1	STEP 1: INFORMATION Social Work Informational Session for Bariatric Surgery Patients
2	Why are the behavioral health providers here for you? Bariatric surgery is successful when lifestyle changes are made We can help you make those changes by working with you to identify and utilize alternative behaviors to overeating
3	Why are the behavioral health providers here for you? (cont.) Examples of alternative behaviors could be: Going for a walk, calling a friend, or taking a hot bath if the refrigerator keeps calling your name Moving away from the television and eating at the table
4	Why are the behavioral health providers here for you? (cont.) We would like to help you acquire new tools to change your behaviors as well as teach you how to use them One tool is to help increase your awareness of: Food and eating habits as well as the connection between emotions and eating Both can be done with a diary card
5	STEP 2: ASSESSMENT How do we help you through the process? Before surgery, we would like to meet with you at least twice in order to: Gather personal and familial psychosocial history for a thorough assessment Gain an in-depth understanding of your lifetime formation of eating patterns Help prepare you for your lifestyle change
6	STEP 3: TASKS Helping prepare you for surgery and lifestyle changes Together, we will: Increase your awareness of eating habits Identify current and potential triggers Develop more effective coping mechanisms to replace old habits Replace old, destructive thought patterns with new, healthier thought patterns
7	STEP 3: TASKS (cont.) Your chances of success will increase if you: Show a commitment, willingness, and ability to change as well as to complete the tasks Accept responsibility and hold yourself accountable
8	STEP 3: TASKS (cont.) We are going to ask you to complete some tasks before being consented for surgery. Some examples of tasks are: Completing diary cards Replacing old food/eating habits with new ones Identifying alternative ways to manage emotions and tolerate distress besides gravitating towards foods Attending outpatient counseling sessions
9	STEPS 5 and 6: INITIAL POST-OP and LONG- TERM FOLLOW UP Since we want to increase your chances of success, we would like to meet with you four times within the first year post-surgery so that we can: Continue to build your current coping skills repertoire
10	STEPS 5 and 6: INITIAL POST-OP and LONG- TERM FOLLOW UP (cont.) Intervene if you are partaking in any unhealthy behaviors Help you develop strategies to prevent slipping back into old habits Support you through emotionally difficult periods Provide support around any grief and loss you are experiencing as a result of the surgery
11	STEPS 5 and 6: INITIAL POST-OP and LONG- TERM FOLLOW UP (cont.) And most of all, we would like to be there to cheerlead you through your success and achievements! Finally, we will have two monthly support groups – one to meet the needs of patients who are two-plus years post surgery and the other, to meet the needs of patients who are three-plus months post surgery