Dr Helen Beesley: Psychology

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Dr Helen Beesley

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Overview

About me

Dr Helen Beesley has enjoyed working in both clinical and clinical research posts since qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist at the University of Liverpool in 2004.

Helen currently works in private practice and provides assessment and psychological therapy in Liverpool and at Spire Murrayfield Hospital on the Wirral. As well as therapy, she is sometimes asked to see patients for assessment before surgery and can provide support to patients making decisions about treatment. Her area of specialism is clinical health psychology; supporting people when psychological difficulties are linked to dealing with physical illness. She also provides more general psychological intervention for depression, anxiety, work stress, low self esteem and other issues.

Over the last 15 years she has carried out and published research in clinical health psychology. She led the development of a new clinical psychology service in Breast services at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. During her 11 years at the hospital, she also took a role as Macmillan Principal Clinical Psychologist & Research Lead in a broader psychology service for people affected by various cancer types. Her clinical work involved supporting patients affected by illness and their family members using psychological therapy.

Helen is HCPC registered, a Chartered Clinical Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society.

If the specified working hours are not convenient, Helen may have some flexibility across the week and would be happy to discuss this.

Areas of interest

Adjustment to life threatening illness; Living with chronic illness; Recurrence of illness; Managing anxiety/ worry; Psychological effects of childhood trauma/ abuse; Treatment decision making; Depression; Anxiety

Specialist interests and expertise in the following physical conditions

Oncology

Physical disability

Medical secretaries

About me

Research interests

Decision making in cancer care
Patient doctor relationship
Adjustment to cancer
Attachment processes

Publications

Beesley H, Goodfellow, S, Holcombe C, Salmon P (2016) The intensity of breast cancer patients’ relationships with their surgeons after the first meeting: Evidence that relationships are not ‘built’ but arise from attachment
processes. European Journal of Surgical Oncology, 42, 679-684.

Baker P, Beesley H, Fletcher I, Ablett J, Holcombe C, Salmon P (2015) Getting back to 'normal' or 'a new type of normal'? A qualitative study of patients' responses to the existential threat of cancer. European Journal of Cancer Care, 25, 180–189.

Harding R, Beesley H, Holcombe C, Fisher J, Salmon P (2015) Are patient-nurse relationships in breast cancer linked to adult attachment style? Journal of Advanced Nursing, 71(10):2305-14

Baker P, Beesley H, Dinwoodie R, Fletcher I, Ablett J, Holcombe C, Salmon P. (2012) 'You're putting thoughts into my head': a qualitative study of the readiness of patients with breast, lung or prostate cancer to address emotional needs through the first 18 months after diagnosis. Psychooncology, 22(6):1402-10

Beesley H, Holcombe C, Brown SL and Salmon P (2013) Risk, worry and cosmesis in decision-making for contralateral risk-reducing mastectomy: Analysis of 60 consecutive cases in a specialist breast unit. The Breast, 22 (2):179-84.

Beesley H, Ullmer H, Holcombe C, Salmon P (2012) How patients evaluate breast reconstruction after mastectomy, and why their evaluation often differs from that of their clinicians. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 65 (8) 1064-1071

Clark L, Beesley H, Holcombe C, Salmon P (2011) The influence of childhood abuse and adult attachment style on clinical relationships in breast cancer care. General Hospital Psychiatry, 33 (6), 579-586.

Pegman S, Beesley H, Holcombe C, Mendick N, Salmon P. (2011) Understanding variability in patients’ sense of relationship with breast cancer surgeons: the relative importance of surgeon and patient variation and the influence of patients’ attachment style. Patient Education & Counselling, 83 (1), 125-128.

Beesley, H, Rhodes, J. and Salmon, P. (2010) Anger and childhood sexual abuse are independently associated with irritable bowel syndrome. British Journal of Health Psychology 15 ( 2) 389-399

Beesley, H. Salmon, P. and Holcombe, C. (2007) ‘The challenge of integrating different models of practice: Reflections on developing a psychology service in a breast unit’. Clinical Psychology Forum, 174, 17-20.