Change and Maintain Psychological Services provides in-person appointments in Lexington, MA, and online appointments to Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire

Bariatric surgery can be a powerful and life-changing tool for patients who need to lose a significant amount of weight, but long-term success and safety can be compromised if patients are not mentally healthy and prepared for the challenges of preparing for surgery and living with the results.

Most bariatric surgery programs and insurance companies require a pre-surgical psychological evaluation to determine if a patient is psychologically appropriate for bariatric surgery.

The bariatric evaluation itself typically takes 60 minutes. During this evaluation, I will collect relevant life history, mental health and substance use history, and weight and eating history. I will also evaluate your understanding of bariatric surgery, your expectations for what it can achieve, and your ability to do the work required to prepare for surgery. Depending on your program requirements, I may have you complete questionnaires before or after the interview. If necessary, I will identify any additional steps you need to take to be a better candidate for bariatric surgery. Following the interview, I will prepare a report that you can share with your bariatric program. If the evaluation suggests you are not a good candidate for bariatric surgery at this time, I’ll suggest alternative treatments and weight loss approaches or steps to take to become a better candidate. Most programs require that I send a report directly to the program, so I’ll ask you to complete release forms allowing me to do that.

The fee for the Pre-Surgical Bariatric evaluation is $300 to $550, depending on the requirements of your bariatric program, and visits are available via telehealth. Insurance may cover some of the cost. If you are interested in learning more or scheduling an evaluation, please contact me by email, phone, or client portal.

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