• Age: 13 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12

When you have bipolar disorder, it can sometimes seem like mood swings are keeping you from being the person you want to be. You may alternate between feelings of depression and overexcitement even though what you really want is to find a healthy balance between the two. This easy-to-use workbook presents a set of skills you can learn that will help you find that balance, become more independent, and stay focused on the big-picture goals that are most important to you.

The Bipolar Workbook for Teens includes exercises and worksheets that will help you learn skills drawn from a special technique called dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). DBT skills can help people with bipolar disorder improve their relationships with friends and family and calm themselves when their emotions get really overwhelming.

Working through this book will help you:

•Recognize and respond to your emotional triggers •Create a crisis plan and find support•Get a handle on addictive behavior•Maintain friendships and get along with your family

Sheri Van Dijk's profile page

Karma Guindon's profile page

Sheri Van Dijk, MSW, is a mental health therapist in private practice at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, ON, Canada. She specializes in the treatment of bipolar disorder and other psychiatric disorders using dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and mindfulness practice. She is author of The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bipolar Disorder. Visit her online at www.sherivandijk.com

Karma Guindon, MSW, RSW, RMFT, is a clinical social worker and registered marriage and family therapist in private practice at a child and family mental health program at Southlake Regional health Centre in Newmarket, ON, Canada. She uses an integrative and collaborative therapeutic approach with the children, adolescents , adults, families, and couple who meet with her for psychotherapy. She is also in doctoral studies in social work at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ketchener, ON.

“The Bipolar Workbook for Teens offers potent support for youth struggling with bipolar disorder, empowering them with knowledge and practical tools for their journey towards self-acceptance and self-knowledge.”
—Shirley Eyles, mental health nurse, certified Theraplay therapies in private practice and coauthor of Applications of Family and Group Theraplay

“This is an excellent, easy-to-read workbook for teens suffering from bipolar disorder. Teens will identify with the client scenarios shared in this book. It presents a straight forward approach to gaining knowledge about the illness, learning the tools to help overcome symptoms, and practicing exercises to establish new thought patterns and behaviors. Used in conjunction with medication, the knowledge and exercises in this book will help teens prevent deterioration, take control of the symptoms of bipolar disorder, and optimize their quality of life.”
—Linda Jeffrey, RN, cognitive behavior therapist in private practice and manager of Crisis Services of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Simcoe County Branch

“I highly recommend this excellent workbook, not only for teens diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but also for those experiencing troublesome mood swings. Readers will learn essential skills to manage those symptoms. This workbook is user-friendly, well-organized, encouraging, and based in research.”
—Francine Brill, MD, FRCP(C), child and adolescent psychiatrist at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, ON, Canada

“The authors of this book speak directly to youth in a respectful and genuine manner. There is tremendous value in reading stories of other teens who have shared similar experiences. This book is truly welcome addition to the educational resources available to adolescents who live with the complex difficulties of bipolar disorder.”
—Janice Phillips, B.Ed., educator and mental health social worker