Telehealth services have transformed mental health care access over the past decade, making therapy available without the need for a commute. For people with mental health needs, online therapy can offer both convenience and accessibility that traditional care can’t always match.Â
However, convenience doesn’t always make for the best fit. Conditions such as bipolar disorder involve complex medication needs and potential medical emergencies, along with symptoms that may impair your judgment about when you need help or stabilization.Â
Learning more about when online therapy for bipolar disorder works well and where it may fall short can help you make more informed decisions about your treatment. A mental health professional can talk to you about the most appropriate treatment approach for your needs.Â
This page can also help you understand the ins and outs of online therapy for bipolar disorder, as it explores:Â
Bipolar I disorder involves at least one manic episode lasting several days or more, with symptoms severe enough to potentially require hospitalization. Mania is an abnormally elevated or irritable mood that features increased energy, decreased need to sleep, racing thoughts, impulsivity, and sometimes psychotic features.1Â
Bipolar II disorder involves patterns of hypomanic behavior, which is milder than mania. Hypomanic episodes last for at least four straight days and are noticeable to others, but usually don’t cause severe impairment. However, they do involve feeling more energetic and productive than usual.1Â
Both types of bipolar disorder involve depressive episodes – ongoing sadness, losing interest in activities, changes in sleep and appetite, fatigue, and possibly thoughts of death and suicide. Depressive periods often last for far longer than manic or hypomanic episodes.1Â
The following sections break down the components of how online treatment for bipolar disorder works.
Telehealth bipolar treatment occurs via HIPAA-compliant video platforms where you meet with your therapist or prescriber in real-time via a phone, tablet, or computer. These sessions function similarly to in-person appointments; you discuss your symptoms, work on therapeutic goals, and receive professional guidance.Â
Similar to in-person work, sessions usually last 45 to 60 minutes for therapy and 15 to 30 minutes for medication management.
Telemedicine for bipolar disorder patients connects you with a psychiatrist or prescriber for assessment and evaluations, along with prescribing medications and monitoring your response to treatment.Â
Prescriptions get sent electronically to your pharmacy of choice. However, lab work for medication monitoring – such as testing blood levels for mood stabilizers like lithium – can require in-person visits to labs.Â
Many online psychiatric services include some form of secure messaging to use between appointments. You can message members of your treatment team with questions or report any concerning symptoms.Â
Rather than waiting a week until your next appointment to report any emerging manic or depressive symptoms, asynchronous messaging allows you to alert your providers immediately for guidance about possible medication adjustment or the need for urgent evaluation.Â
Virtual mental health services increasingly incorporate other apps for mood tracking, medication reminders, sleep monitoring, and symptom logging.Â
Some platforms also use this health data to alert providers when any emerging patterns suggest trouble, such as a decreased need for sleep or worsening depressive symptoms. Proactive monitoring can also help catch mood episodes earlier than waiting for set appointments.Â
AMFM is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
Bipolar counseling online can effectively manage many aspects of the disorder – but telehealth services also have clear limitations that can fall short of your potential needs. The following information covers these benefits and limitations.Â
Ongoing maintenance therapy for people who are stable in managing their bipolar disorder can be an excellent choice. When your medications are working effectively and your mood episodes are under control, regular virtual check-ins with your team can help you maintain stability.Â
Bipolar support from home via virtual therapy can also help to address depression symptoms when they don’t include severe suicidal ideation or psychotic features. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and other evidence-based approaches are adaptable to video, allowing people to practice challenging negative thoughts and work on relationship issues.Â
Furthermore, mild to moderate hypomania can often be monitored and managed virtually if you maintain your overall insight and judgement. Your therapist can observe mood elevation symptoms via video and coordinate with your prescriber about any medication adjustments.Â
Medication management for people with experience managing bipolar disorder can also be successful. Your psychiatrist or ARNP will review your symptoms and discuss potential side effects, making minor adjustments and renewing your prescriptions.Â
On the whole, people who are experiencing the symptoms of bipolar disorder for the first time should not try to engage primarily through telehealth services. This also goes for those who have yet to find balance and stability in managing it, or who are experiencing mania or psychotic features.3Â
Acute manic episodes are beyond virtual care’s capabilities. Full mania can impair your judgment and cause you to act with dangerous impulsivity, all of which require immediate in-person evaluation (and potentially hospitalization) to keep you safe.Â
Similarly, for depressive episodes, any active struggles with suicidal ideation or planning to harm yourself require in-person, emergency care. While therapists can assess suicide risk through video, they can’t physically prevent you from self-harming or transport you to the ER.4Â
Additionally, any crisis stabilization or severe medication issues also require in-person services. Safety is always the first priority, especially when mood episodes are causing danger to your well-being (or the well-being of others).Â
It’s important to note that telehealth has helped to remove barriers and limitations to accessing services. This includes for people in rural areas, those with any mobility challenges, parents who struggle to arrange for child care, and anyone with challenging work schedules.Â
Accessing teletherapy can help to reduce stigma barriers for some people. Attending therapy from home can feel less intimidating than walking into an office. In other words, this privacy can encourage some people who might otherwise have avoided traditional therapeutic settings to seek help.Â
Having said that, there are several indications that your struggle might require either in-person visits or a higher level of care, including:Â
Seeking out in-person services may become necessary when your symptoms have become more than can be safely managed via telehealth. Understanding the difference between in-person, outpatient care, intensive outpatient programs, and residential treatment can help you find the level of support you need.Â
Office-based visits can offer benefits that telehealth can’t replicate. Your provider can directly observe physical symptoms at an in-person appointment, and nonverbal communication can sometimes be read more accurately face-to-face. This allows your clinicians to pick up on subtle mood shifts you may not otherwise verbalize.Â
Your physical presence also allows for more immediate crisis intervention if you’re severely distressed. Providers can coordinate emergency care and help you crisis plan in person, which can be difficult over the phone or via video.Â
Adult bipolar treatment options also include intermediate levels between outpatient and residential care, including intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs.Â
These options work well for those transitioning down from residential care or for those who have experienced worsening bipolar symptoms on an outpatient basis. This more intensive support (which still allows you to return home) can work to prevent escalation and promote ongoing stability.Â
Bipolar disorder management sometimes requires more acute care when you’re having an emergency. Inpatient care provides you with 24/7 support to stabilize any mood symptoms, introduce or manage your medication regimen, and immerse you in therapeutic activities.Â
These programs can also help address any co-occurring complications, along with removing you from the daily stressors and environments contributing to mood instability.Â
A Mission For Michael (AMFM) provides treatment for adults experiencing various conditions. Bipolar Disorder support is a phone call away – call 866-478-4383 to learn about our current treatment options.
See our residences in Southern California’s Orange County & San Diego County.
Take a look at our homes on the east side of the Metro area in Washington County.
View our facilities in Fairfax County, VA within the DC metro area.
If your journey with bipolar disorder needs attention and telehealth just isn’t enough, A Mission For Michael can provide a full spectrum of care for all your mental health and holistic needs.Â
Our programs feature the best in evidence-based care and psychiatric services, combined with holistic, total-person programs to bring you stability and hope for the future. Contact us today to find out how we can help.Â
If you still have some questions about the suitability of online therapy for bipolar disorder, the following responses to FAQs may help.Â
Most insurance plans now cover telehealth treatment at the same rates as in-person care, largely owing to the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.Â
However, coverage specifics can vary by plan and by provider. AMFM can help you decide what level of care is best for you and your unique challenges, along with assisting you in deciphering your insurance benefits and what’s covered.Â
Yes, psychiatrists and other prescribers can prescribe medications via telehealth for bipolar patients. Prescriptions can be sent electronically to your chosen pharmacy.Â
Having said that, some controlled substances can face additional regulations for telehealth prescribing, though most medications for mood disorders are not controlled and are free of such restrictions.Â
Insurance can be complicated but we are here to help. AMFM has over a decade of experience in the mental health field and is in-network with many large insurance providers.
By using our form, we can quickly determine if you are in-network at one of our facilities. Insurance benefits vary greatly depending on the policy you have, so we obtain a detailed quote of your coverage.
It usually takes between sixty to ninety minutes depending on the time of day.
Our team will check insurance coverage and determine the benefits available to you for mental health services.
We also have private pay options available.
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