Respiratory Medicine Psychology Service
Supporting You to Live Well with Your Health Condition
The Respiratory Psychology Service (also known as Breathlessness Support Service) works with people who would like to find ways to live better with the challenges of their lung condition(s). Lung conditions can include :
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Complex asthma.
Bronchiectasis.
Tuberculosis (TB).
How Might Your Health Condition Affect You?
People with conditions that cause breathlessness can have their lives affected in a range of ways. This includes:
- Feeling worried or frightened about being breathless (and getting more breathless when you feel worried).
- Feeling distressed, as if you can’t cope with it all.
- Giving up things you enjoy.
- Feeling unhappy or angry about how your health condition has affected your life.
- Interference with relationships with partners, family and friends.
- Worrying or feeling hopeless about the future
- Losing your self-confidence.
- Difficulties with managing your condition or the treatment.
- Finding it hard to make changes your doctor or other member of the respiratory team have recommended e.g. giving up smoking, using a CPAP mask.
- Struggling to cope following a recent intensive care admission.
What to expect
We can talk with you about your experience. We can explore how your physical health impacts upon your life and then look at how you would like your life to improve alongside your lung condition.
We can help you identify what changes are achievable and meaningful to you. We may then help you to develop new skills and/or expand your existing strategies to help you work towards your desired changes.
We meet with people as outpatients, inpatients or if under the CORE team via home visits. There is always the option to invite a significant other (e.g. partner, family, friend) to your appointment as a way to involve them in your care and to benefit from their thoughts and ideas too. Ideally our meetings are face-to-face but it is also possible to meet remotely via video call/telephone.
How to get referred to the Respiratory Psychology team?
You can be referred by your Whittington Health respiratory consultant (or a member of the respiratory team) so please do ask if they have not yet mentioned this. They will help you decide if this is the right time for you to start this work and/or if other services are needed at this point.
If you are not currently under the care of the Whittington Health respiratory team then please check with the team who oversees your respiratory input (which may another hospital, another community team or your GP) to see what psychology service may be available to you. Alternatively, you can contact your local Talking Therapies service to request a self-referral in order to see if this service would be suitable for you.
How do we work?
We strive to be an inclusive and respectful service in which everyone is welcome. Our psychology team have experience of working with individuals with a diverse range of life experiences, perspectives, and priorities. We commit to adapting our input to support our service users and to meet the needs of minoritized sections of our communities (e.g. ethnically minoritized groups, LGBTQ+ communities, people with mild/moderate learning disabilities).
Wait times
Outpatients
On receipt of a referral, we will contact people - by phone, text or letter - within the next two to six weeks. After an initial conversation, where we can explain more about the service and answer any questions, we will arrange a further meeting if you would like this.
Inpatients
We aim to meet inpatients within five working days of the referral, or as soon as they are well enough for this meeting.
Further information
It enabled me to focus on my self care, not be overwhelmed by anxiety, I felt understood, it gave me a plan.
It has changed the way I feel about my problem. I feel so much lighter.
She really listened and helped me cope better when I was in a very dark place.
Being able to talk about my fears for the future and help in seeing things in a different way.
She really listened and helped me cope better when I was in a very dark place.
Being able to talk about my fears for the future and help in seeing things in a different way.
Helped me to focus. Helped me put in techniques that help my breathlessness. Helped bring balance with my health issues and take back some control.
I used to dread waking up in the morning - now I have learnt how to pace myself I can see my friends again.
Being able to realise my insightfulness and being able to accept who I was and who I am today.
Last updated09 Jul 2025