Overview

When a sudden onset of manic episodes lands her in a psychiatric ward, what is a an established, respected psychotherapist to do? With an otherwise firm sense of self and an openness to new insights, Berger confronts the stumbling blocks of shame and stigma. A series of close friends and mentors stand by her through challenges with abusive colleagues, conflicted relationships with men, estrangement from her mother, and confusion about what truly matters. The Bipolar Therapist is the only memoir that shows a complete recovery from bipolar disorder and describes how the author's times as a psychiatric inpatient influenced her work positively as a psychotherapist serving psychiatric and alcoholic inpatients. Berger's story hinges upon resilience, perseverance, drive, and courage.

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Reviews

"""The Bipolar Therapist takes some of the mystery out of bipolar disorder. Many people fear or are uncomfortable around -mentally ill people when they act differently from the norm. By describing her times of madness and her resulting insights, Berger enhances understanding and helps decrease the shame that people with similar challenges often experience. This memoir takes on a serious topic, seasoning it with excitement, humor, and hope."" - Edward M. Hallowell, MD, author of Because I Come from a Crazy Family: The Making of a Psychiatrist ""As a psychiatrist working in a hospital that treats people with severe mental illnesses, I can say stigma is a major topic in psychiatry. Bipolar disorder has been gaining more acceptance recently. Yet there's a long way to go before people who have it or another mental illness will get the respect and compassion that people with a physical disease receive. By telling her story in an accessible way in The Bipolar Therapist, Berger brilliantly advances this cause."" - Saul Gorman, MD ""Fast-paced and stimulating, a must read! With unflinching honesty, Marcia Naomi Berger recounts in her latest book, The Bipolar Therapist, which reads like a novel, her downward spiral into the abyss and her courageous road to recovery.""- Nancy Rosenfeld, co-author of New Hope for People with Bipolar Disorder ""As a psychologist who's treated many patients with bipolar disorder, I congratulate Marcia Naomi Berger, LCSW, for writing this book. She shows that people with this illness can conquer its challenges and lead full, multifaceted lives. As more people bypass secrecy and share their mental illness-related journeys, we'll see less shame and more self-acceptance and pride."" - Pamela Butler, PhD, author of Talking to Yourself: How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Can Change Your Life ""In her well-written book, The Bipolar Therapist, Berger shares her struggle with bipolar disorder during her twenties and thirties. By courageously telling her personal triumph over adversity, she addresses the stigma of mental illness. Berger's story assists in the movement to replace prejudice against those with mental illness with respect, compassion, and understanding. Bravo!"" - Linda Bloom, co-author of An End to Arguing ""Marcia Naomi Berger's first-person account of her journey and transformation is courageous. As she writes, 'Someone with mental illness is much bigger and more complex than their diagnosis.' "" - Francis Lu, MD, Kim Professor in Cultural Psychiatry, Emeritus, UC Davis ""Berger's voice is direct, authentic, and spare, yet full of life and intelligence. I am fascinated and uplifted."" - Carol Olicker, MSW ""Berger's compelling memoir lifts the veil hiding the truth about many therapists who we may think are more psychologically healthy than ourselves."" - Francine Falk-Allen, author of Not a Poster ChildThis heartwarming, insightful, and brave story depicts one woman's struggle with and victory over mental illness. Berger inspires us to have hope in the face of seemingly unexplainable symptoms. Beautifully written to touch the soul. - Lyn Barrett, Author of Crazy: Reclaiming Life from the Shadow of Traumatic Memory"

Author Information

Marcia Naomi Berger (n�e Fisch), LCSW, is a psychotherapist who helps couples and others create fulfilling relationships. She also wants to help replace the stigma around mental illness with compassion, understanding, and respect. Berger wrote this memoir after decades of keeping her struggle with bipolar disorder a secret. She wants people with mental illness to know they are not alone and to make her story readily available to their family members, therapists, friends, and others.The Bipolar Therapist shows Berger's conflict about marrying and its resolution. She became fascinated by how to keep a relationship thriving and shares this knowledge with clients in her private psychotherapy practice. Berger lives in San Rafael, California. While employed by the City and County of San Francisco, she held senior-level positions in the fields of child welfare, alcoholism treatment, and psychiatry. She also served as executive director of a family service agency and as a lecturer at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine.She enjoys swimming, pickleball, Feldenkrais exercises, mahjong, bananagrams, and watching old Mary Tyler Moore television shows. Berger is the author of Marriage Meetings for Lasting Love and Marriage Minded: An A to Z Dating Guide for Lasting Love. www.marcianaomiberger.com

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