Specialist Weight Management Service (SWMS) - Psychology

1. About us
2. Specialist Weight Management Service (SWMS) Team
3. What to Expect from your appointment
4. Where will the service be offered?
5. How can you be referred to the service?
6. Contact Us
7. Other useful resources

We provide Clinical Psychology input for patients going through the Specialist Weight Management Service (link here: Bariatric Surgery Huddersfield Bariatric Surgery Halifax Weight loss surgery Huddersfield weight loss surgery Halifax - CHFT)
 

We aim to support you through the pathway safely and at a time where you are most likely to have a positive outcome. If we identify areas that you may struggle with or issues that affect your suitability for surgery/weight loss injections, we would like to help you to address these and/or signpost you to other services which can offer appropriate input.

Bariatric surgery & weight loss injections can be effective tools to aid weight-loss, but they are not a solution by themselves. To maintain weight loss, sustainable lifestyle changes need to be maintained. We know this can be tricky for many, especially where turning to food has become a way of coping with challenges. Weight loss and the many changes it entails can be challenging to cope with, especially if you are dealing with other life stressors or mental health problems at the same time.

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• Dr Heather Langham, Principal Clinical Psychologist
• Dr Stacey Boardman, Senior Clinical Psychologist
• Dr Selina Shaw, Clinical Psychologist
• Specialist Weight Management Co-ordinator: Sarah Richards
• Specialist Weight Management Secretaries:
  • Sally Dorward
  • Annette Wilson
  • Amanda Mansell (Mand)

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Support pathway – we offer individual time-limited input to support preparation for and adjustment to bariatric surgery or weight-loss injection use. We also offer an Emotional Eating group.

Assessment pathway – This is a mandatory stage of the pathway where identified to be needed. This allows space to reflect on your readiness for surgery and what may improve your outcomes.

We also provide input to all patients going through the Specialist Weight Management Service, with video and group input provided as part of the initial stages of the pathway.

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Our clinic appointments are held in Acre Mill Outpatients (second floor). A lift and paid parking is available. We also offer videocall appointments.

You can seek referral via a member of the Specialist Weight Management Service at any of your appointments. The team may also recommend referral.

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Information on telephone numbers, this is normally the secretary 01484 355 217

Please contact us directly should you need to reschedule an appointment.

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If you need support with your mental health, you may wish to contact your GP or call

111 (choose option 2).

For broader psychological support not related to your weight loss journey, you can refer yourself to the local Talking Therapies Services:

• Kirklees: Kirklees Talking Therapies | South West Yorkshire Partnership Teaching NHS Foundation Trust
• Calderdale: Calderdale - Vita Health Group

Useful resources to help with your weight-loss journey:

• Living with Bariatric Surgery – Denise Ratcliffe
• Understanding and Managing Emotional Eating – Denise Ratcliffe
• The Weight Escape – How to Stop Dieting and Start Living – Joseph Ciarrochi, Russ Harris & Ann Bailey
• The Compassionate Mind Approach to Beating Overeating – Ken Goss

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