Question:
I NEED HELP WITH THE PSYCH EVALUATION!

My insurance does NOT require a psych evaluation. My doctor does. His office says that it can be done by any licensed psychothrapist. I can wait until my next consult and they can set one up, which I hear takes a long time just to see their person. I called to set up one with a therapist my ins. recommended but they do not do the "battery of tests" that most psych evaluations include. Does anyone mind sharing what happened during their psych. evaluation if you did not answer a set of written questions? I am trying to assess the alternatives, I really don't want any unnecessary delays. Thanks!    — Courtney W. (posted on June 13, 2001)

June 13, 2001
Hi... This is my opinion: Ask your surgeon's office what HE specifically requires from an evaluation done by "any therapist" first. Then call a therapist (from the phone book, or if you have one, or a friend has one) and ask if she/he can do what the surgeon needs. Now, this is the important part: DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT tell the therapist the following things: that you were sexually abused; that your husband/family/lover doesn't support you in this; that you expect this surgery to cure you; that you're ambivalent in any way; that you are a grazer, preferring to eat a little all day (they like hearing that you just eat a lot at one time); or that you have EVER made yourself throw up or been anorexic, or a compulsive overeater (I know, it's ridiculous) or 'weird' with food. No matter how nice the therapist is, don't admit anything really tragic, big secrets, phobias, etc. This is not the time for deep stuff. You can get all that straightened out in therapy AFTER surgery. If the surgeon hears anything at all iffy about you, you can EASILY be denied surgery. Just answer what they ask, be positive and cheerful, and do not volunteer anything else. You can admit to a little apprehension, a little sadness over being obese, but DON"T overdo it. The main thing is to NOT look like a basket case. No surgeon will operate on a basket case. Good luck!!
   — Veronica D.

June 13, 2001
I submitted information about what my surgeon wants in all of the psych evals for his patients on 6-11-01 Question #81. It's looooonnnng and I do not feel like typing it all again. Regarding the testing, if I remember correctly, the MMPI is a set of 500 questions, multiple choice, with 4-5 choices to pick from. I hope the info I put on the site before and this helps.
   — Judith A.