be possible to combine an appointment with your regular visit to the eye clinic.

At the initial appointment parents and children are usually seen together and then sometimes we have some separate time also. This will be discussed and agreed with you at or prior to the initial appointment. Sessions can be ongoing, or arranged as a one-off, as appropriate.

Contacts/ further information

If you would like find out more about the service, please phone 01223 216878.