Regional Burns Centre Psychology

Please note

This is not a crisis service for urgent mental health needs.

If you are feeling at risk to yourself, you are advised to contact your local community mental health crisis team or Emergency Department/GP. Please see the list of local crisis team phone numbers on our clinical health psychology page.

About us

Who is the service for?

Our service offers specialist psychological assessment and intervention to children, young people and adults with burns injuries and their families. We offer support at all stages of a burn injury, which means we see people who are inpatients on the ward and when they are under follow up care with the Regional Burns Centre.

It is common to experience a range of emotions following a burn injury. These can include low mood, anxiety, concerns about appearance and difficulties coming to terms with and adjusting to the injury. The psychology service is available to help understand and manage these feelings.

A burn injury can be a traumatic event. Some people may experience difficulties such as nightmares, vivid memories of the incident flashbacks. Some people find themselves avoiding the place where it happened or things related to the accident. Whilst these are common and normal responses to a traumatic event, they can impact on daily life. Some people may benefit from further support to help with these difficulties.

If you have any concerns or are finding things difficult then you can speak to any member of the burn service who can refer you to psychology.

What is an appointment with a psychologist like?

Your appointment may be on the ward as an inpatient or as an outpatient. This could be a short chat or a longer appointment (usually no longer than an hour). You will be asked about the nature of your injury, how you feel about it and how it impacts your life. The appointment will give us a chance to understand your experience and difficulties and think through with you what input you would like from the psychologist. This may include referrals on for support with needs that can be met by other specialist services. Appointments can be one-off or part of a longer number of sessions.

We work closely with the rest of the team at the Regional Burns Service (doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists). It can be helpful for us to keep them updated with how you are using the psychology service, but we will only share this information if you are okay with it.

See our Youtube playlist for further information

Meet the team

MY Team

What is an appointment with a psychologist like?

Dealing with stares, questions, comments

Watch our video of Becky, who talks about how she dealt with questions from friends and with members of the public

Going back to school

Returning to school after a burn injury is an important step in recovery. It is an opportunity to get back into routines and normalcy, although it can be a worrying time for both children and parents.

There may be concerns about what to tell friends and teachers, what support should be in place and when is the right time to go back.

The following information may be helpful:

Useful Links

Attend Anywhere
Dan’s fund is a national charity to support Burns Survivors. They can help with practical support, financial assistance and transport costs, job retraining, as well as counselling and support groups.
The Family Burns Club provides a service for children and young adults aged 16 to 25, through events and family activities. They can provide support around social skills, reintegration to work and activity and improving confidence and self-esteem.
The Children’s Burns Trust is a charity dedicated to rehabilitation for children and their families, prevention and awareness campaigns. They can provide financial support, equipment, signposting and support forums.
The Katie Piper Foundation offers rehabilitation and restoration services, including hair, make-up and medical tattooing.
Changing Faces offers has an information and advice telephone line, skin camouflage services and an online support forum.
Battle Scars is a local peer support service for adults, children and families.
Supporting Children with Burns provides support specifically for parents and carers.
M.Y. Burns Club - The Burns Club provides support for patients and families alongside activity camps and family therapy weekends. Young people who have had burn injuries can meet to have fun and share experiences. Various club activities are held throughout the year. Pinderfields Burns Club: Tel: 01924 541000.
Health talk is a website that is based on qualitative research undertaken into people’s personal experience with a variety of health conditions including burn injuries and other comorbid conditions such as diabetes. Health care workers and academics take patients experiences and create resources for other patients to help support them in the health journey.