Medical Services > Bariatrics

UT Southwestern Medical Center provides psychological counseling services that are an integral part of each patient’s weight loss program before and after surgery. A comprehensive psychological evaluation contributes to each patient’s ability to successfully adjust to the behavioral and lifestyle changes needed to achieve outstanding results.

Psychological counseling helps patients prepare for the diet and exercise requirements that are essential components of successful surgery and weight loss management through:

• Treating any undiagnosed or untreated depression, including the use of food as a means to alleviate emotional difficulties
• Helping patients eliminate any substance abuse that may prevent a successful outcome from weight-loss surgery
• Encouraging patients to integrate exercise into their daily activities and help patients see how exercise and diet can create positive forces for change
• Enabling patients to understand and deal with family dynamics that may work to discourage the adoption of lifestyle changes needed to achieve a healthy state of life and mind

While many individuals are uncomfortable with the idea of psychological counseling, those that participate in the process are almost always ready to recommend its benefits to others.

Weight-loss surgery is an important step in the patient’s life and requires an uncompromising attitude regarding diet and exercise. UT Southwestern’s psychological counseling services can help provide the motivation that patients need to achieve all that is available with a successful surgery and weight loss program.