Bariatric Surgery Psychology: Clinical Assessment and Patient Care

Psychological support plays a decisive role in the preparation and long-term success of weight loss surgery. This text-based course equips mental health practitioners, counselors, and healthcare workers with the essential knowledge needed to guide patients through every phase of bariatric treatment. You will build a thorough understanding of the psychological dimensions of obesity, learn structured frameworks for assessing surgical readiness, and discover evidence-based interventions to manage emotional eating and support lasting lifestyle changes. What you'll learn: - Understand foundational concepts in obesity psychology, weight stigma, and metabolic health - Conduct structured pre-operative psychological evaluations and identify clinical contraindications - Identify emotional eating, binge eating behaviors, and post-surgical transfer addictions - Apply cognitive and behavioral strategies to foster long-term dietary and lifestyle adherence - Support patients through body image adjustments and emotional challenges following surgery - Collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary bariatric care teams Beginning with key clinical terminology and psychological criteria, the reading material guides you through pre-surgical assessment protocols, post-operative psychological challenges, and long-term follow-up strategies. This course is tailored for psychology students, therapists, nutritionists, and healthcare professionals who are new to bariatric psychology and want a clear, beginner-friendly guide to clinical practice. Start reading today to deepen your clinical skills and deliver empathetic, evidence-based psychological care to bariatric patients.