Bipolar

Bipolar disorder can lead to abrupt mood shifts that can be difficult to manage and lead to impulsive choices, psychosis, challenged relationships, etc. There are therapeutic techniques we can engage in together to help bring about increased awareness of how lifestyle and mood are intertwined for you personally and identify areas for adjustment. Through processing in therapy, we can work together toward a greater sense of balance - both internally and externally.

Bipolar can be a difficult experience, but it does not have to be a negative one. Together I help my clients understand the way their cycles and symptoms effect their lives, create interventions to reduce vulnerabilities and increase protective factors, and see themselves as the whole person they are.

Living with bipolar may not always be an easy think to do however I am able to help manage symptoms to make sure they are not controlling your life. I am able to offer tools and coping skills to help live the life you want.

I have worked with many clients recently diagnosed with bipolar, and I also work with clients that are experiencing a manic or depressive episode. Bipolar can disrupt life and cause chaos and suffering. My goal in working with clients is to help them understand what bipolar looks like in their life. Just because you are diagnosed as bipolar it does not have to define your life. You are more than your diagnosis.

I have worked with people with Bipolar Disorders for 3 years and believe a collaborative approach towards a treatment plan works best.

Bipolar can be treated with several therapies. Interpersonal Social Rhythm Therapy uses tracking, social interaction, and circadian rhythms to keep you stable. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be really effective for depression. Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing therapy (EMDR), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) can help resolve any trauma, such as hospitalizations and embarrassing memories. Mindfulness and education round out the treatment.

I have worked with individuals dealing with roller coaster of manic and depressive cycles to aid in finding strategies to manage these episodes.

I spent the majority of my education exploring bipolar disorder. My master's thesis was on the connection between artistic genius and bipolar disorder. I can offer bipolar clients a nuanced understanding of their symptoms, and the multitude of ways bipolar can interact with their life and identity. Many of my clients who identify as bipolar have intersecting creative talents and/or exceptional abilities that sometimes dance with the various mood states of bipolar.

Whether you are looking for an accurate diagnosis or help managing runaway moods, bipolar can leave you feeling unstable, hopeless, or even suicidal. Through education and practical skill-building, I can help you figure out what is going on with your moods, detect early warning signs, amass your supports, and apply effective coping skills. It is possible to regain a sense of grounded stability and repair areas of life that have been shaken by dysregulated moods, and I can help get you there.

Being a dual diagnosis clinician, I have built specific skills to help patients of all ages challenge their mental health symptoms from bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression, among others. Working openly and honestly with patients they learn new techniques to manage their symptoms effectively.

Bipolar disorder presents with high or low moods, described as mood swings. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgement, behavior and the ability to think clearly.

I have worked with individuals dealing with roller coaster of manic and depressive cycles to aid in finding strategies to manage these episodes.

I identify as a "Wounded Healer." I was diagnosed with Bipolar One Disorder in my teenage years. My experiences within the mental health field led me to choose to become a counselor. I have a tremendous amount of empathy and compassion for those who have mood disorders. I understand the importance of regularly checking in with a therapist when managing one's ups and downs. I utilize Social and Interpersonal Rhythms, Strength-Based and Solution Focused techniques when treating bipolar disorder.

Years of experience treating bipolar. I provide both medication management and psychotherapy for bipolar.

Feeling like your emotions are not in your control is very scary.

I have spent the last three years working specifically with adults with severe mental illness including bipolar disorders in varying stages of recovery. I also have lived experience with bipolar disorder that I can draw from when it is helpful to relate, while also recognizing that everyone's experience is unique.

In addition to medication management, helping client's increase mindful awareness of their moment-to-moment thoughts, feelings, and internal sensations, as well as deviations, is key to successfully managing the bipolar experience. Using a variety of DBT and ACT skills, I can help you overcome the overwhelm with effective skills-based coping and support. Commonly, many people working with bipolar symptoms also have significant trauma histories that we can also address with EMDR and IFS therapy.

Full self-disclosure - I was diagnosed with Bipolar Affective Disorder type I when I was a late teenager. I have made it a point to work with people struggling with any of the cyclothymic disorders from a place of empathy and compassion. Medication issues and options are always open for discussion. I bring a wealth of personal and professional information to the table, and believe that treatment options are very much personal choice and responsibility, despite what many doctors seem to believe.