Good evening :),
I sit here reading this topic thinking I should be asleep!! I have a psychologist appointment tomorrow morning LOL!
My answer is yes, I had pre and post op sessions and also attend group sessions each month which are chaired by the psychologist.
At my initial free consultation, the way the practice performed was explained, it all made sense to me. At no stage during psych.appointments was I asked to blame anyone, I was taught coping mechanisms for different stages in my journey, both pre and post op.
I think it should be offerred. I think people should approach the surgery with an open mind.
Fair enough to those who don't need it but I found it helpful, learning the relaxation techniques was great,even the day of my sleeve I used them, my psychologist was even there in theatre and it was very nice to see her face.
As to the costs involved, had I had a care plan they would have been smaller charges but I have private health insurance and get some of my money back each time .
Sorry to have rabbited on but I wanted to give my 2 cents worth to this one!
Linda :)

Hi Tam

I understand the meaning behind your comparison. I did have counselling and found it very helpful in knowing what to expect and ways to deal with issues that may arise. It didn't deal with any issues other that with weight and food and the surgery. WLS is a very big life changing event that needs to have careful consideration.

Regards

Kerrie

My one cents worth (probably not worth two) is that I think counselling is a good idea. I wasn't offered it, but would have liked to have discussed my unhealthy relationship with food with someone.

I also agree that this forum is sort of a defacto counselling group - everyone is wonderful!

Hi Tammy,

I think your question is a fair one and I was rather appalled at some of the abrupt and rude comments you've recieved in reply to this subject.

My answer would be "yes" - I would attend a voluntary counselling service prior to surgery. I think in a way, this forum IS a councilling service in that you are opening yourself to different opinions from a wide range of people from a very wide range of backgrounds. Counselling for me, when I was going through a rough bout of depression was about learning more about me, how I react to different things and why. It also challanged my thought-processes and made me look at life from another angle - it helped immensely.

The fact that people who have obviously never tried counselling are those that are the most agressively vocal regarding it's apparent uselessness, shows that they are the people who could use another viewpoint and try walking a mile in another person's shoes. Bullying is not the answer to anything - everyone has their journey; past, present and future.

Keep up the research Tammy - I think it's important that you are gathering information from those people who are immediately effected.

Regards,
Clare xx

I think that its quite sad how many people say that they wouldn't have gone ahead with their decisions if they had had to speak to a counsellor. Does that mean that you are not so firm in your decision that you couldn't stand up to a few questions? Obviously any 'compulsory' counselling would have to be about the weight stuff (not your whole life) and they wouldn't want to pay for more than a session or two in your package...

I think, like abortion, this is a really serious operation and that it would be reasonable to do a cursory check on people's thoughts to ensure they understand what they are getting themselves into. Not everyone is so well-informed as those who are on this site and doing their research.

What happens when we have an 18 year old (or even younger) who jumps into the surgery thinking it will 'fix their life' if only they are slim. Doesn't see it ias a tool but as a magic pill? I think that a quick counsellor screening to identify these people would be really helpful...

just my opinion...

yes-absolutely

I think that any poll that only gets 27 votes out of over 1000 members can't be worth much anyway.

I would have been one of those who would have not gone through with surgery if I had too see a councillor, as I already know I have 'mother' issues. lol
tracey

Hi Applesauce,

I appreciate your concern, I did however outline why I put the poll together in a lower post. The poll has now finished and people can only post responses which I encourage that they do as it is very helpful to me and I am sure to others on the site.

Tam

This poll still disturbs me. The way it is worded sends off alram bells. I will be beyond angry if the information is taken from this poll by an individual and used as a basis to gain employment with a surgeon. This is a forum for those considering the surgery or have had the surgery to talk freely amongst themselves without fear that some low life can use us as a push to getting employed. Imagaine trusting somebody that sneaky and low with your lifes problems, creeps me out no end.

applesauce

Yes (although it wouldnt let me vote for some reason). Although I got a fair amount of "counselling" from my surgeon and dietician along the way. The way I see it to go for this surgery you generally need to admit to yourself that you have failed in your weight lossefforts, or keeping it off, so far (unless of course you never tried). It is highly possible that before you even see a surgeon you have done that anyway. The other part of it is that the surgery should be a life altering experience (I know it has for me) and afterwards you should do a lot more than just eat differently, remember skinny doesnt mean fit and healthy!

Also there are plenty of ways to "cheat" the small stomach and not have sucess with the surgery. If you were to have a propensity for this then it needs to be dealt with as I suspect (only my opinion) it could be more damaging to health than not getting the surgery in the first place.

I dont think that counselling should be mandatory (unless medicare starts paying for all the costs then it would be a different story) but I think that a form of screening to help people understand if there is any underlying reasons that have caused their situation would be useful (in my case it was just that I liked to eat yummy food and had developed some bad habits).

Hi Tam and Jen-e.

Thanx so much for the reply's. Tam - the reason you can't access the poll is because it's finished but thank you for posting anyways. Tam, I must agree with you in regards to what you have said about irresponsibility, I still am unsure why counselling isn't included in ever WLS package. I do however feel that it should never be forced, especially in Jen-e's case where she wasn't feeling a connection or any benefits from her psych.

X Tam

I saw a psychologist once (included in my band package). He did not give 1 scrap of help. If he had have offered some ideas for why I eat the way I do and strategies to help manage this I would have kept going.
I would consider seeing someone if they gave this sort of help but I would rather it was my choice and not forced on me, as in, included in the package.

Can't figure out how to vote! But yes I would...in fact i am currently looking for somewhere that specialises in eating issues as I do see a shrink but this is one area that he is no help with.

In some cases I think it would be irresponsible of a surgeon to perform the surgery without counselling...like the recent news stuff about a 17 year old girl having WLS - shouldn't be done without counselling, in my opinion.

Hey Kerrie,
Glad to hear that you felt that the counselling you experienced was productive and that your clinic provided this service. I imagine that it would be very beneficial to learn new coping strategies.

Everyone please keep voting, would love to get a large sample for my research!

Hi Tammy

My surgeon does include counseling as part of the procedure, as well as a dietician. At first I thought" What a waste of time" but the two sessions I had before surgery really were productive. She dealt with coping strategies and made me aware that a lot of WLS patients end up with other addictions( alcohol, shopping and gambling) after surgery to replace their food addiction. A lot of what she said made sense and it is good to be aware of what may happen and have some strategies in place.

Kerrie

And I believe there are some who do offer counselling services, too.

They probably know it would turn quite a few people away - far as I see it, people who are obese are the target of many unscrupulous people who prey on those who are vulnerable enough to pay ANYTHING to try and get their weight off.

Thanks for the reply's, keep them coming!

I completely agree that counselling should not be required, however I do agree that it may be beneficial if it were offered.

I am very curious to know why the clinics don't offer counselling services, any thoughts?

Tammy

LOL - you certainly have a way with words, apple!
I agree, though, that counselling should not be 'required' - but should rather be offered.
Counselling is not productive if you don't want to be there - and it's not just about whingeing and trying to place blame on others - it's about discovering more about yourself, with the assistance of someone who is trained to help you do so. It can help for many different things, including the changes occurring in our lives due to weight loss surgery, but not limited to this.
An example - a lot of us on the forum suffer from depression - either due to being obese, or we've become obese due to overeating, which is a symptom of depression. Counselling can be very helpful, whether it's with a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker. And there are various avenues where you can access free or low-cost counselling too, so it needn't cost a fortune in the short term.

I'm not looking to blame anyone else for my weight problems either, but I do think that counselling of some sort would probably be helpful at some stage.

I have been very overweight for 1/2 my life. My sleeve is going to help me lose the weight I need to but, it isn't going to do anything about the headspace that got me here in the first place.

I have read may posts here from slevers dealing with anger management and relationship issues and realise that I am a possible candidate for those (and more besides probably LOL).

My sleeve was done through a clinic in the eastern suburbs that has a lifestyle coach/physiotherapist and two dieticians. I was surprised that they didn't have or recommend any psychological counselling as I do really think it would be useful for many people.

Cheers - Carrie

Applesauce, thanks for being so honest! A very interesting point of view.

I'll give a bit of background just so everyone knows a little about me :) I am a counsellor who is very curious about the relationship between WLS and counselling, reason being is that my father was sleeved about 3 months ago and has had an interesting journey so far. I am currently studying life coaching to go along side my counselling qualification and have to submit a research project so I thought I may look into WLS and how counselling/coaching may or may not be beneficial.

So, I would appreciate as much feedback as possible and invite you to share any thoughts on the topic. At a later stage I may introduce some new poll questions. I hope everyone feels comfortable having here on the forum.

Thanks so much!

Tammy

I don't blame anyone for my weightgain but myself. I also find that I like to talk and talking to someone could really help some people.

I am nearly 11 months out and I can eat fine now. There is nothing I can't eat, but I have surrounded myself in like minded people. I read and chat here, I meet regularly with my 'support group' and local members (Not as often as I'd like) Its nice to be reassured that everything is normal and ok.

no way, I dont need somebody telling me to blame the fact my parents sneazed when I was 5 on the fact I am fat. I am into self responsibility and not into any physco babble blaming every thing and every one for every little damn thing that isnt to my liking in life. suck it up build a bridge get over and get on with life, dont sniville for hours all the time paying somebody to do it to.

I think it is yet another bit of american rubbish coming into this country. If you have serious mental health issues then go and see a phyciatrist paid for by medicare.

I would go as far as saying I would choose another doctor rather than go to one that tried to force any money grabbing lame package on me.

applesauce

Hey Lib,

Thanks again for the reply. That's a really interesting point that you make, I wonder how many other people have 'mentally blocked themselves from eating' and what the reasons are behind that notion. How do you find yourself eating now that you have had more time to adjust to your new lifestyle?

Tam

Both. I wasn't offered any. I know some surgeons do it, but mine didn't. When I rang to see if they recommend someone they only had 1 name. I really struggled with eating post op. I think I mentally blocked myself from eating in turn causing "starvation" and dehydration. I think that mentally I didn't want to eat anything for fear of hurting or stretching my tummy. Once I made the appointment to see someone it flicked a switch in my head. I had to force myself to eat for survival. I would complain to my surgeon that I wasn't eating anything, so he'd say what have you had? I said a few tea spoons of weetbix, and he's say what do you expect? You only have a tiny tummy, but my mentality was that I couldn't possibly survive on a few teaspoons. So I think concelling from someone who knew what to expect and had some sort of experience with sleeve paitents would be awesome.

Thanx for the reply Lib, do you think counselling is necessary for both pre and post surgery??

Absolutley, I really needed some help at the outset dealing with my change in lifestyle.

Hi Guys,

I am doing some research on WLS and counselling services. If your WLS package included counselling would you use it?