Who I Am &
Why I Do This
I became a bipolar disorder specialist because I had to – and it became the most meaningful work I’ve ever done.
Six Years. One Focus.
I’m Yuval – a Registered Social Worker and psychotherapist based in Toronto. For the past six years, my practice has been built entirely around bipolar disorder, working with individuals living with the condition and the families who love them. That focus wasn’t accidental. It came from my own experience.
My Story
Before the practice, the training, and the six years of client work — there’s a personal story that shaped all of it. This video is the most honest account I can give of how I got here and why this work matters to me.
Learn more about:
My Philosophy
Independence First
I don't believe in lifelong weekly therapy. My job is to give you the tools, skills, and self-knowledge to manage this disorder on your own - and then get out of the way. If a client still needs weekly sessions after three years, I take that as a sign I haven't done my job effectively. The measure of good therapy isn't how long someone stays - it's how confident and capable they leave.
Lived Experience
I developed Bipolar I myself, and I bring that into my work - not as a talking point, but as a genuine resource. There are things you can only understand about this disorder by having lived through it, and that understanding changes the quality of the work. My practice is built on the belief that the most effective therapists for bipolar disorder are the ones who know it from both sides.
Recovery as Growth
Bipolar disorder asks a lot of the people who have it - and of the families around them. But I've seen, in my own life and in the lives of my clients, that the work of managing this condition, learning your patterns, building resilience, developing real self-knowledge can leave people more capable and self-aware than they might have been otherwise. That's not a silver lining. It's a genuine possibility I hold for every person I work with.
Professional Training & Credentials
The approaches listed here were chosen for their relevance to bipolar disorder and the people affected by it.
Registration & Membership
Registered Social Worker & Psychotherapist
Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) #836661
Professional Member
Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW)
Academic Background
Bachelor of Social Work
Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)
Core Clinical Training
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
The Priority Academy
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
International Association of Therapists
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Holbeck College
Metacognitive Therapy
Holbeck College
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
The Priority Academy
Additional Therapeutic Training
Existential Therapy
Adam Godwin
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
International Association of Therapists
Depression Counselling
International Association of Therapists
Mental Health Practitioner
Academy Modern Applied Psychology
Counselling Practitioner
Academy Modern Applied Psychology
Book a Free Consultation
Prefer to reach out directly?
Email me at info@yuvaldinary.com and we’ll find a time that works.