kinda personal, but who's doing counseling?

i think i need to start counseling....the weight loss has been great, but the mind tricks are not always easy to deal with.  those of you who participate, do you think it's beneficial to your weight loss journey?

also, how do you go about finding a psychologist that specializes in weight loss/bariatric patients?  i went to my insurance provider's site to find the list of preferred providers, but most do not list weight loss as a specialty.

thanks in advance!

 I see my therapist 1-2 per month depending on how I feel, she actually recommended me to the sleeve as she also serves on a bariatric team...I originally started seeing her for other issues! Cannot live without my therapist! Ask your bariatric team for recommendations.

I need to find one in my area for sure. I knew a lot of things would change with weight loss but I didn't think my mind would be one of them. (sigh)
donna

 I started private counseling this month.  BEfore then I was using the psychologist led support groups at my surgery center.  I chose to go to that same therapist.

You might as for a referral from your surgeon or one of the staff members in his office.  Also, google in your area for a counselor who specializes in food disorders, eating disorders, and the like.

If you go to support groups in your area, and you should be, you might as members there who they have used and who they like.

I started counseling shortly after surgery and it's been a very important part of this whole process for me. I wouldn't be this successful without it. I started by calling around to some of the counseling/therapy clinics that my insurance covered and asked if anyone there specialized in WLS or weight loss or body image. I also got recommendations from my surgeon's office but my insurance didn't cover any of those unfortunately. I now have someone who has plenty of WLS patients (though no sleevers) and it's working out well.

I started therapy more than a year before I decided to have surgery...it was for depression.  I continue to see my therapist once a month- as I am now on "maintenance" as they say not needing to go as often.

I speak at my surgeons seminar as a "after" person and anyone who I ever speak to I tell them that my number one tool fighting my obesity has been my therapy. I know if I had surgery years ago, before therapy, I would of failed as I was not mentally ready. I needed to fix other areas of my life in order to fix my weight- as most people have a lot of underlying issues to why they overeat and neglect themselves.

Go to therapy it is the best gift you will ever give yourself besides your sleeve! :)

Referral from your surgeon's office might be a good way to start locating a counselor. Mine was actually affiliated with my surgeon's practice.

I would love to start seeing a therapist because a lot of my issues with food are alive and well. I noticed this just yesterday when I went shopping at the grocery store and as soon as I got into my car (and I wasn't hungry) I ripped open the package of Sargento cheese sticks (colby jack and mozzerella/provolone) and starting chowing down right there in my car. I almost cried when I realized I was doing that. I would often walk home eating the food I purchased or eating something (all of that something) in my car before I got home. These issues are real and scary, As I can eat more and more these old habits can ruin all of my accomplishments. I only get one to three therapy sessions with my isurance and I worry that this wont even scratch the surface of my issues. If you have the money or the coverage to receive therapy I think you should take advantage of it.

Honestly, I've been in therapy since I was about 13, and I still am. My current therapist I've been seeing weekly now for about 12 or 13 years. He is not a specialist in WLS, but I have been explaining a lot and he is learning as I am learning. I think therapy is probably one of the best things I have ever done for myself, aside from marrying my husband and getting sleeved, of course

 I was going every week at first but now its every other week.

I couldn't find one in the area that dealt with Weight Loss as a specialty but when I talked with the coordinator on the phone she recommended someone to me that had a strong background / education in nutrition so I went with her.  Each counseling center usually has many different counselors to choose from that work there so you may have some luck like I did.  She also has a few other patients she sees who either had or are thinking about having surgery.  

So far she has been wonderful.