SafeTALK & Psychological Evaluations
SafeTALK suicide prevention certified
Trained roughly 300 participants over the last 6 years in the community, for colleges, and for medical clinic settings.
It is appropriate for beginners (especially fearful ones) or as a refresh for trained professionals.
The LivingWorks safeTALK experience
LivingWorks safeTALK is an evidenced-based four-hour face-to-face workshop featuring powerful presentations, audiovisuals, and skills practice.
At a LivingWorks safeTALK workshop, you'll learn how to prevent suicide by recognizing signs, engaging someone, and connecting them to an intervention resource for further support.
A skilled, supportive trainer will guide you through the course, and a community resource will be on hand to support your safety and comfort.
If you are interested in hosting a training there is a minimum of 10 participants and a max of 30.
Psychological Evaluations for Bariatric Surgery
Traditional methods of weight loss have proven ineffective for achieving and maintaining significant weight reduction. Bariatric surgery (ie, laparoscopic gastric banding, gastric bypass) offers these patients the opportunity to experience significant weight loss that can be maintained. The number of obese patients seeking bariatric surgery is steadily rising. But, unlike traditional diets for which risks are low and discontinuation can occur at any time, bariatric surgery has inherent risks and requires highly restrictive, long-term behavioral changes afterwards. Therefore, these patients typically are required to complete a thorough evaluation, including psychological assessment, to determine their appropriateness for surgery. (Snyder AG. Psychological assessment of the patient undergoing bariatric surgery. Ochsner J. 2009 Fall;9(3):144-8.).
Typically your gastric surgeons’ office will provide you with a detailed list of questions to be evaluated so you know it is time for it to be completed. If you do not have a copy, that is okay.
You need be in this process before completing an evaluation, otherwise, they may require a second or third evaluation closer to intended surgery date.