Dr Michelle Sowden

After qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist in 1993, I gained experience in a community mental health day hospital and in acute services with Heathlands Mental Health Trust, before moving to Frimley Park Hospital in 1995, to take up a post specialising in the psychological care of patients with physical health problems.

Over a 23-year period, I established and led a clinical health psychology service within Frimley Park Hospital where I broadened my basic experience in chronic pain management to a wide range of specialties including cancer, pain management, intensive care, gastroenterology, neurology, obstetrics, gynaecology and cardiac and respiratory care. I moved into full-time private practice in 2018.

I have over 30 years' experience of working in physical healthcare alongside doctors and nurses, physiotherapists and dieticians, contributing to people’s recovery and rehabilitation. I was awarded Consultant status by the British Psychological Society in 2001, in recognition of my qualifications and experience in this field. I have also gained 30 years' experience of providing supervision and training to healthcare staff.

I strongly believe that good psychological care should be embedded in patient care at all levels of the service. To this end I have worked with the local Critical Care and Cancer Networks, the Nuffield Oncology Unit providing staff support and clinical supervision and with the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice where I also provide more formal psychological skills training for staff. I have contributed to training clinical psychologists on the doctorate course at the University of Surrey.

I am passionate about supporting healthcare professionals to manage the impact of their work on their wellbeing and I am privileged to have facilitated Schwartz Rounds at Frimley Park Hospital, which provide a forum for staff to reflect on the impact of their work on their wellbeing.

I see people who need help to cope with and manage changes in their physical health because of an illness or because of injury. Examples include coping with a diagnosis of cancer, diabetes, cardiac disease, respiratory conditions, chronic pain, fatigue or rheumatological conditions, neurological disorders, gastrointestinal disorders or obstetric or gynaecological issues.

I can also offer help with more general anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues and stress; you don’t have to have a physical health diagnosis to consult me.

I offer an integrated approach drawing on traditional cognitive behavioural therapy, systemic therapies, mindfulness and trauma therapies. My therapeutic work is based on a thorough assessment and discussion about what you would like to work on. I offer structured short, or longer term, psychological therapy tailored to meet your needs. Since many of my patients have experienced loss and change, my work is grounded in providing a safe and compassionate space in which difficulties can be explored. I am able to see you individually or with a partner, and I can help with relationship issues where these have been affected by illness.

I am registered with all the main medical insurance companies. I am happy to have a brief call before you book to check that I am a good match for your psychological therapy needs.

Specific examples of psychological therapy I have offered include:

Managing long term illness such as coming to terms with a difficult diagnosis or finding ways of coping better with symptoms and physical limitations.

Coping with anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress arising in relation to physical illness or injury.

Coping with psychological distress in the perinatal period including fear of childbirth, psychological trauma from more complex deliveries, and ante- or post-natal anxiety or depression.

Coping with unpleasant symptoms such as long term/chronic pain and fatigue.

Coping with symptoms that may cause embarrassment such as unpredictable bowel motions or wind.

Overcoming health related phobias, including needle phobias, fear of scanners, anaesthesia, surgery, dental work.

Worries about health and panic attacks, for instance, associated with allergies or asthma.

Support with making difficult health related decisions such as in relation to elective or prophylactic surgery.

Coping with changes in appearance that are causing distress, such as scarring, loss of limbs, acne and body image changes due to weight gain or loss'

Managing more general stress, anxiety and low mood.

Please note that traditionally clinical psychologists have provided help to people with mental health difficulties. However, my expertise lies in helping people manage physical health problems and I have over 23 years' experience of working in a general hospital alongside doctors and nurses contributing to people’s recovery and rehabilitation. Whilst I am happy to advise on onwards referrals for severe and enduring mental health problems and head injuries, these require a different expertise.

My research in the field of chronic pain has been published in academic journals and presented at national and international conferences. I am co-author of a textbook on cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic illness and palliative care, and I also contributed to a textbook addressing psychological challenges in obstetrics and gynaecology.

In line with standard professional requirements, I access regular clinical supervision from a fellow Consultant Clinical Psychologist who specialises in the same field.

I also contribute to training clinical psychologists on the doctorate course at the University of Surrey and have taught on the MSc in Palliative Care there.

I am a co-author of CBT for Chronic Illness and Palliative Care: A Workbook and Toolkit, which was published by Wiley in 2008 and is used as a textbook by a range of training providers. I have also published research papers in the field of chronic pain.

Sage, N., Sowden, M., Chorlton, E. and Edeleanu A, (2008) CBT for Chronic Illness and Palliative Care: A Workbook and Toolkit, Wiley.

Sowden, M., Sage, N. and Cockburn, J. (2004) Coping and Adjustment in Pregnancy; giving babies a better start. In Cockburn J. and Pawson, M. (Eds), Psychological Challenges in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Springer.

Conference presentations

Hatch, A., Sowden, M & Peskett, E. (2007). Annual refresher day: a cost effective contribution to a model of service provision for a long-term condition. Poster presented at the British Pain Society, UK, 2007.

Hatch, A., Coombs, J., and Sowden, M. (2005) Can four key psychosocial risk factors for chronic pain and disability be modified by a pain management programme? A follow-up study.  Poster presented at the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) World Conference, Sydney, Australia.

Sowden, M., Edelmann, R. and Rankin, H. (1994) Individual differences in response to patient controlled analgesia. British Psychological Society London Conference 1994. Abstract published in the Proceedings of the British Psychological Society, 2(1), 54.

My interest in helping people with changes in their physical health was sparked as a teenager when I helped out in a small community pharmacy and observed at close range the profound impact health issues can have on our lives.