Bariatric Psychology

Psychological support and consultation pre-surgery is recommended in clinical excellence guidelines. The Psychology team will help you to identify how your thoughts and feelings may be affecting your weight. They will work with you to develop coping strategies for emotional eating behaviours and help you with making lifestyle changes.

All patients are asked to complete a Psychology Questionnaire following their first appointment with the Bariatric team nurse, and you will be asked to complete another questionnaire after your surgery. You will be advised about common psychological challenges as you go through the bariatric surgery pathway and will be signposted to helpful resources.

Following discussion with the wider Bariatric Surgery team, you may be invited to a Psychology appointment. Here, we will discuss the impact that your weight is having on you and your life, the lifestyle changes you have already made, how you hope surgery will change your life, your understanding of what the surgical procedure involves (including risk), how you intend to manage your recovery from surgery, and the relationship you have with food and your body.

Following this initial session, you may be invited to use our online resources and invited for pre-surgical appointments or post-surgical appointments to help you to continue to make these lifestyle changes.

Who we are

• Dr Stephanie Dugdale (Health Psychologist)
• Dr Heather Boland (Clinical Psychologist)

We are members of the Clinical Health Psychology service and work across Whiston and St. Helens hospitals.

What people are saying about us

“I found the psychology sessions very helpful”

“Gave me lots of ideas to help me cope with my autism during the process”

“The psychology part of the programme was very thorough and discussed how our life will change after the surgery. I was given time to speak to the psychologist but also on the website given more information to look through, which will also be available after my surgery.”

“We certainly explored some things that hadn’t been on my radar such as people perhaps being physically closer and how I may navigate that.”

“I feel it was a massive help in gaining some tools that I will need further down the line. I also feel like I’ve unfolded a lot during my sessions and opened up a lot which helped”

“Practical, realistic tools and coping skills. Frank and truthful discussions.”

“I think it has helped me in many ways, it has opened my eyes to my faults with dealing with stressful situations, identified that I need to be kinder to myself and to take time to look after myself before surgery.”

“Steph made an amazing difference to my life which I know I will carry forward on my journey. These lessons I know will be a big part of my life and I think going forward a lot of people will feel the same. She went above and beyond more than anything I’ve ever been given on my journey and classes I’ve attended and feel I need to say I hope many more people will feel the same after they have had these lessons.”

“Steph was super informative and her knowledge impressive. I feel I am able to recognise my emotional connection with food and put into place some of the different "distraction" techniques I’ve learned along with pain coping strategies. I know the importance of food choice, portion size and how to make social situations easier. I also learnt the importance of being open with health professionals / family and friends when/ if I am struggling and to ask for help when needed.”