Bipolar Disorder Treatment Center in Pittsburgh

Learn more about bipolar disorder treatment at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital near Pittsburgh, PA

When children and adolescents are burdened by the behavioral and emotional deficits that arise as the result of a mental health condition, they can quickly begin to feel as though their lives have fallen out of their control. Bipolar disorder is one such mental health condition that has the potential to reap countless adverse effects on a child or adolescent’s life. Understanding how challenging life can be when young people are plagued by the symptoms of bipolar disorder, Southwood Psychiatric Hospital has created specialized programming that is tailored to meet the unique and sensitive needs of young people who are struggling with the devastation that this disorder have imposed upon their lives. Through the implementation of various therapeutic techniques and treatment modalities, the highly skilled staff at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital want to help your child rediscover the joy of a life that is not tainted by the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Why consider treatment for bipolar disorder at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital near Pittsburgh, PA

When children and adolescents are suffering from bipolar disorder and are denied the opportunity to receive treatment, they are at risk for experiencing any number of negative repercussions in their day-to-day lives. Their ability to excel in school can become greatly hindered, leading to potential academic failure. Behavioral difficulties in an academic setting can lead to the onset of disciplinary action, including possible suspension or expulsion. These youth may find that they struggle to develop and maintain any type of significant interpersonal relationships, including friendships, relationships with family members, and/or romantic relationships. Their suffering from these adverse consequences can drastically lower their overall sense of self-worth and leave them feeling hopeless about their futures. Furthermore, it is extremely common for individuals with bipolar disorder to begin experimenting with drugs and/or alcohol in an attempt to self-medicate the distressing symptoms that they experience. For these reasons and more, it is imperative that treatment is sought and implemented as soon as possible so that such detriments can be successfully avoided.

Helping a loved one get treatment for bipolar disorder

Having a child who is suffering from the symptoms of bipolar disorder can be incredibly upsetting, overwhelming, and even demoralizing. It can be heart-wrenching to watch your child go from experiencing periods of elation and euphoria to experiencing periods of misery, anguish, and despair. It can be difficult not knowing what to expect from your child, and you may constantly feel as though you are walking on eggshells, never sure as to what the next day will bring. While it can be a difficult thing to accept, the most beneficial thing that you can do for your child is to seek out the professional help that he or she so desperately needs. Keep the following tips in mind:

• Educate yourself about bipolar disorder so that you can be aware of different symptoms, the various symptom severities, and the duration of time that passes during alternating episodes of moods.
• Keep track of your child’s symptoms and the length of time that passes during each manic and depressive episode so that you can relay the information to a qualified mental health professional.
• Develop a safety plan with your child so that he or she has viable options for steps that can be taken when he or she begins to feel out of control of his or her thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
• Research treatment options that may best meet your child’s needs.
• Engage your child in an open and honest conversation about his or her need for treatment so that your child has the opportunity to express how he or she feels about the process of engaging in such.
• Once treatment has begun, make sure that you are an active part of your child’s treatment process. By doing so, you are greatly enhancing the likelihood that your child will achieve successful treatment outcomes.
• Adhere to any recommendations that are given by treatment providers so that you can know how to best manage your child when he or she is at home.
• Remain unconditionally supportive and consistently remind your child that you love him or her and that you will be there for him or her regardless of what obstacles may arise.

Types of bipolar disorder treatment offered at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital near Pittsburgh, PA

As a foremost provider of child and adolescent mental healthcare, Southwood Psychiatric Hospital is devoted to providing the most effective mental health treatment, education, and assisted living services to youth who are battling emotional, behavioral, and cognitive concerns, including those associated with the presence of bipolar disorder. We believe that it is necessary to address and care for every need for each of our patients so that the most favorable treatment outcomes are the result. We believe all people are capable of change and possess the capacity to learn new skills and abilities that can serve them well for a lifetime. Based on this belief, we facilitate a therapeutic environment that is conducive to healing and change so that each youth who is entrusted into our care for the treatment of bipolar disorder has the opportunity to gain insight about his or her own life and develop positive skills for healthy functioning.

The methods for care utilized at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital include cognitive-behavioral approaches that implement crisis and reality theories. We believe that these approaches, coupled with a structured setting, produce lasting healing and promote interpersonal growth. Cornerstone to the care supplied by Southwood Psychiatric Hospital is individualized treatment planning within a therapeutic milieu that incorporates these approaches within several therapeutic methods. We also encourage each patient’s family to be involved in the therapeutic process so that every child and adolescent reaps the benefits of having ample support while bettering him or herself.

The following treatment methods are those that are featured within the programming offered at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital, methods that are proven to improve the lives of children and adolescents who are plagued by the symptoms of bipolar disorder:

Medication management: The implementation of psychotropic medications are crucial in successfully alleviating the distressing symptoms of bipolar disorder. Each individual’s particular medication needs are assessed by a psychiatrist who can then prescribe, monitor, and adjust medication in conjunction with each child’s particular needs. Additionally, medical personnel, such as nurse practitioners and nurses, assist in the supervision of medication management so that the most effective dosage of a given medication produces the most favorable results. These professionals have contact with patients on a daily basis.

Individual therapy: Held every other day on the child and adolescent inpatient units, individual therapy sessions are afforded to patients who are struggling with bipolar disorder so that one-on-one time with a mental health professional can be had in order to help each youth process emotions and monitor his or her treatment goals. This is also a time where youth have an opportunity to talk about their successes and explore areas for improvement in a confidential setting.

Family therapy: The involvement of each patient’s family is an integral part of the treatment provided at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital. We facilitate family therapy sessions at a minimum of one to two times during the course of a child’s stay in the inpatient setting. During these family therapy sessions, youth, their caregivers, and other loved ones and family members can work through familial conflicts, improve communication, and learn how to work as a team in ensuring lasting recovery from mental health concerns, such as those that arise from the presence of bipolar disorder. Additionally, we put forth every effort to make sure that each young person in our care is able to have contact with his or her family at least once each day.

Group therapy: A myriad of groups are included as part of the treatment process in our inpatient programming. Such groups allow patients who are struggling with bipolar disorder to practice new skills that have been learned, receive additional support from our staff, benefit from encouragement received by their peers, and learn new methods for managing thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. Groups are held four times a day and are led by Master’s level clinicians, nurses, and other experienced professionals. Topics covered within these groups include the following and are based upon the cognitive-behavioral therapeutic approach:

• Social skill development
• Teamwork and team building skills
• Learning effective methods for coping
• Understanding the importance of following, and learning how to follow, directions
• Recreation groups
• Stress management techniques
• Anger management
• Diagnosis education
• Medication education

Experiential therapy: In order to encourage creative expression and stress the benefits of physical activity, Southwood Psychiatric Hospital incorporates numerous experiential therapies into its inpatient programming. The following are examples of the experiential therapies that patients are able to participate in during the course of their treatment:

• Gym
• Art
• Music
• Yoga
• Outdoor recreation

Continuing care and levels of treatment for bipolar disorder

While the programming offered within Southwood Psychiatric Hospital is focused on patients being able to achieve their treatment goals, we remain dedicated to helping those who come to our hospital for care in succeeding once they have completed their treatment. From the moment a youth is admitted into one of our programs, our staff begins formulating aftercare recommendations that will meet the child or adolescent’s ongoing needs. Inpatient treatment, by nature, is designed to stabilize a youth so that the therapeutic process can continue at a lower level of care. Therefore, we conduct ongoing assessments of needs in order to ensure that referrals to another treatment provider will help a patient who is grappling with the symptoms of bipolar disorder continue his or her success long after leaving Southwood Psychiatric Hospital.

Our staff of compassionate and caring professionals will work in collaboration with each youth and his or her family to establish how the youth will retain the skills that have been learned throughout the course of treatment and which services in the community will refine and build upon those skills.

Whatever your child or adolescent’s mental health needs may be, let Southwood Psychiatric Hospital be your treatment provider of choice. We will make it our goal to help your child successfully achieve the full and happy life that he or she deserves, free from the grips of bipolar disorder.