Coming from a big Italian family I understand the idea of family and connections revolving around food or otherwise stated the shared meals and community it creates. Your relationship with food has and will continue to change, but I haven't found it to be a bad thing. You'll progress out of the liquid and soft food stages and get to a point where you can eat a full array of food again just in smaller portions. To gain the weight many of us did there was very likely something in our relationship with food that was unhealthy. I wouldn't shut your Therapist out right now. Run a parallel path to sustain or improve your mental health while you work to get to a healthy weight. I am 4.5 months out and 80lbs down. I am in completely different place (energy, motivation) and show up for my family better as a result. Anyone who says this surgery is an easy way out is wrong, but losing the weight would be hard work no matter what. Stay focused on your goals and this time will soon feel like a pretty distant memory.