Bariatric Counseling IN BRADENTON & ACROSS FL
The brain & body battle, understood.
Emotional transformation is just as important as the physical one.
You want lifelong transformation, not lifelong struggle.
When you feel like you've been battling your brain and body for years (maybe even decades!), it can cause a lot of frustration and doubt. It can be an emotional rollercoaster to constantly deal with feelings of low self-esteem, avoidance, discomfort and insecurity.
Unhealthy relationships with food & your body can be exhausting. Vicious cycles of binge-eating & dieting keep you stuck in patterns of all-or-nothing thinking.
If you're struggling to lose weight, considering having bariatric surgery, or have already undergone surgery, bariatric counseling can provide the support & tools needed to address & navigate the challenging process of weight loss.
SMALL CHANGES CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE
Our work together
It's important to feel supported & celebrated along your journey - and that's where specialized counseling comes in. Bariatric Counseling offers a place for you to develop self-compassion, strength and the tools needed to create sustainable changes.
I understand the unique challenges of the bariatric journey and want to help you process through the difficult emotions that come along with weight loss or bariatric surgery. In our work together, I'll provide the emotional support, education & non-judgmental space for you to make progress.
Redefining your relationship with food (and yourself!), improving self-image, developing healthy strategies to cope with setbacks, accountability and resources are all crucial to long-term success.
Positive & lasting change doesn't come from a place of self hate. You can love & accept yourself AND work toward goals at the same time.
Do i have to be pursuing bariatric surgery?
Bariatric Counseling isn’t only for people in a surgery program.
Bariatric counseling is for anyone struggling with their relationship with food - whether that's emotional eating, binge eating, yo-yo dieting, or feeling completely out of control around food.
You don’t have to be pursuing bariatric surgery to work with me.
If this has felt like a battle for a long time, this is a space for you.
Studies show that nearly half of people who struggle with their weight also struggle with emotional eating - using food to deal with stress, anxiety, or difficult emotions. If that sounds like you, you're not alone. (source)
Bariatric Counseling can help you:
address emotional eating patterns to recognize triggers
develop coping skills needed to navigate the pre & post bariatric surgery journey
build lifestyle habits to support your goals
improve body image and self esteem
gain emotional support and accountability for long-term success
set and achieve realistic goals for your life
Will Bariatric Counseling help me lose weight?
This isn't "weight loss counseling."
Bariatric science is just that… a science.
I have been specially trained in the science of obesity and am a Board Certified Bariatric Counselor. I have an in depth knowledge of the biopsychosocial aspects of weight, obesity & bariatric surgery. Bariatric Counseling is not solely about weight loss, but also about educating clients on the physical and emotional underlying factors of food, surgery and mental health as they relate to weight.
My clients have often struggled with their weight and behaviors & emotions around food for many years, sometimes decades. We dive deep into where these behaviors and thoughts come from and work to build the skills that can support long term success, whatever it may mean to you.
Freedom in your mind & body awaits…
The stigma around weight and body image can make asking for help difficult, but I'm here to put you at ease and provide the support you've been looking for.
Frequently asked questions about bariatric counseling
-
Sessions are 55 minutes, although some sessions may be longer or shorter depending on your needs and preferences.
-
Short answer, yes!
Bariatric is simply the medical terminology for obesity. Whether or not you're choosing to undergo bariatric surgery, counseling can be beneficial to help unravel unhealthy relationships with food and improve your overall physical, emotional & mental health.
-
A Board Certified Bariatric Counselor is a licensed professional with specialized training in the science of obesity, the psychological and emotional factors that impact weight, and the unique challenges of the bariatric journey - before and after surgery. It's a credential very few therapists in private practice hold, and it means you're working with someone who deeply understands both the mental and physical sides of what you're navigating.
-
Most bariatric surgery programs do require a mental health evaluation and clearance letter before you can move forward with surgery. As a Board Certified Bariatric Counselor, I provide this evaluation and the necessary documentation your surgical team needs. If you're in the process of pursuing surgery and need clearance, reach out and we'll get you taken care of. Caveat: Many insurances require that this be completed by a licensed psychologist. So while I’m trained to complete the evaluation and paperwork, your insurance may require something different. Please check with your plan to be sure.
“Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that nearly 1 in 5 bariatric surgery candidates is dealing with depression, and about 1 in 6 struggles with binge eating disorder - often without realizing either is affecting their relationship with food. This is exactly why emotional support before and after surgery isn't optional. It's part of the process.”
(Source: Dawes et al., JAMA, 2016 — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26757464)
-
Not at all! Bariatric counseling is for anyone struggling with their relationship with food - whether that's emotional eating, binge eating, yo-yo dieting, or feeling completely out of control around food. Surgery is not a prerequisite here. If food and your body have felt like a battle for a long time, this is a space for you.
-
I'm in network with UHC/Optum for Florida clients.
In order to provide 100% confidential and individualized treatment, I'm not in network with other insurance. (Not utilizing insurance also empowers you to choose your provider, treatment length, and style, and not have insurance interfere with your individualized needs and goals.)
We can provide a monthly Superbill that you can submit to insurance should you wish to seek reimbursement, but we cannot guarantee they will do so.
All major credit cards, FSA/HSA cards, and cash are accepted for payment.
The self pay rate for bariatric counseling is $165 intake (first session only), $150 per session thereafter (sessions are 1 hour)
Please reach to solairetherapy@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.