Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by episodes of extreme highs, followed by prolonged periods of extreme lows. These extreme mood swings can take a toll on your ability to succeed in school, at the workplace, and in relationships with your family and friends.
Fortunately, there is help for people suffering from bipolar disorder, including medication and psychotherapy. Pursuing psychotherapy together with medication is incredibly helpful in managing your symptoms. If you have experienced extreme highs and lows that impact your daily functioning and satisfaction with life, you may want to consider bipolar disorder treatment at our Washington, DC office. The Wake Kendall Group is available to work with you!
Medication management is very important in stabilizing the extreme highs and lows that occur with bipolar disorder. However, studies show that medication alone is not the most successful approach to treating bipolar disorder, and that combining medication with psychotherapy is most beneficial in decreasing your symptoms. For example, through psychotherapy, you can learn to identify early warning signs of both depressive and manic episodes, and find strategies to minimize the symptoms.
We’ve seen how psychotherapy can help patients stay on track with their medication therapy, as well as better manage the mood swings that they experience. With bipolar psychotherapy treatment, patients in the DC metro area can achieve stability better than with medication alone.
Bipolar disorder treatment in Washington, DC can take on various forms, depending on your particular needs. We use evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches for this disorder. Psychoeducation about the disorder and ways to minimize its impact is an important part of all treatments.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps you challenge negative thoughts and behaviors that can worsen symptoms of depression or bipolar disorder.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, or DBT, focuses on regulating your emotions with mindfulness, distress tolerance, and communication skills. DBT can be especially useful in helping individuals learn how to control impulses and extreme emotions in order to manage symptoms of mania and reduce the potential for relapse.
Bipolar disorder often impacts individuals and their families. Family therapy can be helpful in managing family dynamics related to your symptoms. This therapy also helps you and your family recognize when a manic or depressive episode may be starting, and help you cope with it more effectively.
Without proper treatment, bipolar disorder can increase instability and conflict that can negatively impact your life. Taking medication for bipolar disorder is only one step; complementing medication management with psychotherapy will build techniques and tools to address the challenges of the disorder itself. Call The Wake Kendall Group to learn more about how our psychologists and therapists can assist you.