Bariatric Surgery Psychological Evaluations

When diet, exercise, and other weight-loss attempts fail, you and your doctor may discuss bariatric surgery to help you achieve better health. Bariatric surgery is an umbrella term that refers to gastric bypass and other weight-loss procedures. Undergoing surgery to help you lose weight brings with it drastic lifestyle changes. To ensure your emotional and mental health before, during, and after the procedure, your doctor and insurance provider will likely require a pre-surgical psychological evaluation.

At Stanford Couples Counseling, we want to help you become emotionally educated about the potentially life-changing impact bariatric weight loss surgery can have on you. We invite you to meet with our skilled clinical psychologist, Dr. Jennifer Fast, in a comfortable environment where you can discuss why you’re interested in bariatric surgery and your health goals for the future.

ESTIMATED COST: $1000

Book Online with Dr. Fast

What Is Bariatric Surgery Psychological Testing?

A bariatric surgery psychological evaluation is an assessment that your medical doctor and your insurance provider use to determine if you are a good candidate for bariatric surgery.

Perhaps you’re considering bariatric surgery as a means to achieve your weight-loss goals. Or, maybe you’ve already decided to move forward with the procedure. A pre-surgical psychological evaluation ensures your safety and the procedure’s success at every stage. The psychologist plays a critical role in helping you decide whether or not you want to move forward. During your evaluation, your psychologist will:

  • Collect information.

  • Administer appropriate psychological tests
  • Help you reflect on your goals.

  • Educate you on the procedure’s emotional ramifications.

  • Aid you in understanding your treatment plan and recovery process.

  • Address any concerns or stress that arise during your conversation.

  • Ensure you feel confident moving forward with your bariatric surgery.

Once the evaluation is complete, your psychologist will provide a report for you and your bariatric surgeon.

Dr. Jennifer Fast —

Qualified To Provide Psychiatric Clearance For Bariatric Surgery

At Stanford Couples Counseling, we are proud to have a highly skilled clinical psychologist on staff who is able to complete evaluations for bariatric surgery. When you meet with Dr. Jennifer Fast, she will gently guide you through the assessment process so that you never feel defensive or uncomfortable. Her goal is to guide you in this life-changing decision, not to judge. Once your evaluation is complete, she will provide your insurance providers and medical doctors with a detailed report.

What A Bariatric Surgery Psychological Evaluation Entails

Your bariatric surgery psychological evaluation will include one or more assessments and a clinical interview. We will provide you with a short background questionnaire to complete before meeting with Dr. Fast. She will use this information to guide the clinical interview.

While you may be nervous, it’s best to view your interview as a relaxed conversation with a compassionate mental health professional. We encourage you to talk openly and freely. Even if you have a history of mental illness, that doesn’t necessarily mean you will be denied bariatric surgery coverage.

The main goal of this evaluation is to understand why you want bariatric surgery, explore how you’re preparing for the lifestyle changes that come with this procedure, and ensure you have a healthy support system and living situation that will ensure your future success.

Our Reimbursement Process

The team at SCC is passionate about ensuring our clients get the treatment they need. We can provide you with the resources you require to submit your insurance claims for our services.

Going to an out-of-network therapist can come with several benefits. They can provide highly personalized services, quick booking and more frequent sessions than in-network providers. For people that are looking to use insurance benefits for counseling, some out-of-network services are eligible for partial reimbursement.

Mental Health Evaluations For Bariatric Surgery

Available At Stanford Couples Counseling

With locations in North Dallas and Uptown as well as state-wide online psych evaluations for bariatric surgery, Stanford Couples Counseling is here for you. If you would like to learn more about bariatric psychological testing, we invite you to schedule your appointment with Dr. Fast today.

Book Online (Please Select Dr. Fast)