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Desanka Desa Ogrizovic
Accredited Counsellor/ Coach & Bariatric Support Practitioner
Desanka Ogrizovic is an accredited counsellor, coach, and bariatric support practitioner, providing specialised pre- and post-operative counselling for patients undergoing weight loss surgery.
Working alongside Dr Mo Atalla and the team at Betterlife Surgery, Desanka supports patients to develop psychological readiness, emotional resilience, and sustainable behaviour change throughout their bariatric journey.
Her work focuses on the emotional, behavioural, and psychosocial factors that directly influence long-term surgical outcomes.
Desanka combines professional clinical expertise with lived bariatric experience, allowing her to offer empathetic, grounded, and evidence-informed support while maintaining clear therapeutic boundaries.
She has a particular interest in supporting patients with:
🍀Pre-operative preparation and anxiety management
🍀Emotional eating and behaviour change
🍀Body image and identity adjustment
🍀Post-operative emotional transitions and long-term maintenance
🍀Confidence, motivation, and self-efficacy
🍀Women planning a baby, postpartum, or caring for young children, including managing postnatal or antenatal symptoms, preventing weight regain, and balancing self-care with family life
🍀Individuals considering bariatric surgery who do not yet have a surgeon, providing pre-operative counselling sessions to help you decide if surgery is the right choice for you
Desanka works collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team to ensure patients feel supported, informed, and empowered before and after surgery, contributing to improved engagement, adherence, and overall wellbeing.
She is passionate about helping patients feel psychologically prepared, emotionally supported, and confident at every stage of their bariatric journey — including through the life changes that come with pregnancy, early parenthood, and managing health and wellbeing for themselves and their families.
Extra supports (not bariatric support)
Other support services
While my main focus is bariatric counselling support and coaching guidance, I also provide counselling on a needs basis in the following areas:
Trauma and domestic violence (DV) counselling, including professional support letters
Coaching and guidance around self-worth and empowerment
Previously, I worked through Wagga Wagga Women’s Heal
While my main focus is bariatric counselling support and coaching guidance, I also provide counselling on a needs basis in the following areas:
Trauma and domestic violence (DV) counselling, including professional support letters
Coaching and guidance around self-worth and empowerment
Previously, I worked through Wagga Wagga Women’s Health Centre.
Although I no longer work directly with the centre, I continue to provide ongoing support to past clients and am available to assist current clients as needed.
I am also a WorkSafe Victoria approved counsellor, able to provide support for workers’ compensation counselling.
For enquiries about bariatric counselling or these additional services, please contact me via email at desanka.ogrizovic.counsellor@outlook.com or SMS at 0431 150 251.
💫 Desa on 3ZZZ Boomerang Serbian Radio
