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Treatment Guidelines

Alternative Treatments

Aside from pharmaceutical medication, there are lots and lots of treatment choices for childhood Bipolar. How do we know which are helpful, which are harmful, and which don't have much chance of working? Here is a place to sort through some information and opinion.

Talk therapy can be useful for some Bipolar children. It is important to know what kind of therapist to look for and what types of therapy typically work and which ones don't. Talk therapy can include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be very helpful in breaking the dysfunctional patterns learned while unstable.

• Play therapy is an option that works for some, especially young children or those whom are developmentally delayed. Play therapy can be used to teach coping skills, social skills, and other important concepts to surprisingly young children.

• Equine therapy has long been used for the physically handicapped but it is becoming popular and beneficial to those with emotional handicaps as well. Psychiatric equine therapy helps children build confidence and relationships, learning coping and social skills.

Occupational therapy is used to help things such as fine motor skills, address motor or tactile defensiveness, gross motor deficits and sensory integration issues that can cause frustration and exacerbate BP symptoms..

Physical therapy is geared more towards gross muscle movement patterns, balance and coordination. The methods used can often be helpful in reducing stress as an added benefit.

Light Therapy~ Bright light for seasonal depression in Bipolar Disorder.

Omega 3 Oils~ Fish oil for depression and mood stabilization.

Caution:

EMPower TrueHope~ Vitamin supplement

Natural Lithium~ Serenity and others.