It's an assessment conducted by a licensed psychologist to evaluate your mental and emotional readiness for surgery. It helps your medical team understand how psychological factors may affect your recovery, treatment compliance, and long-term outcomes.

Certain surgeries, such as bariatric surgery, spinal cord stimulators, or pain management devices, require psychological clearance to:

• Ensure you understand the risks and benefits of the procedure
• Assess your ability to follow post-operative instructions
• Identify emotional or behavioral factors that may impact success
• Offer recommendations to improve your outcome

Some common examples include:

• Bariatric (weight loss) surgery
• Spinal cord stimulator implantation
• Certain orthopedic or neurosurgeries

The process usually includes:

• A clinical interview (discussing your medical, psychological, and social history)
• Standardized questionnaires and psychological testing
• A review of relevant medical records
• A written report with recommendations for your surgical team

Typically, the evaluation lasts 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on the complexity of the case and testing involved.

This isn’t a pass/fail test. The purpose is to identify any issues that could interfere with a successful outcome and, if needed, recommend support or interventions to help you succeed. If concerns arise, your medical team will work with you to address them.

Yes, your information is confidential. A summary report is shared with your surgeon or medical team, but we’ll explain exactly what’s shared and get your consent first.

Many insurance plans cover pre-surgical evaluations, especially if they’re required by your medical provider. We can verify your benefits or provide documentation for reimbursement.

Not necessarily. Many patients with mental health histories go on to have successful surgeries. The goal is to ensure you have the proper support before and after your procedure.

That’s normal. The evaluation is not meant to be intimidating—it’s meant to help you prepare emotionally and psychologically for the changes that come with surgery.

After the evaluation, I’ll write a report summarizing the findings and share it with your referring physician. I can also provide recommendations, such as pre-surgical counseling or stress management strategies, if needed.