A Bipolar Disorder Specialist Who Gets It
When you’re searching for a therapist, you want a professional who truly understands what you’re going through. Someone who’s been at the heights of mania and the hopeless depths of depression. Someone who understands the shame and confusion after an episode. That’s what I was looking for. I became the person I needed when I was first diagnosed and now serve as that person for individuals and their families.
Hi, I'm Yuval Dinary
Bipolar Disorder Specialist
I help individuals with bipolar disorder and their families gain stability and resilience.
As a client, you’ll have a supportive and judgment-free space to be heard, problem-solve, and identify different pathways to improve your situation.
I’ll help you gain self-awareness and insight into bipolar disorder and your symptoms. We’ll work together to strengthen your coping strategies, build your support system, and determine your next steps. We’ll always go at your pace and work towards the goals you have set for yourself.
Ways to Work With Me
Values
Empowerment
I’m committed to helping you become so skilled and confident that you eventually no longer need my services. We achieve this by working together, building your resources and strategies, and celebrating your progress.
Collaboration
Therapy is a team effort. You know yourself best and are the expert on your lived experiences. I honour your expertise by always working with you, not on you. We’ll work together to create a treatment plan that helps you reach your goals.
Transparency
I believe in transparency with my clients. I’m very open with my clients about my journey with bipolar disorder, addiction, and recovery. This helps let you know that you’re not alone. I bring my full self, within professional boundaries, to the table. I joke, tell relevant lesson-filled stories, and am not scared to be blunt when necessary.
My Journey
At 14 I was thrown into an annual cycle of psychotic manias in the summers and depressions in the falls. As the years passed, I self-medicated with an increasing number of drugs.
I couldn’t keep a job, hold on to relationships nor housing. I eventually became that guy on the street yelling at himself.
A suicide attempt landed me in a psychiatric hospital where I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder and given proper medication. I got sober and spent the next 6 months learning all I could about the condition.
I went to school and got my degree so I could help others like me.
Private Practice
My friends and family saw my transformation. They started referring people to me who were witnessing their family members having psychotic episodes. I would visit their homes and help bring back their loved ones through individual support or connection to hospitalization.
Afterward, the person who experienced the psychosis would want to talk semi-regularly. I was working in the mental health field and accepted seeing them informally.
Over time the number of people I saw rose. I wasn’t able to juggle work, a personal life, and this impromptu volunteer position I found myself in. I decided to open up my own practice with the experience and credentials I’ve acquired over the years.
Formal Education
Registered Social Worker / Psychotherapist
Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) #836661
Bachelor of Social Work
Ryerson University / Toronto Metropolitan University
Counselling Practitioner Certificate
The Academy of Modern Applied Psychology
Metacognitive Therapy Certificate
Holbeck College
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Course
International Association of Therapists
Existential Therapy, Psychotherapy & Counseling Course
Adam Godwin
Spiritual Issues with Treatment for Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder Course
Ron Ungar
Have questions?
View the FAQ for answers to individuals’ and families’ questions. If you’re ready to get started, please reserve a free consultation.