Therapy for Bariatric Patients
Surgery Changed Your Stomach—Not Your Mind
You had bariatric surgery fix everything. But it didn’t fix the shame, the grief, or the ache for a body you don’t hate.
As a licensed mental health counselor in Florida, I specialize in working with bariatric patients. Whether you're dealing with post-surgical grief, shame that won’t let go, the anger in realizing surgery didn’t magically heal your trauma, or the regain you’ve experienced several years after surgery, therapy can help.
Our work together is about holding space for all of it—grief, identity, shame, relationships—& giving you tools to move forward with actual self-trust, not shame-fueled control.
How it shows up in your everyday life:
Feeling like a fraud because you’re still struggling emotionally after surgery.
Grieving the body you thought you were supposed to hate.
Obsessing over regain or food choices, terrified of “failing” post-op.
Avoiding intimacy or sex because your body still doesn’t feel safe or “good enough.”
Feeling disconnected from hunger, fullness, or your own physical needs.
Judgment or microaggressions from medical providers—even after weight loss.
Struggling with relationships that changed once your body did.
Feeling pressure to perform happiness or confidence for others.
Realizing the internalized shame didn’t get cut out with your stomach.
You feel guilty for struggling—because you “chose this.”
You can’t talk to anyone about it because they think you should be grateful.
You thought surgery would make you love yourself, but it didn’t.
You’re haunted by the diet culture voices that never shut up.
You feel like your body is still on display, still a public topic.
You were promised transformation, but it feels like grief.
You might relate if:
How EMDR can help you—
Bariatric surgery doesn’t erase trauma—it often brings it roaring to the surface. EMDR helps you process the shit you’ve been carrying: the fatphobia, the abuse, the medical shame, the self-hatred. We’ll target the moments that shaped your relationship with your body & your worth—so they stop running the show.
Here’s what we’ll work on—
Processing grief post-surgery: Giving space to the unexpected feelings that come with a “new” body & identity.
Healing internalized fatphobia: Unlearning the bullshit that told you smaller = better.
Building trust with your body: Learning to recognize, respect, & respond to your body’s cues.
Reclaiming agency in your healthcare: Finding your voice & boundaries with providers.
Navigating identity shifts: Exploring how relationships, roles, & self-image shift post-op.
Creating a new normal: Defining success & healing on your terms—not society’s.
Life after EMDR
Stop moralizing food & eating like you’re walking a tightrope.
Feel safe reconnecting with hunger, fullness, & trust in your body.
Hold space for grief—yes, even grief for the “old” you.
Let go of chasing approval & start building internal safety.
You will believe you are fully deserving of healing, regardless of your size or weight.
You will be able to simply exist—without the guilt or the shame.
You willl feel confident and worthy of taking up space—in your body, your relationships, and your fucking life.
You were taught to hate your body—then praised for changing it.
Now you’re stuck grieving the past and trying to survive the pressure to stay ‘fixed.’ Schedule a free consult & get support that actually fucking helps you.