The Role of a Psychologist in Your Obesity Treatment Journey

This information is general in nature and does not replace personalised professional advice. Please contact your healthcare team if you have any questions or concerns.

Author: Madison Bruhn, Accredited Practising Dietitian 

Peer reviewed by: Kylie Murphy, Clinical Psychologist; Kerrie Salisbury, Clinical Psychologist

Last reviewed: March 2026

What is a psychologist? 

A psychologist is a trained health professional who helps people make sense of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. They offer a safe, supportive, and non-judgemental space where you can talk openly about what’s going on for you [1,2]. 

Psychologists use evidence-based approaches backed by science to help you build practical skills, manage stress, and cope better with life’s challenges. While they don’t prescribe medication (this is something a psychiatrist, a medical doctor who specialises in mental health, can do), they often work closely with your GP and other health professionals to support your overall wellbeing and emotional health [2-4].

Why psychology matters in obesity treatment

Obesity treatment isn’t just about food or movement. When your body and routines change, it can affect many parts of your life, not just your weight. These include: 

• Your mood and stress levels [5-7].

• How you feel about yourself [6]. 

• Your relationship with food [7,8].

• Your motivation and confidence [5].

• How you cope with problems and setbacks [9].

How can a psychologist support you? 

A psychologist can help make treatment feel more manageable and support your emotional wellbeing throughout your journey. A psychologist works alongside you to help you build skills, confidence, and sustainable habits for long-term health [10,11]. They may help you to:

• Understand eating patterns and coping habits

  • Notice patterns like emotional eating, overeating at night, or eating when bored [10,11].

  • Learn skills to manage cravings, distressing or negative emotions, and day-to-day stress [4,10,12].

  • Replace unhelpful emotional coping behaviours or habits such excessive drinking or shopping with healthier alternatives [4].

  • Identify other factors, such as neurodivergence or trauma, that may make healthy coping behaviours harder to maintain [4].

• Build confidence and support emotional wellbeing

  • Challenge unhelpful thoughts and reduce shame or guilt [4,10]. 

  • Build confidence and self-compassion [4,10,11].

  • Work through feelings of loss, such as losing food as comfort or old routines [9].

  • Support your mental health and watch for signs of anxiety, low mood, or disordered eating [10,13].

• Adjust to treatment and body changes

  • Prepare emotionally for big changes, such as starting weight-loss medication or having bariatric surgery [12].

  • Adjust to changes in appetite, routines, and your weight [11-13].

  • Manage body image concerns, including loose skin or other appearance changes [10,11,13].

• Build sustainable habits for the long term

  • Set realistic, flexible goals [4,10].

  • Handle social situations such as eating out, family expectations, or comments from others [13,14].

  • Stay on track with healthy behaviours after the early ‘honeymoon’ period (the initial phase when results and changes may happen more quickly) [13,15].

How do psychologists understand how you are feeling?

Psychologists use a combination of approaches to understand your experiences and what matters most to you. This includes observing patterns over time (not just one session) and working collaboratively with you, recognising that you are the expert in your own experience. Understanding develops over time, and your psychologist will check in regularly to make sure the support fits your needs and feels right for you [16]. 

A psychologist will usually:

• Listen

  • Provides a safe, non-judgemental space where you can talk openly and feel heard and understood [1].

• Talk with you

  • Ask about your mood, sleep, stress, relationships, lifestyle and past mental health [1,13,17]. 

• Use checklists and screeners

  • Short questionnaires that help build a picture of how you have been feeling [1,4]. 

  • They are not diagnostic, but guide what further assessment and support may be needed [1, 4]. 

• Think about your overall health

  • Some conditions such as thyroid problems, hormone changes, chronic pain or medication side effects can affect mood [18].

  • They may suggest you talk to your GP or other health professional [18].

What treatments can help?

Most people benefit from a mix of supports. Common options include:

• Talk therapies: 

  • These provide a safe place to talk and learn practical ways to cope. 

  • Common, evidence-based approaches include cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), which can be particularly helpful for managing emotional or binge-eating behaviours [19]. 

  • These approaches often include relapse prevention, which helps you prepare for setbacks by:

    • Identifying triggers,

    • Building coping plans, and

    • Learning how to manage strong emotions and bounce back without self-criticism [20].

• Medication:

  • Some people may benefit from medication prescribed by a GP or psychiatrist to reduce symptoms and support therapy [1]. 

• Lifestyle supports:

  • Gentle movement like walking [21].

  • Mindfulness or relaxation [21].

  • Regular sleep routines [22].

  • Reducing alcohol and drugs [23].

  • Support from family, friends or peer groups [21,24].

  • Spending time in nature [24].

• Self-help tools:

  • Apps, workbooks, and online programs can support your mental health between appointments [25]. 

When to seek extra support

Speak to a health professional if:

• Low mood or worry lasts more than 2 weeks or impacts on your functioning [21,24].

• You keep returning to old habits [13].

• You feel ashamed or hopeless about your weight [13].

• Your feelings are getting in the way of daily life [22,24].

• You are using food, alcohol or drugs to cope [13].

• You are preparing for surgery or major treatment changes [13].

• You have thoughts of self-harm or suicide [1].

• If you are in immediate danger or think you may act on thoughts of self-harm, this is an emergency. Please contact emergency services or go to the nearest hospital straight away.

Lifeline: Call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14

Butterfly Foundation: 1800 33 4673 or chat online at Butterfly Support Helpline

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

How much does it cost to see a psychologist?

In Australia, private psychologist appointments usually cost around $200-$300 for a 45-60 minute session [16]. You may be able to get help with costs through:

• Private health insurance 

  • Many health funds cover part of the cost of seeing a psychologist if you have extras cover. Check with your health fund to see how much you can get back. 

  • You do not need a GP referral to see a psychologist if you are using private health insurance.

• Medicare – Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP)

  • If you have a mental health disorder, you may be eligible for a MHTP created by your GP. This treatment plan allows you to claim Medicare rebates for up to 10 psychologist visits per calendar year, either by telehealth or in person.

  • You will also need a GP referral to see a psychologist under a MHTP. As of 2026, the rebate for a standard 50-min appointment is around $98/$145 (depending on the type of psychologist) so there will be an out-of-pocket expense. If the psychologist offers bulk billing, there will be no out-of-pocket expense.

  • For more information, please see Services Australia 

• Medicare – Eating Disorder Treatment Plan (EDTP)

  • If you have a diagnosed eating disorder, you may be eligible for an EDTP created by your GP. This plan allows you access up to 40 psychologist visits (in blocks of 10 sessions) over a 12-month period, either by telehealth or in person.

  • The costs and rebates are the same as for a MHTP (see above).

• Low-cost services

  • Some psychologists, public hospitals, community health services and university clinics offer bulk-billed (free) or low-cost appointments, especially for people with concession cards.

  • Your GP or local health service can help you find out what is available near you.

• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

  • If you have an NDIS plan that includes psychology or mental health supports, some or all of the cost may be covered through your funding. Your support coordinator or plan manager can help you check what is included. 

How to find a psychologist 

The most important thing is finding someone you feel comfortable talking to. Ways to get started: 

• Ask your GP

  • Your GP can suggest local psychologists and organise a MHTP if you need one. 

• Use the Australian Psychological Society (APS) "Find A Psychologist Tool"

  • Search for registered psychologists by location.

  • Filter by areas such as mental health, weight management, chronic disease management or self-esteem.

• Use the "APS PsychEngage Tool"

  • Send appointment requests directly to psychologists online.

  • Enter your details and click ‘Find psychologists’ and select up to 5 (and more if needed). One will usually contact you within a few hours by email or SMS to arrange an appointment. 

  • You can also filter for telehealth and Medicare-registered providers. 

References

1. Health Direct (2024) Psychiatrists and psychologists. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/psychiatrists-and-psychologists

2. Better Health Channel (2024) Psychologist. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/serviceprofiles/psychologist-service

3. American Psychological Association (2019) What do practicing psychologists do?https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/about-psychologists

4. Wahass, S. H (2005) ‘The role of psychologists in health care delivery’, Journal of Family & Community Medicine,12(2), pp. 63-70. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3410123/

5. Singh, M (2014) ‘Mood, food, and obesity’, Frontiers in Psychology, 5,925. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00925

6. Sarwer, D.B. and Polonsky, H.M (2018) ‘The Psychosocial Burden of Obesity’, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America, 45(3), pp. 677-688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecl.2016.04.016

7. Ahern, A.L. Palla, L. Ambrosini, G. Caterson, I.D. Hauner, H. and Jebb, S.A (2012) ‘Changes in eating behaviour traits during weight loss and their relationship to changes in diet and body weight’, Appetite, 59(2), 618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2012.05.034

8. Tsompanaki, E. et al. (2025) ‘The impact of weight loss interventions on disordered eating symptoms in people with overweight and obesity: a systematic review & meta-analysis', eClinicalMedicine, 80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.103049

9. Dakanalis, A. et al. (2023) ‘The Association of Emotional Eating with Overweight/Obesity, Depression, Anxiety/Stress, and Dietary Patterns: A Review of the Current Clinical Evidence’, Nutrients, 15(5), 1173. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051173

10. Adams, L (2011) Current approaches to weight management: Time for a change. https://psychology.org.au/for-members/publications/inpsych/2011/aug/current-approaches-to-weight-management-time-for

11. Rajeswaran, C (2014) The psychologists role in effective weight management. https://diabetesonthenet.com/wp-content/uploads/dip3-4-125-6-1.pdf

12. Psychology Melbourne (2026) Weight management counselling. https://www.psychologymelbourne.com.au/psychology-counselling/weight-loss-counselling#:~:text=Seeking%20professional%20assistance,for%20you%20at%20Psychology%20Melbourne.

13. The Permanente Medical Group (2026) Emotional Health Challenges After Weight Loss Surgery. https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/structured-content/emotional-health-challenges-after-weight-loss-surgery-2490269

14. Gow, M.L. et al. (2024) ‘Efficacy, Safety and Acceptability of a Very-Low-Energy Diet in Adolescents with Obesity: A Fast Track to Health Sub-Study', Nutrients, 16(18), 3125. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16183125

15. Lynch, A (2016) ‘“When the honeymoon is over, the real work begins:” Gastric bypass patients' weight loss trajectories and dietary change experiences’, Social Science & Medicine, 151, pp. 241-249. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.12.024

16. American Psychological Association (2023) Understanding psychotherapy and how it works. https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/understanding

17. Health Direct (2024) Mental health professionals. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-professionals

18. Better Health Channel (2015) Assessments and evaluations for mental illness treatment. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/servicesandsupport/assessments-and-evaluations-for-mental-illness-treatment

19. ReachOut (2025). Types of therapy: CBT, ACT, DBT and IFS. 

20. https://au.reachout.com/mental-health-issues/professional-help/types-of-therapy-cbt-act-dbt-and-ifs

21. Lawlor, E. R. et al. (2020). ‘Cognitive and behavioural strategies employed to overcome "lapses" and prevent "relapse" among weight-loss maintainers and regainers: A qualitative study’, Clinical Obesity, 10(5), e12395. https://doi.org/10.1111/cob.12395

22. National Institute of Mental Health (2024) Caring for your mental health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health

23. Beyond Blue (2025) How to tell if someone has poor mental health. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/support-someone/poor-mental-health

24. Healthline (2020) Yes, mental illness can cause physical symptoms – here's why. https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/mental-illness-can-cause-physical-symptoms#Are-my-aches-and-pains-caused-by-my-mental-state

25. Better Health Channel (2021) Monitoring your mood. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/monitoring-your-mood

26. Black Dog Institute (2026) Mental health apps to help you with your self-care resolutions. https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/news/mental-health-apps-to-help-you-with-your-self-care-resolutions/