Psychological services for adults with heart conditions
Cardiac Psychology
Living with a heart condition often impacts more than a person’s heart. It can affect their psychological and social well-being, as well as the lives of people around them.
It can be stressful when trying to balance physical symptoms and health care needs with other important aspects of their lives. Given the many challenges faced by adults with heart conditions, it is understandable that they are at increased risk of low mood and anxiety.
Dr. Adrienne Kovacs has provided psychological assessment and psychotherapy to adults with cardiac conditions for almost 20 years. She has expertise working with adults with coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, poor heart function, cardiomyopathy, and heart rhythm problems. With a very respectful and empathic approach, she provides support, information, and training in skills that are designed to help people feel more ready and able to manage their cardiac condition and improve their psychosocial well-being and quality of life.
Equilibria Psychological Health offers psychological services focused on “cardiac psychology.” Below are examples of concerns that might be a good fit for us:
Concerns that might be a good fit for Equilibria Psychological Health:
Difficulty coping with heart disease or changing health status
Heart-focused anxiety
Cardiac diagnosis or treatment leading to anxiety or low mood
Support with medical decision-making
Preparation for surgery or other cardiac interventions
General stress management and coping skills training
Adjustment to cardiac devices, such as pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, and ventricular assist devices
Challenges communicating health care needs to health care professionals or family members
Difficulty with the transition from pediatric to adult care
Coping with waiting for/recovering from heart transplantation
Concerns about mortality/end of life
Concerns better served by other mental health professionals:
Chronic mood or anxiety disorder that requires long-term mental health treatment and/or crisis intervention
Borderline personality disorder/dialectical behaviour therapy
Concern that requires psychiatric treatment/medications (e.g., psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder)
Substance use problem
Eating disorder
Cognitive/neuropsychological assessment
Couples or marital therapy