Weight Loss Psychology

Why Therapy?
Maybe, over the course of your weight loss, you have encountered new or intensified feelings. Perhaps during a pre-op evaluation, a psychologist encouraged you to think about therapy. Maybe you think therapy is not for you. Whatever your case may be, there are plenty of excellent reasons why working with a therapist may help you achieve success for a lifetime.

Therapy is a process that allows us the unique opportunity to explore ourselves from the inside out. We are able to re-examine our behaviors, patterns, relationships, and feelings. In an attempt to overcome self-esteem issues and our obsession with weight and dieting, we are forced to examine the vicious cycle that has occupied our mental energy for far too long. The vicious cycle consists of eating large amounts of food in a short time period. We begin to eat when we are angry, sad, happy, lonely... and it soon becomes our coping mechanism for managing emotions and feelings.

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8 Comment(s)

Comment by JulieN64 on Feb 23, 2008 at 10:43am

I have had a counselor for over five years. I get my medication prescribed by my primary care physician. My counselor doesn't specialize in weightloss or WLS. Do I need to switch to a psychologist or psychiatrist who specializes in this subject?

Comment by kittyw923 on Mar 03, 2008 at 04:41pm

That's the same problem I have and stopped going but I really need to get my PCM to send in another request for another place. I need to find one in after WLS

Comment by mrchromite on Mar 15, 2008 at 02:20am

I am sitting a my computer now, knowing that I suffer from Bipolar I. I am currently in a depressed state and am at the end of my proverbial rope. I do not know what to do. I fear going to my doctor as I have regained weight (I had GBS in Sept 06). I am thinking that my meds probably need to be changed as I have been having more and more periods of depression followed by periods of mania. I need help. Anyone out there have any ideas. KEN

Comment by mwbarnhart on Mar 17, 2008 at 01:39pm

Ken, be sure and get to your doctor right away, bud. It's worth it, and you'll do better, feel better, and be better afterwards. Don't fear the doctor. You're hardly the first patient to whom this has happened, and you can get back with the program. I'm having Lapband this Wednesday, and I am FIRED UP! Go ahead, man, get fired up for me and for all the others who are going to overcome this, just like you have done before and will do again. Get back with it, man. Best wishes to you, Mark B. in N.C.

Comment by TheOgress on Mar 19, 2008 at 08:06am

Therapy has certainly helped me. I don't think I would be as successful without it. The most difficult part is finding the right therapist, it took me years to find the right therapist.

Comment by clr4tkoff on Mar 22, 2008 at 02:21am

I have been seeing a counselor for almost a year now. My PCP didn't want to diagnose me as Bipolar II so she sent me to a counselor to see what was going on. I am not Bipolar but suffered from sever depression. I am on medication for the depression and what a difference it has made. The counselor I have is awesome. It is very important to connect with your counselor and that they genuinely care for you. It has made a world of difference for me and I highly suggest getting the help you need. No it isn't easy but the rewards of it outweigh everything.

Comment by MichelleMayMD on Mar 24, 2008 at 10:59pm

JulieN64 - re: your question about whether you need to change to a counselor that specializes in WSL or weight loss. The most important thing is that you have healthcare professionals that you feel comfortable with and can support you through this process. If you have that kind of relationship with your current therapist, ask him/her if they feel you should seek more specialized care. As you know from your research, there are very specific challenges that you'll face and a counselor that knows what to expect and how to guide you through it can be invaluable to you. Michelle May, M.D.

Comment by cicerogirl on Mar 31, 2008 at 08:00am

I am a therapist myself, am in counseling as a client, AND am a WLS patient. Although I do not think that an effective therapist needs to "specialize" in WLS, etc., I do think that it helps if the therapist has some knowledge of some of the special psychological aspects of WLS, of losing so much weight in a short period of time, and (for many WLS folks) of being thin for the first time in their lives. I have a great counselor, but I have had to educate her about some of the issues!