Photo of Lauren Wicks, Licensed Professional Counselor in 17201, PA
Lauren Wicks
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC, CCTP
Verified Verified
Chambersburg, PA 17201
Waitlist for new clients
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor practicing therapy for 17 years. I enjoy helping people achieve their goals, whether that includes reducing intensity and frequency of panic attacks, preventing relapse, or improving school performance. I specialize in treating children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety, mood disorders, disruptive behavior disorders, attachment disorders, trauma, chronic pain, firesetting, anger, and problem sexual behaviors. I believe people are resilient and worthy of support and self-care. I invite you to chat with me about your treatment goals in a welcoming and judgement-free environment.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor practicing therapy for 17 years. I enjoy helping people achieve their goals, whether that includes reducing intensity and frequency of panic attacks, preventing relapse, or improving school performance. I specialize in treating children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety, mood disorders, disruptive behavior disorders, attachment disorders, trauma, chronic pain, firesetting, anger, and problem sexual behaviors. I believe people are resilient and worthy of support and self-care. I invite you to chat with me about your treatment goals in a welcoming and judgement-free environment.
(717) 356-3664 View (717) 356-3664
Photo of Liza De La O, Licensed Professional Counselor in 17201, PA
Liza De La O
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, NCC, LPC, CDBT
Verified Verified
Chambersburg, PA 17201
Waitlist for new clients
Life can be overwhelming, which can push you to feel lost and stuck. I specialize in trauma, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Autism, but I also have experience working with other mental health issues. My clients find relief by working through their current issues by identifying how your life is being currently disrupted and then working backward to process your trauma. Some of my treatment modalities include Gestalt Therapy, DBT, CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, but I believe in tailoring the treatment to each individual client depending on what will help you the most.
Life can be overwhelming, which can push you to feel lost and stuck. I specialize in trauma, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Autism, but I also have experience working with other mental health issues. My clients find relief by working through their current issues by identifying how your life is being currently disrupted and then working backward to process your trauma. Some of my treatment modalities include Gestalt Therapy, DBT, CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, but I believe in tailoring the treatment to each individual client depending on what will help you the most.
(223) 332-5081 View (223) 332-5081
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.