Therapist Requirement?

[SymphonyOfDreams 21]

If I am required to see a therapist, then I want to actually get some benefit out of it instead of just randomly choosing a therapist.

Does anyone have a therapist they recommend that:

• Accepts insurance
• Specializes in Eating Disorders and Bariatric patients
• Does sessions via Zoom/Teams/etc?

Thanks!

[oldandtired 238]

My doc's office gave us a list (if we wanted to use it) which told us which ones took what insurance. If you think your head is wrapped tight, LOL, go with one of theirs. For me, it was just another thing I had to do to satisfy the insurance requirement. She asked me things like, "Have I ever wanted to hurt myself?" (No.) But really?? Are you going to answer "yes," knowing she probably would not clear you for surgery? If you answer yes to that, you don't need to do such a lifestyle change.

Also---in the "For what it is worth" department, and in my humble opinion, ONE visit to a shrink will never answer any of your head questions... so it isn't helping anything but satisfying the insurance.

Also, mine was a ZOOM meeting.

[SpartanMaker 767]

Typically, the purpose of the Psyc visit is not to provide you therapy, it's to assess your readiness to undergo the procedure. Think of it much like any other doctor they might want you to visit to receive clearance prior to surgery. For what it's worth, the reason the insurance carriers require it is because it's considered best practice by the ASMBS.

The psychologist or psychiatrist will evaluate several things, such as if they believe you are a suicide risk, if you are capable of mentally understanding the lifestyle change you will be undergoing, if they believe you are in an abusive relationship, if they believe you have any mental disorders that would disqualify you from surgery, etc.

[cmcottrell91 0]

My doctor's office gave me a list of therapists they recommend, and they informed me which would be covered by my insurance. The only pre-op aspect of my surgery that wasn't covered was my meeting with a nutritionist.

I did ask my usual psychiatrist, but she recommended I go with one of the therapists my surgeon recommended, as they would be more familiar with Bariatric surgery than she was.

[SymphonyOfDreams 21]

16 hours ago, oldandtired said:

My doc's office gave us a list (if we wanted to use it) which told us which ones took what insurance. If you think your head is wrapped tight, LOL, go with one of theirs. For me, it was just another thing I had to do to satisfy the insurance requirement. She asked me things like, "Have I ever wanted to hurt myself?" (No.) But really?? Are you going to answer "yes," knowing she probably would not clear you for surgery? If you answer yes to that, you don't need to do such a lifestyle change.

Also---in the "For what it is worth" department, and in my humble opinion, ONE visit to a shrink will never answer any of your head questions... so it isn't helping anything but satisfying the insurance.

Also, mine was a ZOOM meeting.

I do have to have the Psychiatrist visit to see if I am a good candidate for success.

The therapists (not Psychiatrists, who are MDs, but Psychologists and certified therapists) will be ongoing to help me with my eating disorder(s) that have resulted in 50+ years of being overweight and being unable to keep weight off after one of my many weight-loss diets. I think therapy is going to be a huge help, giving me the mental tools to help me overcome my bodies need for the dopamine hit that comes with eating. And it will help me keep the weight off--ever little tool I can find to help me win this war is welcome.

But OSU Bariatrics did not even give me a list of therapists that they recommend for eating disorders and bariatric patients. A little disappointing.

Edited August 25, 2022 by SymphonyOfDreams

[SymphonyOfDreams 21]

8 hours ago, cmcottrell91 said:

My doctor's office gave me a list of therapists they recommend, and they informed me which would be covered by my insurance. The only pre-op aspect of my surgery that wasn't covered was my meeting with a nutritionist.

I did ask my usual psychiatrist, but she recommended I go with one of the therapists my surgeon recommended, as they would be more familiar with Bariatric surgery than she was.

Seems like meeting a nutritionist would be an important line of attack for success... Weird that insurance did not cover that!

[Spinoza 1,371]

9 hours ago, SymphonyOfDreams said:

Seems like meeting a nutritionist would be an important line of attack for success... Weird that insurance did not cover that!

OK, well for what it's worth the nutritionist I've had to work with on my programme has been by far the least well-informed and least helpful of all the professionals involved. I seem to know 100 times more than him about bariatric surgery. He's obsessed with carbs for some reason and won't accept that I've almost reached goal weight without upping carbs, as he suggested at every opportunity.

Arrrrgh - would have loved to have someone available for the last 9 months who *really* got it and who I didn't have to start every conversation with along the lines 'well, how are WE getting on with adding in carbs now?' (the inference being - you idiot)