Counselling Support for Heart Failure

Different types of counselling, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and support groups, may help improve your mental health when you’re living with heart failure.

• 20–40% of people with chronic heart failure have depression
• 20% of people ages 75 years and older with chronic heart failure have depression
• 32% of people with heart failure have heightened levels of anxiety
• 13% of people with heart failure have an anxiety disorder

Stress, fear, and other negative emotions produce cortisol and adrenaline. These can affect your blood pressure and heart rate and worsen heart diseases such as heart failure.

A qualified counsellor can help you:

• manage negative emotions and mood changes
• adjust harmful thought patterns and behaviours
• address communication challenges and interpersonal conflicts

CBT is effective at reducing anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances in people with heart failure. Other counselling that may help include Interpersonal therapy or Group therapy

If you don’t have health insurance for counselling:

1. Check with a local university, teaching hospital, or community health clinic: some offer free or low-cost counselling. AUT, and Auckland Universities offer free counselling as part of their teaching programmes.
2. Contact free hotlines for crisis support:

Exercise is good ‘medicine’ for heart failure.

Good exercises for heart failure are aerobic activities that involve your whole body and increase your heart rate, such as walking. Light resistance training may also be beneficial. Avoid strenuous exercises, such as weightlifting, and activities where you have to hold your breath, such as swimming.

Treatment: Treatment for heart failure typically includes a combination of therapies such as medications, lifestyle and dietary changes, device implantations, surgery and counselling.