Psychologist

A psychologist can play a critical role in the pre-bariatric surgery process by:

1. Conducting Psychological Assessments: Evaluating your mental and emotional readiness for surgery, identifying any psychological issues, that could impact the success of the surgery or the ability to adhere to post-surgery guidelines.
2. Performing Behavioural Health Evaluations: The psychologist can assess your eating habits, coping mechanisms, and lifestyle factors to determine whether you’ll have the necessary behavioural patterns to succeed in weight loss after surgery.
3. Providing Education and Counselling: The psychologist can educate you on the emotional and psychological changes that may occur after surgery and offers counselling to help develop coping strategies for the challenges that may arise during the weight loss journey.
4. Supporting Decision-Making: They can help weigh the risks and benefits of the surgery, ensuring that the decision to proceed is well-informed and realistic, and ensures you understands the lifelong commitment required to maintain the results.
5. Managing Expectations: They can assist in setting realistic expectations about the outcomes of surgery, including potential weight loss, changes in body image, and the impact on your overall quality of life.

Overall, the psychologist ensures that patients are mentally and emotionally prepared for the changes that bariatric surgery entails. If you are interested in receiving this additional support, our admin team can provide a list of preferred psychologists available for consultation before you begin your weight loss journey (this service is currently outsourced and cannot be accessed as part of the practice weight loss program).