Bariatric Support Groups

If you’re considering—or have recently undergone—gastric sleeve or bypass surgery, you’re looking for permanent change. However, surgery alone is not a shortcut to the deeper work necessary to re-establish new habits and behaviors that will sustain the transformation you seek. It’s common to experience a “honeymoon phase” for the first year or two post-surgery, where you can maintain a lower weight with minimal effort. However, you will eventually start to digress unless you identify and overcome the emotional issues, unhealthy habits, and negative thought patterns that contribute to weight gain.

Of course you want surgery to be successful. However, overcoming the emotional obstacles preventing you from achieving your weight goals is up to you. If you are willing to take ownership of your story and explore the deeper reasons why you overeat, you can transform your relationship with food once and for all. When you commit to doing the work, you can write a new chapter in your story.

Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Support Groups

I offer several online bariatric surgery support groups:

Pre-op prep group:

Online
4 consecutive weeks
$199

Are You Emotionally Prepared For Longterm Success after Bariatric Surgery?

Are you planning on having weightless surgery but fear you might not be successful or that you will regain all the weight? Is it hard to imagine what life will look like if your relationship with food changes? Do you want to ensure the long-term success of bariatric surgery but realize you need support to achieve your goals?

In this group you will have the opportunity to discuss your fears and concerns regarding post-op life:

Concerns that the surgery will not work or that you won’t lose as much weight as expected.

Fear of regaining the weight after initially losing it.

Anxiety about the significant changes to diet and lifestyle required after surgery.

Fear of not being able to stick to the new eating and exercise habits.

Worry about emotional changes, including how you will cope with stress without using food as a comfort.

Fear of feeling isolated if others don’t understand or support your decision.

Anxiety about being judged by others for choosing surgery as a weight-loss option.

Fear of comments or criticism about taking the “easy way out.”

Worry about how the surgery and subsequent changes might affect relationships with family, friends.

Post-op Support Group for patients struggling with psychological adjustments after surgery.

Online
10-12 members
closed group
8 consecutive weeks
1 payment of $360 or 2 payment of $190 each

A small group who get what you’re going through and are ready to give and receive warm-hearted support. You can learn about’s struggles and share about your own.

Reflect on and explore various situations and behaviors that may be affecting your mental health and progress after bariatric surgery.
Friendship, support and camaraderie . You are not alone!
Connects with other patients to share your experiences, support and cheer each other on, create an extended community among people who share in your struggles and victories.

My focus is on creating a warm, intimate and supportive environment for patients who are searching for a shared journey. This intimate group fosters an environment there you will be heard , supported, educated, validated , while developing new friendships, a way of living that supports your wellbeing.

We will meet for eight consecutive weeks to check in on your recovery and discuss whatever challenges you may encounter. We will identify the source of non-hungry eating and overeating habits and cultivate strategies for stress management, nutrition, and movement. You will also have access to text support in between our weekly meetings.

Emotional Eating Therapeutic Support Group:

Online
6-8 members
closed group
6 consecutive weeks
$450 or 2 payments of $240

Deep dive into issues associated with emotional eating, such as:

Reflecting on childhood experiences and how they affect your current relationship with food;
Exploring emotional eating triggers and breaking self-sabotaging habits;
Building self-awareness and self-compassion;
Identifying mental, emotional, psychological, and social needs;
Addressing lifestyle adjustment challenges and establishing healthier boundaries;
Developing new coping strategies to ensure long-term success.

My focus is on creating a warm, intimate and safe space to facilitate long-lasting transformation and healing. This intimate group fosters an environment there you wilbe heard , supported, educated, validated , while developing new friendships, a way of living that supports your wellbeing.

The power lies within you to reconnect with your body and mind in a healthier way.

Surround yourself others who understand and encourage your journey towards a healthier lifestyle. Sharing experiences and receiving guidance from those who have walked this path before you can be both comforting and empowering. To find out more about the bariatric support groups and individual therapy I offer, you can email sonja@mybariatricpsych.com, call or text 916-943-6574, or visit my contact page.

But Maybe You’re Not Sure If A Bariatric Support Group Is Right For You…

Why do I need a bariatric support group in addition to surgery when it’s such a radical weight loss option?

It’s common for bariatric patients to believe that surgery alone is enough to control food intake for the rest of their lives. However, if weight loss surgery alone was a cure-all, no one would ever regain weight. The truth is, your subconscious mind is in charge of your eating, not your stomach. Even though you can implement external strategies—such as diet pills, calorie counting, and exercise routines—unless you redefine your relationship with food on the subconscious level, these measures will only go so far.

Even after I undergo surgery and weight loss therapy, it's hard to imagine I can give up my relationship with food altogether.

It’s likely that your relationship with food is complicated. Perhaps the idea of changing your eating habits scares you since food has been your source of relief, joy, and companionship, masking more painful emotions. In bariatric therapy, we will explore healthier alternatives that heal the deeper wounds that lie at the root of your emotional eating and won’t perpetuate self-sabotaging behaviors.

I don’t think I can afford a weight loss surgery support group.

As a bariatric and therapist, I am committed to helping others reconnect with themselves and their bodies. Because surgery is such a big investment, you need to address the underlying causes of overeating to ensure long-term success. That is why I offer bariatric support groups as a more affordable option than individual therapy. I also provide prepaid treatment packages at a discount, or we can space out the frequency of treatment if that helps. I will work with you to find an option that works best for you.

The power lies within you to reconnect with your body and mind in a healthier way.

Surround yourself others who understand and encourage your journey towards a healthier lifestyle. Sharing experiences and receiving guidance from those who have walked this path before you can be both comforting and empowering. To find out more about the bariatric support groups and individual therapy I offer, you can email sonja@mybariatricpsych.com, call or text 916-943-6574, or visit my contact page.