Photo of Deborah Johnson, Clinical Social Work/Therapist in 95112, CA
Deborah Johnson
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
San Jose, CA 95112
Greetings, my name is Deborah Johnson, Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I work with clients statewide via telehealth. I work with adolescents, adults, and couples. My areas of expertise are working with depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, trauma-informed and focused, and co-occurring disorders. My typical client population is comprised of mood disorders, including Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder, a spectrum of Anxiety Disorders, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Panic Disorder.
Greetings, my name is Deborah Johnson, Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I work with clients statewide via telehealth. I work with adolescents, adults, and couples. My areas of expertise are working with depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, trauma-informed and focused, and co-occurring disorders. My typical client population is comprised of mood disorders, including Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder, a spectrum of Anxiety Disorders, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Panic Disorder.
(408) 715-1383 View (408) 715-1383
Photo of Keith Rudolph Nelson, Clinical Social Work/Therapist in 95112, CA
Keith Rudolph Nelson
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, MAC
Verified Verified
San Jose, CA 95112  (Online Only)
Each person has strengths and the potential for personal growth and a satisfying life. Therapy is a collaborative process in order to find the processes and answers to meet your needs. Having a safe and supportive atmosphere in which to explore issues is essential. . Therapy is an active process aimed at alleviating suffering and developing the inner peace and understanding that makes life worth living.
Each person has strengths and the potential for personal growth and a satisfying life. Therapy is a collaborative process in order to find the processes and answers to meet your needs. Having a safe and supportive atmosphere in which to explore issues is essential. . Therapy is an active process aimed at alleviating suffering and developing the inner peace and understanding that makes life worth living.
(503) 505-7160 View (503) 505-7160

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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.