Diabetes is a serious disease which if left untreated, can have enormous consequences for the health of the diabetic.
However, the mental health of people with diabetes is often not discussed, yet is often impacted by this disease. It’s not uncommon for diabetics to suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and relationship issues.
Australia Counselling member Carolien Koreneff has the unique skills of being a diabetes educator as well as a somatic psychotherapist. So we spoke with her about how diabetes and mental health are closely related.
In this interview Carolien shares:
- How she started working in the field of diabetes
- A background about the field of diabetes and therapy – 3:00
- What is diabetes and the different types of diabetes – 4:15
- Why type 1 diabetes is considered a more serious health issue – 6:00
- Other ways diabetes impacts people – 6:25
- The mental health issues for people with diabetes – 8:00
- How Carolien combines Diabetes education work with psychosomatic therapy work – 9:15
- What counsellors should you be aware of when encountering clients with diabetes – 11:50
- Warning signs to watch for when glucose levels drop low – 12:55
- The importance of mood regulation for diabetics – 14:25
- Relationship issues that can arise during mood changes – 15:05
- How she helps her clients increase their body awareness and tune into what their body is telling them – 15:50
Links and resources mentioned in this episode
- Diabetes Australia
- Diabetes New South Wales
- Australian Diabetes Educators Association
- www.shiretotalhealth.com.au
Click here to download the transcript of this recording
About Carolien Koreneff:
Carolien is a mentor for new, upcoming CDEs, is a member of the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA), the Australian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (ADIPS), the Australian Somatic Psychotherapy Association (ASPA) and PACFA.
Carolien Koreneff is a Credentialed Diabetes Educator (CDE) with near on 20 years’ experience. For the last 12 years she has been working at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) Diabetes Centre, where she is also the training and development coordinator.
Carolien studied Somatic Psychotherapy through the Australian College of Contemporary Somatic Psychotherapy (ACCSP) and graduated in early 2007. She works in private practice and has rooms in Sutherland where she works a diabetes educator and as a somatic psychotherapist. Carolien works with individuals, couples and is a group facilitator. She is very skilled at combining psychotherapy and diabetes education into one, which means that she can work with people with diabetes at a deeper level. To find out more about Carolien Koreneff, visit her Australia Counselling profile or website.
Listen to the audio with the player at the top of this post, or listen on SoundCloud, Stitcher Radio, or subscribe in iTunes.
