Therapy for Adults Living with or Caring for Someone with Type 1 Diabetes

Parents | Partners | Caregivers | Carers | Supporters | Family Members

Slow Release Psychology offers evidence-based psychological therapy for the Type 1 Community.

Slow Release Psychology Therapy Supervision Jessica Barrett Type 1 Diabetes

Slow Release Psychology works with clients living with Type 1 Diabetes, providing them with psychological therapy and evidence-based interventions to support them in coping with living with Diabetes, managing Diabetes-related distress and burnout, and creating a meaningful life while living with Diabetes.

Whether you’re managing your own health or supporting a loved one, therapy can provide a safe space to explore your experiences, build resilience, and find practical strategies to navigate the challenges. You don’t have to do this alone – support is here for you.

“I believe that addressing psychological factors plays a crucial role in improving the management of Type 1 Diabetes.”

— Jessica Barrett, Clinical Psychologist | Type 1 Mum | Type 1 Wife

Holding Space for the Highs & Lows

The Diabetes Rollercoaster: Life with Type 1 Diabetes is Constant and Often Invisible

The lows and the highs living with Type 1 Diabetes means navigating constant fluctuations – and it’s not just blood sugars. Type 1 can impact emotions, energy, and relationships. It’s not just physical; it’s psychological.

Whether you're experiencing distress, facing diabetic burnout, decision fatigue, or feeling overwhelmed by the ‘what ifs’, you don’t have to experience it alone.

Slow Release Psychology offers a space to stabilise and take the next step forward – at your pace.

At Slow Release Psychology, therapy isn't about rushing to a fix. It’s about creating a space where you can EXHALE – where healing unfolds at your pace. Whether you’re navigating life with Type 1 Diabetes or supporting someone who is, you deserve support that honours the complexity of your role.

Together, we work toward psychological stability, emotional regulation, and a renewed connection to your own sense of balance.

Evidence-Based Therapy

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) aims to improve psychological and behavioural outcomes in people with chronic illnesses — including Type 1 Diabetes.
CBT focuses on the relationship between a person’s thoughts (cognitions), emotions, and behaviours. It aims to help individuals identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours that contribute to psychological distress and increase self-awareness.
CBT addresses diabetes distress, depression, anxiety, and problematic health behaviours that interfere with diabetes self-care.
Grief & Adjustment Counselling

A new diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes is life-changing and can be an emotionally turbulent journey, and, for some, traumatic.
Grief counselling provides space to process the sense of loss, shock, and upheaval that often accompany diagnosis.
It supports individuals as they navigate this complex period of adjustment – coming to terms with a new reality, new routines, and an evolving sense of self and identity.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), originally developed by Marsha Linehan for borderline personality disorder, has been increasingly adapted for chronic illness management, including Type 1 Diabetes. It focuses on helping individuals manage intense emotions, improve distress tolerance, and develop healthier coping behaviours—all of which are relevant in living with Type 1 Diabetes.
The main aim of DBT is to help you foster a meaningful and fulfilling life. DBT encompasses mindfulness, distress tolerance (acceptance-oriented skills), emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness (change-orientated skills) that can be applied to everyday life.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT uses evidence-based techniques of acceptance, mindfulness, and self-compassion to help people develop psychological flexibility to build a meaningful and fulfilling life.
ACT emphasises psychological flexibility, acceptance of difficult experiences, and values-based action — making it well-suited for supporting individuals with Type 1 Diabetes, a condition requiring lifelong self-management and emotional resilience.
ACT can help people shift from control and avoidance (e.g., trying to “fight” the disease or avoid dealing with it) to acceptance and committed action aligned with their values.
Schema Therapy

Schema Therapy is used to treat chronic issues, such as longstanding depression and anxiety, emotion regulation difficulties, interpersonal problems, and trauma. Schema therapy addresses underlying emotional schemas that may contribute to unhelpful behaviours and distress.
Schema Therapy aims to improve people’s ability to cope with difficult feelings and to develop more adaptive ways of coping.
People who may benefit include individuals with chronic struggles in diabetes self-care; those with co-occurring depression, anxiety, or trauma; people experiencing diabetes distress or burnout, and those whose emotional patterns interfere with healthy Type 1 Diabetes management.
Enhanced Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT-E)

CBT-E is a transdiagnostic approach, which addresses the underlying mechanisms that maintain various types of eating disorders (especially bulimia, anorexia, and atypical cases) and eating disorder symptoms — many of which are also relevant for individuals with Type 1 Diabetes who struggle with disordered eating or diabetes-related emotional challenges.
The goals of CBT-E include reducing disordered eating patterns (cognitions and behaviours), normalising eating, and improving body image.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

Emotionally Focused Therapy is a short-term form of therapy that focuses on adult relationships. It is an attachment-based therapy that focuses on improving emotional awareness, emotional regulation, and relationship dynamics.
While it was originally developed for couples therapy, EFT has since been adapted for individuals — making it a useful framework for supporting people with Type 1 Diabetes, especially in the context of emotional distress, family conflict, and partner relationships.
It focuses on understanding and increasing awareness of patterns in the relationship, helping people to take steps to create a more secure attachment. This approach helps people who are struggling with anger, fear, and loss of trust in their relationship.