Paul Smith Psychologist Ph.D

I thought it would be a quick questionare/interview but he really took time with me and invited me to call or come in again.

I didn't need a lot from Dr. Smith, so it was hard to evaluate with the general questions. I have access to my own psychiatrist for everything else. I just needed a psych eval from someone who knew bariatrics. And obesity specific--I never felt like I was being treated as an obese person. He wanted to know about my emotional well-being and felt that he just saw me as a person!

I loved meeting with Dr. Smith. I was scared that he'd stamp my paperwork CRAZY!, but he was awesome. He gave me the green light. He's a Christian and that was awesome to be able to talk about my faith with him.

He was a very nice man. However,I do not think his fee should be so high. I was in with him all but 10 minutes tops! The questions asked were simple and if you really want the surgery, they are ones you could easily not tell the truth about. It doesn't seem like he ask any really deep penatrating questions to bring out issues if one really had them deep inside. He is good about answering questions you ask. Very nice man, but his expressions looks as if the toll of others have taken a toll on him.

I felt so at ease with him an he seemed so nice.

I guess I expected more???? for my $150. 15minute interview???? call me crazy?? ( he didn't) LOL... everyone who's had to have evals said they were money takers,,and waste of time,,, hoops ya have to jump through????

Now that Dr. Smith is in the offices at the barriatic group, his office rating would be an "Excellent".

Very short and sweet. JUst really wanted to make sure a person was level headed.

The psych eval was very brief; approx. 30 minutes. He just asked about my childhood (drug/alcohol/physical abuse?); Did I have a support group? What changes did I think I'd have to make after surgery? Was a compliant patient? etc. Very simple questions. He was very nice, but I can't say it helped particularly since I had done extensive research on surgery on my own.

Dr. Smith was very effective in helping to make me feel comfortable. I knew that it was up to his report if my insurance company would okay the surgery. He welcomed me very warmly and even complimented me for the amount of research that I had done about WLS. He even thanked me for choosing St. Vincent Carmel for my surgery. That was a first! There is one thing that people should know going into his office. They are mainly in the business of pediatric psychology, so there are a lot of children there. It didn't bother me one bit, the kids were really cute, but it may bother some. His staff was also a bit abrasive on the phone when I made my appointment. Since I live 3 hours away, I requested a map to me sent to me. I was asked if I was stupid. It did make me laugh that a psychologist's office would ask a question that might send one off the deep end..ha