Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT is a well-tested collection of practical techniques for managing moods and modifying undesirable behaviors through self-awareness, critical analysis, and taking steps toward gradual, goal-oriented change. Dawn owns a unique private practice called The Counseling Center for Change in Westminster, Maryland, with six (6) licensed mental health therapists on her tea
m of therapists. Half of her practice works with pre and post-op Bariatric surgery patients. Dawn and her team work with numerous Bariatric Surgeons in Maryland, while expanding outward with the advent of Zoom and Telehealth. Her team provides pre-op psych evaluations, pre and post-op counseling, and cognitive behavioral therapy psychoeducational groups. Mental health providers that work with pre-op Bariatric surgery, candidates only provide pre-op psych evaluations, but Dawn's team of therapists offer whatever clinical services are needed by the patients they serve. In 2021 thus far, Dawn's team had completed 621 pre-op psych evaluations. Agnes Hospital and Frederick Memorial Hospital focuses on mental and behavioral health issues common for Bariatric patients. She and the therapists are thrilled to be a resource for all hospitals that offer
Bariatric Surgery and love being part of the multidisciplinary team. Dawn believes that Bariatric Behavioral Health is a specialty within the field of Mental Health and the complex needs of Bariatric patients differ in numerous ways from that of a typical patient seeking help for obesity. She has been working with Bariatric patients since 2005 when she attended the
groundbreaking training on The Psychological Evaluation of the Bariatric Patient. From that point on, she developed a passion for helping Bariatric patients and
collaborating on Bariatric Teams at various hospitals that provide Bariatric Surgery. Having extensive experience and professional development herself, Dawn trains mental health professionals and students who rotate through her practice to work successfully with this specialty patient population. Beyond all the excellent work that her team of therapists does, Dawn is incredibly excited to tell you about how she has incorporated best practice cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) groups into working with pre and post-op Bariatric patients. She will be talking with you this evening about one CBT group program in particular that she has been doing for over 20 years, called: 11 Weeks to Self Esteem. Dawn will be sharing with you how this group education program is spot-on in
helping Bariatric patients deal with the underlying issues that fuel obesity and empower them with tools and strategies to overcome those issues. Dawn believes this program is the best keep secret and
is excited to tell the world of Bariatrics all about it!
