Bipolar Disorder Therapists in 14519
Brian Philip Decker
Counselor, LMHC
Verified Verified
Ontario, NY 14519
I am eager to help individuals who feel stuck and emotionally overwhelmed. I want to help people see that there is hope through even the most hopeless of times. I have felt called to help people out of the dark corners of life so they can start living renewed lives.
I am eager to help individuals who feel stuck and emotionally overwhelmed. I want to help people see that there is hope through even the most hopeless of times. I have felt called to help people out of the dark corners of life so they can start living renewed lives.
Alanna Meritt
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW-R
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Ontario, NY 14519
Not accepting new clients
Seeking out therapy is never an easy decision, however it may be an important step in being happier and healthier. Perhaps you are struggling with symptoms of depression or anxiety, maybe you are experiencing a stressful change in your life, or possibly you have been thinking about seeking out therapy for a long time to address something from your past that you feel is getting in the way of your present. These feelings become overwhelming and seem like they impact every aspect of your life. My philosophy as a therapist is that you are the expert on you.
Seeking out therapy is never an easy decision, however it may be an important step in being happier and healthier. Perhaps you are struggling with symptoms of depression or anxiety, maybe you are experiencing a stressful change in your life, or possibly you have been thinking about seeking out therapy for a long time to address something from your past that you feel is getting in the way of your present. These feelings become overwhelming and seem like they impact every aspect of your life. My philosophy as a therapist is that you are the expert on you.
Gregory Duffy
Counselor, LMHC
Verified Verified
Ontario, NY 14519
Not accepting new clients
As a counselor, I value having the opportunity to support those who are feeling down, depleted, or out of sync with their lives. I help engage clients in personal reflection and provide encouragement through times of transition and change. I work to build motivation for clients needing to move out of hopelessness. I am an experienced clinician who prioritizes providing a safe, compassionate, and respectful space for clients to grow. I specialize in addressing anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions, and autism supports. My approach blends cognitive behavioral therapy skills with supportive, person-centered discussions.
As a counselor, I value having the opportunity to support those who are feeling down, depleted, or out of sync with their lives. I help engage clients in personal reflection and provide encouragement through times of transition and change. I work to build motivation for clients needing to move out of hopelessness. I am an experienced clinician who prioritizes providing a safe, compassionate, and respectful space for clients to grow. I specialize in addressing anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions, and autism supports. My approach blends cognitive behavioral therapy skills with supportive, person-centered discussions.
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Bipolar Disorder Therapists
What is the most successful approach to treating bipolar disorder?
Living with bipolar disorder can be challenging, and a number of therapies have been found effective in providing support to patients as they gain the skills to understand and manage the disorder. Family-focused therapy is often helpful for children and teens (the majority of cases develop before age 19); it aims to minimize mood cycling by improving family communication and reducing conflict. It also helps young people navigate the developmental challenges the disorder can create. Cognitive and behavioral therapy (CBT) and variants such as Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)help patients manage the thoughts and feelings that influence bipolar mood swings as well as develop specific behavioral strategies to counteract them.
What happens in therapy for bipolar disorder?
Because the patterns of mood switching and its triggers differ for each person and can change over time, mood tracking or monitoring becomes a basic way patients learn about the nature of their condition. One of the most common features of therapy is finding a workable method of mood monitoring, in which patients track their daily activities and rate their moods, then use the findings to adjust routines accordingly. Patients learn ways of handling the many stresses that arise in life so that they do not trigger mood swings.
What kinds of problems does therapy help with?
Like many other mental health disorders, BPD is heavily influenced by stress; therapy provides skills for coping with stressors of all kinds. Therapy is extremely important for helping individuals identify the situations that may trigger mood switching, so that mood swings can be prevented. Therapy may especially target recognition of the early stages of mood change so that they can be managed. In addition, therapy helps patients deal with the significant amount of turbulence the disorder can create in relationships and in work life.
What is the goal of therapy for bipolar disorder?
Therapy helps patients set up their lives to maintain stability so that their mood isn’t constantly threatened by daily events. Perhaps the first task of therapy is to educate people about the nature of the disorder. At the same time, a primary goal of therapy is to enhance adherence to drug treatment. Extended periods of mood stability can prompt patients to discontinue medication, triggering relapse, while the early phases of manic episodes can feel so energizing that patients stop medication, ushering in full-blown mania and the altered self-perception that can lead to destructive behaviors. Another major goal of therapy is to understand one’s mood patterns so as to minimize both the frequency and intensity of mood cycling.