Peter Krones Psychologist Ph.D.

Insurance requires a psych evaluation for bariatric surgery, and most people are done with this requirement in 1 or 2 visits. Dr. Krones has sucked me into 8 visits. He is a tall, thin, vegetarian man, who had preconceived notions about obese people. He cannot relate, he is unwilling to accept that genetics CAN play a huge role in obesity, and I have been unable to satisfy him no matter what I do, try, or say. Not every obese person eats themselves into obesity, and he is determined to get me to "admit" to him that I am in denial. I know people who have gone to see him who were "coached" in what to say to him to get in and out of there with his stamp of approval for the surgery. I have been nothing but honest with this man, but he's managed to suck $1000 in office visits out of me. In the first 3 visits, he determined that as a woman, he finds me unusual and interesting because his tests show that I have a thought process more akin to men. We talked about my childhood, family, job, etc. He determined that I have repressed anger and authority issues, therefore - I am a stress eater. After telling me how my fiancee may lose interest in me after I loose weight, because my fiancee's last wife had the surgery and their marriage failed (due to issues unrelated to his desire for her more svelt figure), I began to bring my fiance into the office with me. After my fiance stood up for me - 1) "she is not a stress eater", 2) "she eats infrequently and less than me", 3) "I've seen photos of her when she was thinner, and I'd be tickled pink to see her like that again", Dr. Krones books me for 4 more visits, because he's just not ready to sign me off quite yet. In the next visit, I'm told that I'm not making any attempt to modify my diet (for a surgery that is 5 months from now), even though I am working with a nutritionist. I bring in a food diary to proove to him how much I eat - he says that if I really ate like that, then I would be starving to death (ie - you're not being honest with your food diary). Then he goes on about counting the calories and exercise - as if I never tried these things before. The next time I go in there, he berates me for not going to any support groups, despite the fact that I have joined some online groups. After that appointment, my fiance says we are going to play "his game" and say all the things he wants to hear....so, next visit, I'm eating smaller more frequent meals to simulate the eating pattern after surgery, I'm walking more - and I feel so great now, I went to a support group - it was boring - but I went---and guess what - IT'S NOT ENOUGH. Now he finds fault with the fact that I don't like leafy green vegetables. My fiance and I are now married, and I was gleefully talking about the wedding and honeymoon and licked my lips while talking about a creme brulee (the first one I have ever had) - Dr. Krones says that my lip licking and delight in the creme brulee indicates that I am a food addict and in denial just like an alcoholic denies their addiction. At this point, he's pissed off my new husband who just stops talking. This "psychologist" wants people to come into his office and admit that they are out of control of their lives - which I will not do. He wants people to admit that they are addicts, weak-willed, and he wants to clump obese people into over-eaters. If I try in any way to defend myself or prove that I am not in this class of people, he instantly jumps onto my "authority issues" and denial of my supposed "addiction". I can not win this man over with honesty - so like my friends who have gone to him, I will have to go in there and lie through my teeth to get what I want. What a load of crap! One or two visits?? HA! Even his own receptionist told me that "oh...he NEVER goes only one or visits....not HIM". My husband says this man is milking me for the money. You better believe it. ADDED 5/4/07 - I have had numerous people from this very forum contact me regarding Dr. Krones. Some went through the same stuff I did, and some know of others with similar horror stories. Go see Lisa Lorence. Seriously.

I didn't think this part of the evaluation was important but I was really glad someone else knew better. Dr. Krones was very insightful and gave me things to consider that I hadn't thought of. He was also timely with his reports. I hightly recommend him.

I really enjoyed speaking with Peter Krones.

Dr. krones has been a lifesaver!

I met with Dr. Krones on November 18, 2003. He was very polite and very understanding of the time sensitive matter due to my insurance not picking up my employer again next year so the surgery needed to be done with in the year of 2003. He was very prompt in getting my letter faxed Dr. Wachsmuth and even provided me with a copy. His staff is very helpfull and caring. I give him a 2 thumbs up.

Dr. Krones was a typical psycologist. I am not a fan of the whole profession but that opinion does not interfere that my opinion of Dr. Krones. We chatted for about an hour and half about absolutely nothing and then he said he would recommend me for the surgery. He was very nice though but I don't see have someone who's waist was the size of my thigh knows what an morbidly obese person goes through on a day to day basis and can make the judgement on whether or not I can have the surgey. But I liked him and he was extremely polite and cordial.

he is very understanding and kind

I found Mr. Krones to be very open, approachable, and easy to talk to. He is knowledgeable about the gastric bypass process and consults regularly with Dr. Melkonian, my surgeon. Mr. Krones detailed many of the reasons why some people should not have bypass surgery. For example, someone who believes that the surgery will do all the work for them. He administers the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory to screen for mental illnesses and schedules one or two sessions with him. I would recommend Mr. Krones very much.