Psychiatry

  • Holistic Care: Medication Management, Psychotherapy & Nutritional Support 
  • Expert Guidance: Specialised Care For Obesity & Eating Disorders
  • Understanding Obesity: Deeper Exploration Of Your Weight & Mental Health

PSYCHIATRY

Empowering Minds, Building Resilience, Transforming Lives

Our team of psychiatrists is committed to providing specialised care for individuals facing challenges related to obesity and eating disorders. They are experienced in assessing and diagnosing intricate mental health conditions, ensuring that you receive the comprehensive care you deserve.

We develop bespoke treatment plans to guide you on your journey towards achieving balance between your mental health and physical wellbeing. 

Treatment approaches can include carefully selected medications and exploratory blood tests, complemented by supportive therapy through our skilled teams in counselling, psychotherapy, and nutrition. 

Our holistic approach ensures that every aspect of your wellbeing is addressed, helping you to find a path to a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Psychological Assessment for Weight Management Success

Comprehensive Mental Health Support for Bariatric Patients

Specialized Support for Treating Eating Disorders

Multidisciplinary Approach to Complex Obesity & Eating Behaviors

At WeightMatters, our team embraces the challenge of navigating psychiatric conditions that are enmeshed with eating presentations. with compassion, kindness and warmth.

Let us support you on your journey back to wellness and better health. Book a call with our team below, let them answer any questions you have, and get you booked in to see one of our psychiatrists.

Change Your Life, Feel Confident In Your Body

Let us support you in improving your physical and mental health.

Schedule a call with our friendly and experienced assessment team by using the booking calendar below.

MEET SAMANTHA, BARIATRIC PSYCHIATRIST

Dr Samantha Scholtz explains how psychiatry can support you in achieving your health goals.

Do I Need Psychiatry?

There are many reasons why you may come to see a WeightMatters psychiatrist. 

  • Disturbances in your eating behaviour, and in the way you think and feel about food and your body, can result in severe physical, emotional and social consequences that limit your ability to lead a happy and fulfilling life. 
  • Often childhood bullying, neglect, abuse or trauma can be factors that continue to affect you as an adult, and can make managing your eating more challenging. You may be struggling with low self-worth and a lack of self confidence, which further keeps you stuck in your eating patterns. You may also be struggling with an acute or chronic psychiatric disorder, and struggle day to day with your mental health and negative thinking styles.
  • You may be experiencing some shame, embarrassment or guilt about seeking help for your eating behaviour. These feelings may be heightened by the depression or anxiety associated with your presenting issue, and by the stigma, and certain stereotypes, about mental health and eating disorders.

Please feel reassured that many people struggle with managing their eating and mental health, and that coming to see a specialist WeightMatters psychiatrist is like going to see any other medical consultant you may be referred to by your GP.

A psychiatric assessment ensures the best medical care and support for you. It is a conversation to explore your symptoms and health history, and assess the best course of treatment moving forward.

Psychiatric Management Of Obesity

Obesity is a complex condition that has strong links to patterns of dysfunctional thinking, feeling and behaviour that are influenced by genetics, physical health and social-environmental factors. At some level, the brain is unable to properly regulate eating behaviour, and the result is weight gain.

There are many factors going on in different parts of the body that may be influencing this, such as the gut microbiome, and the adipose tissue already held in the body. This will influence your desire to eat, the way you consume nutrients and calories, and your ability to respond clearly to signals of hunger or fullness.

Psychiatric management of obesity bridges the medical treatment with the psychological support, and can provide a structured treatment plan for working with the wider therapeutic and nutritional teams at WeightMatters.

Here are some of the conditions and areas where psychiatric management of obesity may be helpful:

  • Where you feel you are addicted to food and your eating behaviour feels compulsive
  • You have periods of low mood or depression that results in binge eating
  • Experiencing frequent and intense episodes of anxiety and panic
  • You struggle with chronic stress, connected to unhelpful obsessive negative thinking
  • Overwhelming toxic thoughts about your weight and shape

You may be considering weight loss surgery as a treatment for obesity. 

We know that bariatric surgery is a journey that starts way before your surgery, and continues for years afterwards. When successful, bariatric surgery can make a positive change to the rest of your life. 

Working with our specialist bariatric psychiatrist and WeightMatters team, will ensure the best possible outcome for your surgery.

Dr Natascha Van Zyl describes our approach to psychiatry services at WeightMatters.

Dr Natascha Van Zyl describes our approach to psychological therapies at WeightMatters.

OUR FEES

Prices for an initial psychiatric assessment are £400 for a 90-minute consultation, or £350 for a 60-minute consultation.

We accept cover from some health insurance providers as well.

TREATMENT AREAS

Here Are The Treatment Areas We Recommend For Our Psychiatry Services

Explore how we can support you in changing your relationship with weight, food, eating and your body.