Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Depression

Depression can feel like a quiet weight that settles in and makes everything harder to reach—energy, desire, connection, even hope. It can leave you feeling cut off from yourself and others, as though life is happening at a distance, or in black and white. Sometimes this heaviness carries an unspoken story: of loss, disappointment, or unmet longing that’s been pushed out of awareness in order to keep going.

In therapy, we approach that story gently. Together, we make space for the feelings that have gone underground—numbness, sadness, anger, or shame—and listen for what they’re trying to tell us. I draw from psychodynamic, somatic, relational, and mindfulness-based approaches to help you reconnect with yourself and your life.

Elevated Mood

I have extensive experience working with elevated mood states, sometimes referred to as mania or hypomania, states associated with bipolar disorders. I’m familiar with the major pharmacological approaches to treatment and have experience partnering with several local medication providers.

While managing the risks associated with up mood states is of primary importance when treating the challenges that come with cyclothymia, bipolar disorder, and manic depression, I’ve found that working successfully with patients with fluctuating mood often requires acceptance of and appreciation for the creativity and sense of freedom and connectedness that accompany euphoria. I’ve found myself able to understand a great deal about what is deeply important to my patients by listening closely to what comes up for them when they are in elevated mood states. 

When I work in therapy with folks who struggle with the more challenging aspects of mood fluctuation, I start by emphasizing behavioral approaches, including but not limited to those that address exposure to light and darkness, sleep, exercise, diet, and grounding and coping skills. An early behavioral focus on mood stabilization can help patients arrive at a place where I’m able to offer a more open-ended exploration of what’s stopping them from expressing more of themselves during euthymic states.