Question:
Need the name of a Psych at So. Cali Kaiser that agrees w/WLS

I am at the phase with UCLA Med ctr where I have an appointment with the surgeon scheduled for Dec 13, 2004. However, the paperwork I recvd says that I need to have a Psych eval completed prior to my appt. Can someone please recommend a WLS-supportive Psychologist in the So. Cali area (Downey, Long Beach, Whittier, Harbor City, ETC)    — QwnBee2007 (posted on September 27, 2004)

September 28, 2004
Personally, I am not so sure it matter's what thier views are on this surgery. Their job is make sure you are mentally sound - meaning, no severe eating disorders or major psychiatric disorders that would keep you from understanding this huge life changing event or keep you from following through with the surgeons instuctions. For instance, if they discover that you have a hx of self-sabotaging behaviors, they may not recommend you. Just remember, it is up to you what you tell them. There is no lie detector and they do not have to know everything about your life. They just want to know you are a fairly well-adjusted person. Good luck!
   — MissKimberly

September 28, 2004
Ask for clarification from UCLA. Do you need to see their psychiatrist, or a Kaiser psychiatrist? I had my surgery at Pacific Bariatric after referral from Kaiser. I had to see a Kaiser psychiatrist prior to my referral, and a psychiatrist selected by Pacific Bariatric after my referral. You do not need to shop around for a psychiatrist. If you need to see a Kaiser psychiatrist, go back to your Kaiser primary care physician and ask for a referral to a Kaiser psych for the evaluation. Believe me, Kaiser has all the systems in place, and will refer you to the doctor doing the psych consults for bariatric surgery patients. If UCLA wants another psych consult of their own, they should have a psychiatrist they use, and you will be referred to that person. If you go shopping for a psychiatrist outside of Kaiser, Kaiser will not pay for it, and you might cause yourself problems by not following procedures. Hope this helps.
   — Ann H.