Behavior Management Services

Group Support at the OCC

The Obesity Consult Center understands that the actual surgery and weight loss are just the beginning of a complex process of change that starts before the surgery and continues well after the weight loss finally stabilizes. New social demands, personal goals, job changes and psychological issues are all impacted by the surgery and subsequent weight loss. To support our patients in reaching their goals, several specific types of groups are made available to bypass patients.

The OCC Fitness Lecture Series

We believe that our best results are with our most educated patients. Your initial introduction to the program will consist of our weekly lecture series, which will cover nutritional, behavioral, medical and surgical aspects of obesity and weight loss. A specialist from our clinical staff will present the lecture and lead the discussions that follow.

Lectures are presented every Thursday evening all year long and members of your support system – family, close friends and companions – are all invited to accompany you.

The Behavior Change Group

Our program is demanding of both you and the clinical staff. We want to do everything we can to ensure a successful, long-term outcome. To this end, once you have had your first individual intake sessions with one of our Psychologists, we may decide that a sharpening of your skills, pre-operatively, may enhance your chances of success. We offer a 6-session weekly 'Behavior Change' group led by a member of the behavioral team. These are small, closed groups, the purpose of which is to impart valuable skills to help you make necessary behavioral changes, develop healthier habits, and cope more effectively with emotional concerns.

We offer an 8-session weekly ‘Behavior Change’ group led by a member of the behavioral team. These are small, closed groups, the purpose of which is to impart valuable skills to help you make necessary behavioral changes, develop healthier habits, and cope more effectively with emotional concerns.

Post-Operative Support Groups

As part of the Obesity Consult Center commitment to the success of the patient, the first year after the bypass surgery is devoted to both individual follow-up visits as well as small group support sessions. Led by a trained behavioral therapist, these groups meet once a month starting soon after the surgery and cover many of the social, behavioral and psychological issues which rapid changes in weight and lifestyle demand. Where there is a specific need, special groups may form to address common interests. For example, the OCC makes available a men’s group, a Lap-Band group and other special interest groups as the need arises.

Individual visits

On rare occasions, a patient may find that coming to the group session may be an unavoidable hardship due to job or distance. While we feel that the group experience is important to overall success in the program, in a few cases our behavioral staff will meet with you individually for behavioral counseling. This may apply to both pre-op preparation and to post-op support.