Individual Therapy for Bipolar Disorder
Clinically trained, personally lived.
Clinically trained,
personally lived.
Yuval Dinary | RSW, Psychotherapist
Yuval Dinary
RSW, Psychotherapist
Whether you’ve just been diagnosed, are rebuilding after an episode, or have been managing this for years and feel like something is still missing – this practice was built for you. Here’s what therapy with me actually looks like.
The Work
There is order behind the chaos of bipolar disorder. Once you understand it, you can work with it instead of just surviving it. That means learning to recognize the pull of mania and depression at different stages of severity, what your personal triggers are, and where your vulnerabilities tend to show up.
It means navigating the reality of this disorder – the difficulty in accepting it, the rumination on what happened during episodes, the hard time trusting yourself after psychosis, and the threats this disorder brings to your identity, your relationships, and the story you tell yourself about who you are. None of this territory is foreign to me, personally or professionally. I invite you to ask the hardest questions – the ones that can’t be fully understood by someone who hasn’t been there. In my experience, recovery goes deeper when the processing comes first. Once the bipolar threat is placed within its appropriate parameters, the skill-building follows. For some people though, the skills need to come first – it largely depends on where you are.
The skills portion includes understanding your tools, often starting with your medications. For most bipolar people, medications are the single most important tool in the kit. I’ll help you become knowledgeable on their use, develop self-advocacy in psychiatric and medical settings, and mitigate side effects.
Part of the skills includes what I call the Bipolar Walk of Shame. This is typically after a manic episode and involves repairing relationships, remedying the financial damage, trying to get your job back, all while building the strength that depression often took away. It includes managing shame and regret and putting your life back together. I think of mania as a tornado that tears your life up completely. Afterwards, you’re left with the pieces. The Bipolar Walk of Shame is putting those pieces back together – including the ones scattered within you. Then you move toward the next chapter.
We can also develop a map for navigating the psychological landscape of bipolar disorder. If to the East is mania and to the West is depression, what are the signs that you’ve walked five miles in either direction? What about ten? How do you know when to turn around? How do you build the skills to turn around when either direction is calling your name and pulling you like gravity? We can build you a simple guide to avoid entering an episode. The more you use it, the easier it becomes.
You Are Bigger Than Your Diagnosis
You are not your bipolar disorder. It didn’t create you, it’s your challenge. Everybody has challenges. The good news is that there has never been a better time to have this disorder. We have more tools and understanding for this condition than at any point in human history. We get to decide what to do with it. It can consume you if you let it but you don’t have to. We have the privilege of building the life we want without this illness getting in the way, if we do the work.
Why Specialization Matters
Every study I look at, every course I take, every clinical resource I read is focused on bipolar disorder. This isn’t one specialty among many – it’s my sole focus. What I learn helps me as it helps my clients. Specialization produces better outcomes than generalism, and bipolar disorder is specific enough to warrant it.
Some clients come to me managing both bipolar disorder and another challenge that falls outside my scope. In those cases, I work with them on the bipolar side and refer out for the rest. Knowing when to do that is part of the job.
You won’t just talk about your feelings. I don’t entertain extended pity parties. You’ll leave sessions with concrete tools, plans, a greater understanding of your condition and skills to manage it.
In Their Words
Frequently Asked Questions
Can therapy help with bipolar disorder if I'm not on medication?
Yes, and no. Therapy can absolutely help with understanding your patterns, building routines, and developing early warning systems. With that said, I won’t pretend the research isn’t clear: for the overwhelming majority of bipolar people, therapy works better alongside medication. I won’t tell you what to do, but I also won’t tell you what you want to hear about this one.
Do I have to be in Ontario for virtual therapy?
To work with me as a RSW, Psychotherapist, yes. However, I offer coaching services to those outside of Ontario. For either service, you can click here to get started.
How often would we meet?
That depends on where you are. Most clients start with me when they’re not doing well so we see each other weekly. As things stabilize, we might shift to biweekly, and eventually monthly check-ins to maintain progress and catch early warning signs before they become something bigger. My favourite client is the one I helped, they didn’t need me anymore, and then sent me an email about how great their life is going a while later.
What's your cancellation policy?
I require 24 hours notice for cancellations or rescheduling. Late cancellations and no-shows are charged the full session fee. Life happens, just communicate with me as soon as you can.
Does insurance cover therapy for bipolar disorder?
If you’re in Ontario and your plan covers Registered Social Workers, likely yes. All of my insured clients have been successfully reimbursed, but coverage varies. OHIP does not cover private psychotherapy. Receipts are provided for every session for reimbursement. Verify your coverage with your provider before booking.
If you’re outside Ontario, your insurance is unlikely to cover coaching services.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Book a free 15-minute call here.
Questions? Reach out at info@yuvaldinary.com