klmno
Active Member
I have googled and googled and I can't find a therapist (psychologist or other) who provides cbt to adolescents with bipolar. Actually, difficult child might not have "true bipolar", meaning he might not meet the criteria of it being a lifelong problem (although the signs are there that it could turn out that way). Anyway, right now, he needs a therapist to help him understand the cycling going on with him (which means the therapist needs to understand it himself), help with coping skills, help me with parenting strategies during periods of cycling, help difficult child understand that his father's choice to never meet him doesn't mean difficult child is "bad" and is a reflection on his father, not a "fate" for himself. It would be a great benefit if this person could also help with the school issue. Why is this so difficult? I have looked in yellow pages, gone through NAMI and BiPolar (BP) web links and everything else I can think of. I can find therapists in other cities in VA but they are 2-3 hours drive away. I'm not in a rural area. Everyone I try here is just another behavior management- kid needs to learn rules stuff. There is just too much evidence here that although difficult child isn't a saint, he is cycling and we need some understanding and strategy. Am I the only one facing this problem?
difficult child has an individual counselor now- he deals with typical teen stuff, which is helpful, but not getting to the root of the problem. Then I found one who claimed "he could help" (wish I had a dollar for every time I heard that) but he spends half the time looking befuddled and saying things like "oh, difficult child REFUSED to go to sleep" and the other half the time trying to get difficult child to talk because difficult child can't stand him. (difficult child talks his individual couns.'s head off). SSOOOO, I need to find a therapist who can help a little here.
Just frustrated- and wondering if this is a common problem for parents of kids with mood disorders.
difficult child has an individual counselor now- he deals with typical teen stuff, which is helpful, but not getting to the root of the problem. Then I found one who claimed "he could help" (wish I had a dollar for every time I heard that) but he spends half the time looking befuddled and saying things like "oh, difficult child REFUSED to go to sleep" and the other half the time trying to get difficult child to talk because difficult child can't stand him. (difficult child talks his individual couns.'s head off). SSOOOO, I need to find a therapist who can help a little here.
Just frustrated- and wondering if this is a common problem for parents of kids with mood disorders.