Master Bariatric Assessments with Ashlyn’s Professional Training
I’m Ashlyn Douglass-Barnes, a bariatric patient celebrating more than 10 years since surgery.
I find myself in a place where less than 5% of bariatric patients will find themselves: I have kept off 100% of my excess weight at a 10-year follow-up. So in addition to the research and clinical experience, I also personally know a thing or two about how to be a successful bariatric patient.
Looking for Press & Speaking Info? Jump to that section ↓
My StoryI’m a member of the ASMBS so I stay up to date with research and knowledge in this constantly evolving field. I’ve been working with ASMBS to ensure that mental health providers have a place at the table. Just the presence or input of mental health workers is a little new for the field.
I’m also an unofficial misinformation dispeller. Misinformation about bariatric surgery is rampant. People have very strong opinions about things they know little about. Our clients are going to run into this misinformation too, and it’s important that we have the information, tools, and facts to give them up-to-date information.
How I Found Myself Here
It was 2018 & my husband & I were broke, both working full time with $40K in debt (mostly medical) that we couldn't get out of.
As a clinical supervisor in community mental health, I made less than I had as a line cook in college. I didn’t feel ready to start a full time private practice, nor did we have the savings to make that a wise decision. We considered driving for Uber Eats. Then we thought up a part time practice focused exclusively on bariatric evaluations.
I’d done them in my agency work before, but it wouldn’t be in direct clinical competition with my agency’s mission. So I continued my full time job and started a part time practice that exclusively provided Bariatric Assessments.
In the first year of business, we paid off all our debt, paid off our car, saved for a down payment, and bought a house.
But it was far from easy. The problem was that there wasn’t any training out there that could teach me to do these evaluations.
I found one that wasn’t transparent about their pricing. And even the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) had no specific training. They had all the information available to read to figure out what was needed for the evaluations, but you had to do all the legwork to make the letter template, figure out what you wanted to put into the education, etc. So I built the training I wish had existed. And then I made it available to every therapist who finds themselves where I was.
I Spent Years Building What You Can Have in Just One Weekend
The training gives you everything I built over many years, in an easy to follow, self-paced course:
Every template, script, and document you need to run a full evaluation
The billing and pricing knowledge to set your rates with confidence
A marketing strategy to bring in surgeon referrals consistently
The clinical framework to go from your first evaluation to your hundredth
Not ready to commit to the full course yet? Start with the templates, or reach out with your questions.
PRESS & SPEAKING
From Practice to PlatformI’ve been featured on podcasts and invited to speak at therapist events, sharing what I’ve learned about alternative revenue streams, building a bariatric niche, and the business side of clinical practice that nobody teaches in grad school.
🎙 Podcast Features
The Therapy Show with Lisa Mustard
Diversifying Your Income Through Bariatric Mental Health Assessments
I joined Lisa to break down exactly how therapists can add bariatric psychological assessments to their practice — the clinical side, the business side, and what the income potential actually looks like.
Listen to the Episode →
The Traveling Therapist with Kym Tolson
Unlock Growth & Travel Freedom: How Bariatric Evaluations Can Transform Your Therapy Business
Kym and I discussed the lifestyle and flexibility benefits of an assessment-focused practice — and why this niche is especially well-suited for therapists who want to work remotely or on their own schedule.
Watch on YouTube →
Invite Ashlyn to Speak
I’m available for therapist retreats, professional development workshops, webinars, and live social sessions. I speak on alternative revenue streams for therapists, and building a bariatric assessment practice from the ground up. Get in touch to learn more.
