If you are in counseling, do they know about WLS?

If you see a counselor for issues that are tied into your weight or for help with the mental part of losing the weight, do you see someone who knows a lot about weight loss surgery (or do they specialize in eating disorders or something like that)?

If you had to choose between someone who was a sort of expert in WLS or in the area of what your issue is, which would you choose?

Also do you see a Counselor or a Psychologist? Which do you think is better? 

Sorry so many questions! I wanna do this right and be successful!

Missy

My therapist has no experience with WLS or eating disorders.  However, she and I click and she's awesome and she does have lots of experience with dependence and other stuff and is willing to learn along with me.  

I think it's most important to find someone you click with.  And if you don't click with the first person you see, try again!  

I don't think a counselor or psych needs to be a specialist in WLS, and I'm not sure many exist, but I would want them to know. 

I see a PhD psychologist who does not have specific experience with WLS, but she is familiar with the procedures and with my issues.  I was seeing her prior to surgery, so there was no need to switch.   It is not a requirement for my therapist to have experience in WLS or to be a psychologist.  I want someone who is experienced and who comes highly recommended.  Keep in mind, the best therapist for You is the one You feel most comfortable with.  That may require interviewing more than one to find the best fit.  Good luck to you.  

Like other posters have said, it is important to find someone that clicks with you.  I went to a few therapists before finding the right one for me.  Don't be shy to try them out.  Personally, I see a counselor and she works wonders for me.  She does work in conjunction with a psychiatrist should I need medication but I haven't felt the need to.  She doesn't specifically have any experience with eating disorders/WLS but I've explained it to her and she understands.  She asks questions and truly tries to get a total grasp on the surgeries I have had to lose weight and focus on helping me achieve my goals.  I don't think that her having any more knowledge of weight loss surgery would've made a difference to me, personally.

This is the way my therapist is too, and I love her.  Sometimes I feel like explaining things to her is more helpful than if she knew everything already, in fact!  Sometimes the explaining helps me to sort something out that I hadn't before.  

My prior life is filled with bad therapy experiences.  When I started the process of finding a therapist this time I didn't really have a lot of hope that I'd be successful.  I'm so glad that I was wrong.  A good therapy relationship is AMAZING.  

Missy, have you looked at any life coaches?