How can mental health support be better tailored to the real, lived experiences of people with MS? In this episode of Living Well with MS, we’re joined by Dr Eva Fragkiadaki, counselling psychologist and Senior Lecturer in Counselling Psychology at the University of the West of England. Her whose work focuses on developing personalised, evidence-based mental health interventions for people living with MS.

Eva shares insights from her research into group-based psychological support, including her co-designed MyMS-Ally intervention. Together, we explore why traditional mental health approaches don’t always work for people with MS, the power of peer connection, and how concepts like identity, self-compassion and visibility of disability shape emotional wellbeing.

This conversation will be especially valuable for anyone living with MS, supporting someone with MS, or interested in how mental health care can become more person-centred, inclusive and accessible.

Keep reading for the key episode takeaways and Eva’s bio.

00:00 Introducing psychosocial interventions for MS

03:38 Researching group therapy and therapeutic change

06:07 Gender, representation and inclusion in MS research

08:19 What kinds of mental health support help in MS?

10:30 Why group interventions matter

12:47 Peer support, safety and community connection

15:10 Integrative and personalised therapy approaches

17:29 Visible and invisible disability in MS

20:15 Self-compassion and identity

22:23 Future directions for mental health care in MS

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