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Our Talking Health Team

Providing mental health support for adults with a long term health condition

Back on track

Long term health conditions are physical health conditions that require ongoing management over a period of years. Living with a long term condition can be challenging both physically and emotionally. This is because your mind and body are closely linked, and have an effect on each other. You may feel anxious as a result of a diagnosis, or may be feeling frustrated with how your health condition is impacting your life. Please be assured you are not alone, and help is available through TALKWORKS if you are experiencing low mood, worry or sleep difficulties as a result of a physical health condition.

Contact our Talking Health team

How can TALKWORKS help?

Our Talking Health Team are group of dedicated TALKWORKS practitioners, experienced in working with people with a combination of physical and emotional health difficulties. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Diabetes
  • COPD and other respiratory conditions
  • Obesity
  • Heart conditions
  • Persistent pain
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome / Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)
  • Dermatological conditions
  • Gastrointestinal conditions and IBS
  • Kidney conditions
  • Rheumatological conditions
  • Other long term conditions

Our Talking Health team use interventions based around Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help people who may be experiencing low mood, stress, anxiety and/or difficulties managing or coping with their physical health condition. They operate across the whole of Devon and often work in conjunction with other physical health teams to ensure the care that you receive takes into account how the body and mind are connected.

The treatment that you receive will be based around your difficulties and we can help you to achieve your goals. The team will work with you to understand the patterns of thinking and behaviours that may be exacerbating the physical and emotional side effects of living with the condition, and will be able to make recommendations on the best form of therapy to help you to feel better. This may include:

If you would like to access support for living with a long term health condition, please email our Talking Health team: dpt.talkworks.talkinghealth@nhs.net. Alternatively you can complete an online self-referral, or you can refer to TALKWORKS over the phone by calling us (Monday to Friday from 9am - 4:45pm) on 0300 555 3344.


Your experience with us

Your feedback matters

“I could not fault the service I received. I was listened to and given so many different resources to help my anxiety and depression. I was so very low a year ago but with the amazing support from my therapist I feel more and more myself every day. Thank you TALKWORKS.”

“I was apprehensive about using the service thinking I wasn't "bad" enough but a talk to the cardiac group by a TALKWORKS practitioner gave me confidence to self-refer. I was referred with respect and taken seriously throughout, felt safe and was given tools and advice to help myself take control of my situation.”

“The therapy gently supported me to both understand and come to terms with my diagnosis and how it has impacted on me as a person for so many years. I felt I could be open and honest in a very safe space. I not only feel better, I understand myself better too.”