About The Autoimmune Psychologist

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About Matt 

Hi, I’m Matt Corey.

I’m a BPS Licensed Psychologist with an MSc and BA in Psychology and Counselling, together with additional professional training across areas, including Functional Medicine, Psychoneuroimmunology, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition, HeartMath and the Autoimmune Paleo Protocol (AIP).

My work today brings together psychological understanding, behavioural change, lifestyle education and an integrative perspective to support people living with autoimmune and chronic health conditions.

The work I do is also deeply personal.

My professional path has been shaped, not only by what I have studied, but by what I have experienced, questioned and learned throughout my own journey.

My Story

Roaring Forward

For much of my life, I was driven by the desire to move forward, achieve more and make the most of every opportunity.

I was fascinated by psychology, the brain, the mind and personal development and I was always interested in understanding, what drives people to think, feel and behave in the ways they do.

At the same time, I developed a strong belief that if I simply worked hard enough, pushed myself far enough and stayed focused enough, I could overcome whatever challenges came my way.

For a long time, that approach seemed to work.

Until it didn't.

When Pushing Harder Was not Working

Over time, the constant drive to achieve and keep moving forward began to take its toll.

I found myself working harder, doing more and giving less attention to what was happening beneath the surface.

There were periods, when my emotional and physical wellbeing became increasingly difficult to manage.

I was searching for answers, trying different approaches and attempting to understand why the things that had once seemed to work for me, were no longer helpful.

Eventually, I reached a point, where I realised that simply trying harder was not the answer.

Something needed to change.

The Turning Point

That realisation led me to look at myself differently.

Rather than focusing only on what was happening on the surface, I became increasingly curious about the patterns underneath it.

What beliefs was I carrying?

How had my experiences shaped the way, I responded to challenges?

What role did my emotions, behaviours and habits play?

What was I repeatedly doing — or avoiding — without fully recognising it?

And perhaps most importantly, what would happen, if I stopped seeing change simply as a matter of trying harder?

These questions became the beginning of a very different journey.

Looking Beneath the Surface

I began exploring psychology and personal development in greater depth, while also paying closer attention to my own experiences, behaviours and patterns.

I became increasingly interested in the relationship between the mind, emotions, behaviours and physical wellbeing.

This was not about finding one explanation for everything.

It was about, becoming more curious, developing greater self-awareness and recognising that our experience of health and life is shaped — by many interacting factors.

The more I explored, the more I came to appreciate the importance of looking beyond: what is immediately visible.

Sometimes, the things that keep us stuck are not obvious.

Sometimes, we know exactly what we want to change, yet continue to respond in familiar ways.

And sometimes, meaningful change begins with understanding ourselves differently.

Rebuilding

My own journey involved making significant changes to the way: I approached my life, my health and my wellbeing.

I continued my education and professional development, returning to psychology and counselling, while also exploring complementary areas of health and wellbeing.

Over time, I began to develop a more integrated perspective — one that recognised the importance of psychological and emotional wellbeing alongside behaviour, lifestyle and physical health.

This became more than an area of personal interest.

It became the foundation for the work I wanted to do with others.

What Began as a Personal Journey, Became My Purpose

My experiences ultimately led me to develop a particular interest in supporting people living with autoimmune and chronic health conditions.

I came to recognise, how profoundly these conditions can affect much more than the physical body.

They can influence, how we think, feel, behave, relate to others and experience everyday life.

They can affect our identity, confidence, relationships, routines, sense of possibility and expectations for the future.

And yet, much of the support available naturally focuses on the physical and medical aspects of the condition.

Those aspects are important.

However, I believe there is also value in creating space to explore the psychological, emotional, behavioural and lifestyle dimensions of the experience.

That is where my work sits.

My Approach

There is no single pathway that works for everyone.

Every person brings their own history, circumstances, relationships, challenges, priorities and goals.

For that reason, I do not believe meaningful support should be reduced to a one-size-fits-all programme.

My approach begins with understanding the individual — where you are now, what you have experienced, what you are finding difficult and what you would like to change.

From there, we can explore the areas that may be most useful.

Depending on the individual, this may include psychological and emotional patterns, behaviours, stress, relationships, sleep, movement, nutrition, recovery and other aspects of wellbeing.

These areas are considered, within the context of the individual rather than as a prescriptive programme.

The aim is not simply to give you more things to do.

It is to help you develop greater self-understanding, recognise patterns more clearly and develop practical approaches, that are realistic and sustainable in your own life.

Change Begins Beneath the Surface.

This has become a central principle of how I think about this work.

What we see on the surface is not always the whole story.

Our thoughts, emotions, behaviours, experiences and circumstances can interact in complex ways, influencing how we respond to challenges and how we navigate life.

Looking beneath the surface does not mean assuming, there is one hidden cause or one explanation for someone's experience.

It means becoming curious.

It means exploring the patterns, that may otherwise remain unnoticed.

And it means, creating the opportunity to understand ourselves, more deeply and consider different ways of responding.

For some people, that understanding can be an important starting point for meaningful change.

My Professional Background

My academic and professional background is grounded in psychology and counselling.

I hold an MSc and BA in Psychology and Counselling and am a BPS Licensed Psychologist.

Alongside my psychological training, I have undertaken additional professional education across areas including Functional Medicine, Psychoneuroimmunology, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition, HeartMath and the Autoimmune Paleo Protocol.

This additional education has broadened the perspective I bring to my work, while my psychological training remains central, to how I understand and support the individual.

These areas have contributed to the broader perspective, I bring to my work.

At the same time, I recognise that no qualification, framework or discipline provides every answer.

My training informs my perspective; the individual determines where our work needs to go.

What My Work Is — and Is Not

My work focuses on the psychological, emotional, behavioural and lifestyle dimensions of living with an autoimmune or chronic health condition.

It is not intended to replace medical diagnosis, treatment or advice from your healthcare team.

Where medical or specialist support is required, I encourage you to work with the appropriate healthcare professionals alongside our work together.

I also do not believe that every difficulty needs to be explained through psychology, or that there is a single underlying explanation for a person's health experience.

My role is to provide a space, in which we can explore, what may be relevant to you, develop greater understanding and consider practical ways forward.

Why I Do This Work

Ultimately, this work is personal to me.

My own experiences taught me that meaningful change can involve much more than finding another piece of information, following another plan or trying harder.

Sometimes, it begins with understanding ourselves differently.

Sometimes, it involves recognising patterns we had never noticed before.

Sometimes, it means developing a different relationship with our thoughts, emotions and behaviours.

And sometimes, it also means discovering, that there may be more possibilities, available to us than we previously believed.

That is what continues to motivate my work today.

My aim is to support people living with autoimmune and chronic health conditions in developing greater self-understanding, emotional awareness, confidence and resilience — and in moving towards a fuller and more meaningful life, alongside their health circumstances.

A Conversation First

If you are considering working together, you do not need to have everything figured out, before we speak.

You are welcome to arrange a complimentary 20-minute conversation, to discuss where you are now, what you are looking for and whether my approach may be appropriate for you.

Book a Complimentary 20-Minute Conversation