https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/wards-and-departments/departments/clinical-specialties/ophthalmology-information-parents-and-visitors/paediatric-psychology-service/
Ophthalmology- Paediatric Psychology Service
Paediatric Psychology provision within the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Ophthalmology Service is funded by Fight Against Blindness.
It enables Clinical Psychologists to offer a psychological assessment, treatment and support service to children and young people with visual impairment (birth to 18 years) and their families under the care of a Consultant Ophthalmologist at GOSH.
How could clinical psychology input help your family?
Some of the things children, young people and their families seek help with are:
- Adjustment to the diagnosis of an eye condition and living with the condition.
- Managing treatment (eye drops, injections), eye examinations and preparing for procedures.
- Exploring feelings, thoughts or worries about visual impairment and eyesight that may be impacting on their psychological wellbeing.
- A safe space to think about sense of self, self-esteem, hopes and worries for the future.
- Thinking together about the impact of visual impairment on education and social relationships.
- Working with parents and carers to help support their children with the above, if child does not want direct support or is not able to access their own individual support.
- Supporting parents and carers with their own wellbeing and coping related to caring for a child with a visual impairment.
Meet the team
- Dr Elise Marriott- Clinical Psychologist
- Fadila Farag- Assistant Psychologist
Dr Elise Marriott (left) and Fadila Farag (right)
Referrals
We accept referrals for young people under the active care of GOSH ophthalmology.
If you would like to be referred, please discuss this with your child’s ophthalmology care team. They can refer to the Paediatric Psychology service.
What happens next?
You will receive a letter confirming we have received your referral followed by an appointment to offer an initial telephone call. If your child is over 10 years old, we ask that they join for this initial call, is possible. This will be an opportunity to get to know each other, gather information and decide if it would be helpful to have support from psychology at this stage.
- We aim to keep what we talk about as private as possible, though there are times when we have to share information. We can talk through confidentiality when we begin our work together.
- We can offer face-to-face appointments at GOSH as well as virtual appointments, and can work collaboratively with families and liaise with schools if appropriate.
- For direct work with children, we will think together about whether it is best to meet with them individually, or with their parents/carers. Our aim is to work creatively to engage children and young people by integrating their interests as part of the work.