Therapy????

Jen, I started seeing a therapist in order to get my psych approval and continued post op. I have been seeing her once a week & I've really learned alot about myself. The sessions were very difficult at first as she was getting to know about my early years. I've worked through several traumatic childhood experiences along with everyday problems. I am soooo much more aware of why I eat now. She specializes in eating disorders and is very, very good at getting to the root of your problems. Kathy

I am going to see my surgeon tomorrow. I may ask him if there is someone, he recommends. I saw the one that is in the group for the psyc eval but .... She is not my type, would not feel comfortable with her. She was at a support group meeting I attended and she had to leave for a wine tasting party. She announced it to the crowd of 45 or 50 of us in the room. Real professional, she had to cut her professional duties short so she could go get drunk ... at least that is what I heard ... When you see your therapist next, would you ask if she has any colleagues in Houston TX that she would recommend? I know it is a long way off but sometimes they are part of professional organizations and know people all over. God Bless, Jen

I would like to see a good therapist about my continuing food issues. I have had 2 so-so experiences. I went to see a psychologist many years ago about food addiction and though she was excellent in so many other areas that came up--she really just referred me to OA, which I attended several times and wasn't for me. The other was my psych consult for the surgery----she was very kind and compassionate but didn't have an expertise in food, either. Perhaps I'm too pickywith therapists.... The good news is I feel very supported here on this site by you people who , like me, who have serious and often worrisome food behavior..... Cathy

I was thinking about this more----perhaps we could address some of these issues here more formally--like ask ourselves questions and answer. Whatever someone comes up with--maybe it could be a sort of like roll call or what you ate today or weigh in-----something regular we all answer with a title we recognize. Some of the things I'd like to explore are: why do I eat for every emotion (happy, sad, scared, etc....)? why do I eat until I'm uncomfortable? is there something about being a healthy weight that frightens me? why do I feel like I don't deserve to be pretty? etc... If anyone started this--- I'd be into it! Cathy

Cathy, I nominate you! Anyone second my nomination? sorry for the short post - se my stressed out post - that will explain it! God Bless, Jen

Jen, The woman I see is a psychologist and I started to see her several years prior to my surgery. She does focus on eating disorder patients and also something called HeartMath which is all about the Mind-Body connection. She has been infinitely helpful in helping me work through some very tough stuff. We definitely don't always talk about food issues, though they frequently come up in relation to how food and my weight has affected my self image and how that in turn has affected so many other parts of my life. She definitely helped me get to a place where I could make the decision about WLS. Don't be discouraged if the first person you see doesn't fit. You need to be completely comfortable with who you will be pouring your heart out to. You need to feel safe, unjudged and complete trust the person you choose. Jen