Understanding and Treating Bipolar Disorder | Insights for Therapists

Bipolar disorder can be one of the most challenging diagnoses for clinicians to understand and treat—so in this episode of the Therapist Thrival Guide, I’m sitting down with Rachel Snipes, LPC, who specializes in trauma and clinical supervision, to break it all down.

We talk through the key differences between Bipolar I and Bipolar II, how to spot symptoms, and why it’s often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. We also cover the most effective treatment approaches—like medication management, therapy, patient education, and building healthy routines.

Whether you’re a new clinician or a seasoned therapist, this conversation is packed with practical insights to help you feel more confident when working with clients navigating bipolar disorder.

OUR HOST:
Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on⁠ LinkedIn:   / miranda-barker-msw-licsw  

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellie Mental Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.⁠⁠

Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 – Introduction
00:37 – What is bipolar disorder?
01:17 – Symptoms and misconceptions
02:54 – Types of bipolar disorder (I vs II)
04:48 – How diagnosis is made
06:59 – Common challenges in diagnosis
09:03 – Understanding mania
18:21 – Why accurate diagnosis matters
22:28 – Treatment approaches that work
24:41 – Managing manic episodes
25:18 – Hospitalization considerations
26:04 – Medication & therapy options
29:10 – Routines and therapeutic strategies
32:04 – Challenges in treatment
35:23 – Compassionate diagnosis conversations
41:30 – Final thoughts & encouragement