The Unpredictable Teen: Helping Teens Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder

Format

Individual Presentation

Presenters

Jacqueline Robinson, Mercer UniversityFollow
Kenyon C. Knapp Sr., Mercer UniversityFollow

Location

Vernon

Strand #1

Mental & Physical Health

Relevance

This proposal relates to “Health”: Mental and Physical Health because it directly addresses means of counseling treatment for teens diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Further the proposal gives information to lay individuals (teachers, parents, school counselors) concerning recognizing symptoms of Bipolar Disorder and actions/approaches to be taken in helping teens with Bipolar Disorder.

Brief Program Description

• Target Audience- Parents, Teachers, Child and Adolescent Counselors, School Counselors, Family Therapists.
• Objectives- 1) Draw distinction for participants in difference between controllable behaviors vs. uncontrollable symptoms of a disorder. Aid participants in recognizing the warning signs of Bipolar Disorder. 2) Teach effective interpersonal interaction with teens with Bipolar Disorder. 3) Teach steps of deescalating a Bipolar Teen. 3) Integrate Marsha Linehan’s, DBT model of treatment into treatment with a Bipolar teen. 6) Participants will learn how to empower Bipolar teens through encouraging/teaching taking personal responsibility for their illness.
• Topic: Bipolar Disorder treatment with teens.

Summary

Recognizing Bipolar Disorder: This portion of the presentation is intended to benefit professionals and nonprofessionals. Here there is a distinction made between teen behaviors such as laziness, lack of motivation, anger, and actuals DSM-V symptoms of Bipolar Disorder. Diagnostic criteria will be taught. There will be specific focus on symptoms of Mania and Depression that may be misinterpreted by the support system yielding a potentially undiagnosed Bipolar teen. Examples, of some of the symptoms may include, changing clothes multiple times, specific interest in new projects, spurts of success in school followed by spurts or low performance in school, staying up late, and irritability. Participants will be provided with handouts that indicate differences. Participants will learn about “cycling”(mood changes) and the significance of understanding the potentially detrimental effects rapid mood changes. Participants will gain an understanding of signs that a teen is in need of referral to a professional mental healthcare provider. Effective ways to interact with a Bipolar teen when symptoms are present will also be taught during this presentation. Deescilation and non threatening communication will be taught in conjunction with a clinical focus on Dialectical and Behavioral Therapy. Professionals will learn how to simply apply Dialectical and Behavioral Techniques in sessions with teens. Participants will be provided with a folder to use as a guide for organizing sessions when treating Bipolar Disorder. This portion will also discuss the importance of mood charting and sleep hygiene in treating Bipolar Disorder. Empowering a teen with Bipolar Disorder: Participants will learn the importance of educating teens about Bipolar Disorder. It is important for teens to understand that parents are a safe healthy support system but they need to start to see the Disorder as their own and take responsibility for learning how to cope with it. There will be key coping techniques taught that professionals and parents can teach teens to use when symptoms are present.

Evidence

The proposal is based on known research because the Dialectical and Behavioral Therapy model of treatment is widely. There has been an array of studies conducted on the use of this model with Individuals Diagnosed Bipolar. The model has been suggested to be both effective and practical in the treatment of Bipolar Disorder.

Biographical Sketch

Kenyon C. Knapp, Ph.D., LPC, NBCC, CPCS is the Assistant Coordinator for the Doctoral Counseling Program and Associate Professor of Counseling at Penfield College of Mercer University, Atlanta campus, where he teaches Masters and Ph.D. level counseling courses. He has had a part-time private practice for over 18 years, and has worked in numerous counseling settings. He currently serves as a board member for CACREP, the national accreditation body for the counseling field. He has specialties in the areas of crisis counseling, sexual addiction counseling, and Christian counseling. However, his greatest joy and accomplishments come in the form of his wife and four children, who keep him practical, multitasking, and very grateful.

Jacqueline Robinson obtained a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Richmont Graduate University (Formerly the Psychological Studies Institute) and a BA in psychology from Spelman College. She is an Associate Professional Counselor and is currently pursuing credentials as a Nationally Certified Counselor and licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy. Jacqueline has worked extensively in the field of counseling and mental health and is in practice at Trillium Springs Counseling under the direction and supervision of Vilda S. Brannen, M.S., LPC in Atlanta. Theoretical orientations used by Jacqueline in practice are integrative and may include cognitive behavioral therapy, Structural and Behavioral Family Therapy, and Solution Focused therapy. Jacqueline specializes in Marriage and Family Therapy and the treatment of Bipolar Disorder.

Keyword Descriptors

Teenagers, Bipolar Disorder, Warning signs, Symptoms, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Marsha Linehan, Rapid cycling, Mood swings, Mania, Manic, Depression

Presentation Year

2015

Start Date

3-2-2015 10:30 AM

End Date

3-2-2015 11:45 AM

Recommended Citation

Robinson, Jacqueline and Knapp, Kenyon C. Sr., "The Unpredictable Teen: Helping Teens Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder" (2015). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 162.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2015/2015/162