Bariatric Counseling Center of San Antonio

Honestly, the only reason that I went to BCC was because I was referred by my Surgeon after my surgery. Otherwise, I would never have known about this outstanding intensive outpatient program. They provide sessions there at BCC or by Zoom. I genuinely believe that “Information is Power” and “Communication is the Key”! BCC gave me the tools to succeed in my journey. Everyone’s journey is different and everyone on the staff treats you like an individual. I do not know how they do it, but it is tremendously successful. They not only helped me with my surgery recovery but the coping strategies that was given to me will help me my entire life. You have all helped me with the choices in my life to become a better healthier me. All of this is mostly done in a safe group setting. Everyone in group wants to help you with your journey as they want help with theirs. This absolutely builds trust faster with each other. It provides divers perspectives from everyone. The group sessions provided a safe space for vulnerability and shared strength There is so much support. BCC teaches you emotional coping skills like mindfulness, emotional awareness, healthy communication, SMART goal setting, emotion regulation, time-management, compassionate self-talk, self-care, accountability, and resilience. They also teach successful mindful eating. There are three levels to this program. The first level focuses on learning more about your relationship with food, feelings, and behaviors throughout your life. The next level focuses on working to change patterns and habits and increasing your accountability. The last phase focuses on increased accountability and commitment to all the skills we have learned and to use them in our daily life in a sustainable way. I cannot thank BCC enough. You are an empathetic staff that fosters a safe and confidential environment with respect for our journey. Your supportive, non-judgmental, expert care, no-judgement zone, and tools for long-term lifestyle journey changes are unmatched. The tools provided changed my mind and habits which have become invaluable to guide me in my success. I have learned to love healthy food which made it both fun and practical. I know that I have said a lot, but I honestly believe in this program and this counseling center. It is the continuation of my lifelong journey. Here are four meaningful quotes from me to the staff, to the group members that have helped me, and to whomever is thinking about taking on this journey – believe me you cannot go wrong: "Life-changing support." "Understanding and knowledgeable professionals." "Empowering, not just prescriptive." "A safe space to heal." I leave you with my quote: “Information is Power and Communication is the Key”!

(Cynthia Lopez) I had my first surgery in 2021, the bariatric sleeve, and my doctor recommended BCC at that time. I felt I could do it on my own and didn’t attend. Fast forward to 2025, I had my second surgery—the gastric bypass—and once again my doctor recommended BCC. This time, I decided to go, and I’m so grateful that I did. I always say that if I had attended BCC after my first surgery, I truly believe I would have been successful and may not have needed a second surgery. Attending BCC was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I recommend it to anyone trying to stay healthy, eat right, or who is on a weight-loss journey. The staff at BCC is absolutely amazing—caring, compassionate, and incredibly understanding. Because of them, I am a better version of myself. I’ve also met some wonderful individuals through the program, and getting to know others who have gone through similar experiences made me realize I was not alone. Being able to talk openly with people who truly understand made everything so much easier. My life has changed drastically because of the incredible staff at BCC. I love myself even more now. They taught me mindful eating, which has made a huge difference in my life, and the coping skills I’ve learned have helped me better understand and handle situations that may have contributed to my weight struggles in the past. I now have the confidence, knowledge, and understanding to continue my weight-loss journey. BCC has helped me not only physically, but emotionally as well. I have struggled with my weight for years, often feeling lost and unsure of how to move forward or what to do. While my journey is not yet over, I now have all the tools I need to continue—along with the coping skills that truly make a difference. Knowing I also have the best staff in the world at BCC to turn to whenever I need support gives me strength and reassurance. I finally feel empowered to keep going. I am beyond thankful for the Bariatric Counseling Center and everything they’ve given me.

This program WORKS! It has helped me so much in my weight-loss journey. I have learned so much that will help me in the future to maintain a healthy life style. It is defiantly worth the time and money commitment. Everyone is extremely encouraging and very helpful with everything!

I love this place. The staff is incredible. The therapist…the front desk…the chef…the dietitians…the activity leaders. I’m sorry if I missed some people. But from the moment you walk in the door to the eating to the sessions to group to leaving. I loved every bit of it. So much I learned about me and my habits…whether they be bad or good…I’ve learned to cope with them and adapt. This has truly been a blessing for me…and for family for that matter. Truly thank you for y’all’s support. Highly recommend this place for anybody looking to make this journey.

If you’re considering a weight-loss journey, whether through surgery or a non-surgical approach, I can’t recommend BCC enough. They’ve helped so many of us who have struggled with our weight, offering insight, support, and the tools to uncover what might be holding us back from being our best selves. One of the highlights is their amazing on-staff chef, who teaches you how to cook in a way that truly supports your progress. The entire team — administrative staff, counselors, and dietitians — is compassionate, supportive, and genuinely invested in your success. I’m incredibly thankful for how they’ve guided me, helped me build healthier habits, and taught me to show myself more kindness. We really can be our own worst critics, but BCC makes the journey feel possible. Give them a try — you won’t regret it.

Life changing experience at BCC! The support is there for every part of your health journey towards a better relationship with food but ultimately a better relationship with yourself. Would recommend this to anyone who is struggling with these issues, whether you are a surgical patient or not. The time commitment seems daunting, but the payoff of spending that time on yourself, with their support, is invaluable and absolutely will turn your life in a new and positive direction. Would redo it again in a heartbeat!

My experience with the Bariatric Counseling Center has truly been life-changing. From the moment I started the program, I felt like I had finally stepped into the space where my healing needed to begin. I knew that if I wanted real progress, I had to dig deep, be vulnerable, and commit and that’s exactly what I did. The first four weeks were transformative. The classes on mindful eating, emotional regulation, coping skills, boundaries, and mental + physical health opened my eyes to so much about myself. Life was ‘life-ing’ hard during that time, but the support system at BCC helped me stay grounded and encouraged. There were so many days when I didn’t even want to show up. I felt overwhelmed, drained, and heavy. But every single time I pushed myself to walk through those doors, I left feeling grateful. I walked in with so much on my mind and chest, but I would leave feeling freer and lighter like a weight had been lifted off me. Every class gave me new motivation to keep going. What made the program even more meaningful wasn’t just the incredible staff, but the people I met along the way. You learn from each other. You grow with each other. It’s scary at first to be vulnerable with strangers, but then you realize you’re not alone everyone is going through something, whether similar or completely different. That shared honesty creates connection, comfort, and healing. Through BCC, I learned how to stand up for myself, how to feel my emotions instead of numbing them, and how to cope without turning to food. It helped me understand my patterns, recognize relapse, and recover with awareness and grace. More than anything, it helped me become a better version of myself and a better mother. I want my daughter to see that it’s never too late to face the hard things and grow from them. BCC came into my life at exactly the right moment. It felt like God or the universe placed it in front of me because I needed this chapter to prepare for the next. I still have work to do, and life will always be life, but now I have the tools and strength to handle it. I recommend this program not only to people preparing for bariatric surgery, but to anyone struggling with emotional eating or any type of eating disorder. BCC doesn’t just address behaviors it helps you understand the emotional roots of your relationship with food. This program gave me healing, support, and a renewed sense of self. I’m forever grateful.”

They go beyond to make sure that you get the best experience, they helped me to learn to focus on my eating habits and along the way I learned about my self too . Thank you to the doctors, staff and the feedback from everyone