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.

Do you have mood swings that are affecting your sleep, energy level, your activities, your judgment, your behavior, ability to think clearly, and feeling irritable? Call us today at 2403347147. We are here to help

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 clients that have bipolar disorder throughout my entire career. I am very familiar with the symptoms of both Bipolar I and Bipolar II and the best treatment modalities for each. I also ran a weekly bipolar psycho-education group for two years at the mental health center.

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.

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 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.

The ups and downs of bipolar disorder can leave you feeling fragmented and disoriented. Although you may spend much of the time feeling low, an episode of mania or hypomania can present without much warning. In our sessions, you can learn yourself and your patterns/triggers. We will explore ways for you to identify your mood and learn how to navigate them in a healthy way.

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.

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.

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

I have worked with those who have bipolar disorder for the last 5 years in hospital settings, community mental health, and group practice. Bipolar disorder is complicated and coordinating care can be difficult. I understand how important it will be to work with your care team to provide the best care.

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 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.

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.

Bipolar disorder is treatable and more manageable than some may think. Understanding triggers and identifying warning signs can be key to success. Working with a mental health professional can help guide that self awareness train and promote healthy coping skills in order to encouraging living one's best life.