Why Bipolar Disorder Psychotherapy is Effective and What to Expect

By April Lyons MA, LPC

Bipolar disorder psychotherapy is effective.

If you are wrestling with the impact of BD, you deserve to feel better. It's probably long past time.Bipolar disorder psychotherapy is a proven and effective means of support and lasting, positive change when you engage the treatment process with an open, committed mind.When you finally get the compassionate care you need, the cycle of (hypo) mania and depression that rules your world will start to slow. A sense of normalcy and control can become a reality you can maintain.

Furthermore, when the tools and practices provided by a qualified professional take hold routinely, life becomes manageable for you. Unpredictable moods will be less likely to have the power to motivate your choices,  wreak havoc in relationships, or have their way with your future.If you struggle with bipolar disorder, don’t deny yourself help. Bipolar disorder psychotherapy can make a difference that leads to significant changes in your day to day.

First, the key to securing such relief is understanding that you don’t need to figure things out without help. You don’t need to suffer needlessly and you don’t need to recover on your own. Bipolar disorder psychotherapy can make an effective, life-changing difference for you and those who love you. Here’s how…

Key Reasons Bipolar Disorder Psychotherapy is so Effective

Therapy can help you cope with feelings and symptoms, as well as address and change thoughts and responses that contribute to your illness. Talk therapy, too, is more than “talking about your problems”; it is solution-oriented. You will be invited to view the world in a new or different way.There are many types of talk therapy and most therapists use a combination that suits the client best.  Consider the following reasons why people with BPD see such success with “talk therapy”

Bipolar disorder psychotherapy is a good teacher.

Treatment goes a long way in helping you understand your illness, reducing shame and ineffective coping methods. Education and understanding go along way in reviving hope and re-establishing a self of control.

  • Bipolar disorder psychotherapy helps reduce the prevalence and intensity of bipolar episodes.

Sharing your struggles, recognizing patterns, and improving your ability to cope with BPD episodes makes life less stressful and unmanageable. Through exploration or your automatic responses, you and your therapist make time and space to examine the triggers that trip you up and plan for them. You feel less and less at the mercy of the disorder.

  • Research on the disorder suggests that people experience greater healing, feel better faster, and relapse less often.

This is especially the case when they receive therapy in addition to medications for bipolar disorder. Medication and talk therapy work together so that your treatment is well rounded and capably meets your biological and emotional needs.

  • Bipolar disorder psychotherapy provides a means for relationship exploration.

Sharing provides a means for coping with the problems your symptoms create at home, work, and in your most intimate interactions with others.

  • Talk therapy does an effective job of deepening self-comprehension.

It helps to pull apart the dramatic symptoms and behaviors connected to your illness from the true nature of your personality. Do you feel lost in the disorder or overwhelmed by the mood swings? This is often relieved when you regain a sense of yourself and your options.

  • Work with a qualified therapist addresses co-occurring problems, disorders, or challenges. Often, bipolar disorder is compounded by issues such as substance abuse or anxiety.

  • Restored ability to function and thrive is a prime objective of bipolar disorder psychotherapy focuses on emotional and relational skill-building. Learning acceptance and tolerance of negative emotions is what make this approach so helpful and effective.

Psychotherapy promotes a relationship between you and your therapist that can help you find ways the to interpret the world more rationally. From there, You can begin to define wellness goals and use sessions as a place to begin a dependable, healthy routine that will help ground you.

What to expect from the bipolar disorder psychotherapy experience

At first, your initial therapy sessions will involve sharing what you hope to get out of therapy. Don’t be afraid to talk with your therapist openly about why you want help. The more he or she knows the better you can collaborate on your therapy goals.

Remember,  you are in control of your treatment. Work alongside your therapist to come up with short- and long-term therapy goals. As time goes on, with these goals in mind, your therapist will be better able to indicate progress and help you recognize changes and improvements in your moods, responses, and relationships.

If choosing psychotherapy still comes with some trepidation or anxiety, don't let that keep you from relief. Consider the following information. Hopefully, it will help you understand a bit more  what to expect throughout the experience and reassure you about reaching out to a therapist you trust:

  • You can expect that your therapist will consider your entire BPD experience.

Bipolar disorder psychotherapy evaluates and explores both your mental health and medical background and relationships. Disclosing your symptoms, your BD history, any previous treatment, and your family history of mood disorders is common. This is simply to gain an accurate picture of your illness as possible.

  • You can expect that bipolar disorder psychotherapy will be ongoing

The truth? To recover from bipolar disorder takes time. The ups and downs may be considerable, as you learn to cope with your symptoms, manage your feelings, and interact with the world differently. Setbacks happen. But so do victories. Therapy will encompass both. The key is to stay committed and connected to the guidance of your therapist.

  • You can expect compassion, respect, and expertise

You may have experienced quite a bit of trouble connecting with people the past. Living with BPD may have caused you pain and led to distrust people. Perhaps you feel misunderstood or saddled you with a “trouble-maker” label. Things may have been really tough or unbearably sad.That’s why treatment is a good thing now. You deserve to be heard and helped. You can expect such care in therapy. Your therapist will also help you get the most out of therapy by educating you, providing strong support, prescribing necessary medication, and encouraging you to stick to healthy routines and your best treatment plan.

Take the first step to a healthier life

Effective treatment of bipolar disorder depends on a first step. Please reach out. I’m here to move toward wellness with you. If you would like some extra support and are looking for a psychotherapist, please contact me for a free consultation to learn about how I can be of service. What do you have to lose!

Find out more about Bipolar Disorder Therapy. Serving Boulder, Longmont, Denver..