Bipolar

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bipolar disorder requires management of more than medications. The day to day functioning of an individual is compromised by this disease. You can live a full life, however. Through the use of routine and mental health hygiene, you can move from managing with medication to thriving.

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.

Do you feel like your emotions are too big? Do you feel angry or irritated all the time? Then notice that your emotions shift from day to day - maybe even moment to moment. You are irritated one moment and depressed the next. Does having all these emotions and trying to live your life generally feel overwhelming? Do people tell you that you seem unpredictable, “crazy”, that you “overreact” in difficult situations.

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.

If you struggle with irritability, lack of motivation and interest, mood changes, or general discontentment: I support your progress of reducing and recovering from your problematic symptoms. I have multiple years of experience working in hospital, in-patient, and out-patient settings. Let's work together to manage, maintain, and reduce your symptoms so that you can live a healthier life.

Like a seesaw you didn't ask to get on and can't get off. You have been on it so long you barely remember a time when it was level. You know it can be. Let's find that place together.

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.

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.