She searched for a therapist who got it.

She couldn't find one.

A woman sitting on a woven outdoor swing, surrounded by trees and natural greenery.

So she built this.

More than 13 years ago, Ashlyn Douglass-Barnes made a life-changing decision and had bariatric surgery. She did the hard work. She showed up. And she lost 100% of her excess weight and has kept it off. But no one prepared her

 for what came after.

More than 13 years ago, Ashlyn Douglass-Barnes made a life-changing decision and had bariatric surgery. She did the hard work. She showed up. And she lost 100% of her excess weight and has kept it off. But no one prepared her

 for what came after.
Smiling woman with long brown hair, glasses, wearing a blue floral dress, sitting on a chair, interacting with a small dog.

The emotional side of bariatric surgery is complicated in ways that are hard to explain to someone who hasn't been through it. The grief. The identity shifts. The complicated feelings around food that don't disappear just because the surgery is done. The relationships that change sometimes for the better, sometimes not.

When Ashlyn looked for a therapist who truly understood the bariatric experience, she came up mostly empty. Providers who meant well but didn't get it. Advice that felt generic. Judgment where she'd hoped to find compassion.

So she took a different path.

Your mental health journey is just as important as your physical one

The emotional side of bariatric surgery is complicated in ways that are hard to explain to someone who hasn't been through it. The grief. The identity shifts. The complicated feelings around food that don't disappear just because the surgery is done. The relationships that change sometimes for the better, sometimes not.

When Ashlyn looked for a therapist who truly understood the bariatric experience, she came up mostly empty. Providers who meant well but didn't get it. Advice that felt generic. Judgment where she'd hoped to find compassion.

So she took a different path.

Find a Bariatric Therapist was born out of frustration and fueled by purpose. Ashlyn built the resource she wished had existed when she needed it most: a curated directory of therapists who actually specialize in bariatric mental health, organized by state, with no hoops to jump through.

Because you shouldn't have to explain your surgery to your therapist. You shouldn't have to justify your emotions. And you shouldn't have to search alone.

Find a Bariatric Therapist was born out of frustration and fueled by purpose. Ashlyn built the resource she wished had existed when she needed it most: a curated directory of therapists who actually specialize in bariatric mental health, organized by state, with no hoops to jump through.

Because you shouldn't have to explain your surgery to your therapist. You shouldn't have to justify your emotions. And you shouldn't have to search alone.

The Credential Behind the Compassion

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

  • ASMBS Member

  • Founder, Find a Bariatric Therapist

  • Founder, Advanced Bariatric Counseling

  • Founder, Bariatric Psych Training

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

  • ASMBS Member

  • Founder, Find a Bariatric Therapist

  • Founder, Advanced Bariatric Counseling

  • Founder, Bariatric Psych Training

Ready to find your therapist?

Search the Directory →
Search the Directory →
Two women are smiling and talking with each other in a cozy indoor setting. One woman has red hair and is dressed in black with white lettering, while the other woman has multicolored hair and is wearing a purple dress with white embroidery, and accessories. They are sitting close to each other, engaging in a friendly conversation.
Text that reads 'Find a Partnership' with a magnifying glass icon to the left.

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