The Bipolar Psychologist

The Bipolar Psychologist Jo Leidreiter I Registered Psychologist | The Bipolar Psychologist. 20+ years as a psychologist helping people navigate bipolar disorder and depression.

Sharing practical tools, lifestyle hacks, and evidence-based skills to help balance your mood. As a registered psychologist based in Australia, I am committed to helping individuals worldwide access treatment for Bipolar Disorder through an integrative, evidence-based approach that focuses on both mental health and overall wellness. My practice is centered on supporting clients in achieving emotional balance, improving their mood regulation, and enhancing their quality of life. I specialise in treating Bipolar I and II, cyclothymic disorder, rapid cycling, and major depressive disorder (MDD), along with persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia). In addition to treating mood disorders, I address co-morbid conditions such as anxiety, personality disorders, and trauma, ensuring a comprehensive approach to care. My therapeutic framework includes evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Schema Therapy, and mindfulness-based techniques. I also incorporate Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT), a specialised approach designed to help individuals with Bipolar Disorder stabilise their daily routines, manage interpersonal relationships, and regulate social rhythms to prevent mood episodes. This intervention is particularly effective in reducing the recurrence of manic and depressive episodes by promoting regularity in sleep, meal times, and activity patterns. In addition to traditional therapies, I emphasise integrative lifestyle and wellness strategies, focusing on factors such as nutrition, sleep hygiene, exercise, and stress management. These strategies are designed to complement therapeutic interventions and promote long-term mental and physical well-being. Through my private practice I create a supportive, non-judgmental environment where individuals can explore their mental health challenges and work toward personal growth and stability. I offer both in-person consultations and Telehealth services worldwide, ensuring that clients have access to care wherever they are. Through my digital learning platform, My Bipolar Therapy, I am passionate about providing affordable, on-demand courses and a supportive community, making evidence-based treatment and resources more affordable and accessible for individuals living with bipolar disorder worldwide. I am actively engaged with the mental health and Bipolar Treatment community through memberships with the Australian Psychological Society (APS), the Australian Association of Psychologsts Inc (AAPi) the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD), and the Australasian Society for Bipolar and Depressive Disorders (ASBD), staying informed on the latest research and therapeutic advancements in the field.

The research: new findings from UC Berkeley show time with people protects mood, but social routine alone doesn’t steady...
01/10/2026

The research: new findings from UC Berkeley show time with people protects mood, but social routine alone doesn’t steady sleep.

What this means for you: keep reaching out, and give sleep its own care. Which small connection could you plan today? You can participate in Sheri’s other groundbreaking research on timed eating at UC Berkeley website CALM project or visit the bipolar research directory BiRD https://birdbipolar.org CALM Program

General education only. Please talk with your treating team before changing anything in your care.

What would you like to know more about today’s research?
01/10/2026

What would you like to know more about today’s research?

From ISBD 2026 in Vancouver.The research: Dr Danielle Novick presented a new review of Interpersonal and Social Rhythm T...
30/09/2026

From ISBD 2026 in Vancouver.

The research: Dr Danielle Novick presented a new review of Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy this week. It builds on trials showing a steadier daily rhythm helps people stay well for longer.

What this means for you: your routine is part of your treatment. Start with a regular wake-up time and build from there.

General education only. Please talk with your treating team before changing anything in your care.

Some key highlights from Day 1 of The International Bipolar Disorders Conference
29/09/2026

Some key highlights from Day 1 of The International Bipolar Disorders Conference

I am in Vancouver this week for  , the annual conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders,  Society fo...
27/09/2026

I am in Vancouver this week for , the annual conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD).

Three things I am listening for:

1. What the newest sleep and circadian research means for spotting mood shifts earlier
2. Psychological approaches that treat bipolar as more than a series of episodes
3. How lived experience is changing which questions researchers ask

I am a clinician, not a researcher, so my job is to bring the best of what I hear back to practice and share it in a way that is steady, practical and actually usable.

I will post my key takeaways after the conference. Attending too? Let’s connect.

ISBD

These are my essential recommended reading for patients in my clinical practice. Please share to someone else who might ...
23/09/2026

These are my essential recommended reading for patients in my clinical practice. Please share to someone else who might find these helpful. Psychoeducation really is one of the best tools you can use to manage your moods and understand your illness. Have you found others helpful? Please drop me a comment I’m always adding more to the pile!

Sleep creep…is here. Read the full essay on Substack. Link in bio.
08/09/2026

Sleep creep…is here. Read the full essay on Substack. Link in bio.

Twenty years of sitting with people living with bipolar disorder has taught me one thing.The treatment that changes live...
18/08/2026

Twenty years of sitting with people living with bipolar disorder has taught me one thing.

The treatment that changes lives exists.

Most people can't access it.

Not because they haven't tried. Because the system makes it genuinely hard. There are not enough trained clinicians in this space, long waitlists, real costs, and a model of care that still treats bipolar disorder predominatly from a psychiatry only perspective, as something to manage rather than something to understand and live well with.

That's why I built this account.

To deliver the education and psychological support that should be available to everyone living with this illness. No just the people lucky enough to find the right clinician at the right time.

Every week I'll share what I know about bipolar disorder, the science, the psychosocial treatment, the rhythms of sleep, energy and connection that shape this illness more than most people realise.

Follow if this is for you.

And tell me in the comments-what do you most want to understand about bipolar disorder?

Your answers shape what I write about.

Go steady.
Jo 🔗 Link in bio - My Steady Mind on Substack for more long form essays and the latest in research for treating bipolar.

Hashtags:

It's here. World Bipolar Day 2026.Right now, 70+ researchers, clinicians, and people with lived bipolar experience are a...
31/03/2026

It's here. World Bipolar Day 2026.

Right now, 70+ researchers, clinicians, and people with lived bipolar experience are answering questions openly on Reddit — and I'm one of them.

This is a space where you can ask the things you've been holding onto. About sleep. About energy. About relationships. About medication. About what living well with bipolar actually looks like.

No judgment. No jargon. Just honest, grounded answers.

The AMA runs for 48 hours, so there's no rush. Drop in when you're ready.

🔗 Link in bio to join the conversation on r/IAmA

Healing doesn’t always begin with big changes — sometimes it begins with a single, honest conversation. 💬Whether you're ...
19/01/2026

Healing doesn’t always begin with big changes — sometimes it begins with a single, honest conversation. 💬

Whether you're navigating bipolar disorder, emotional overwhelm, or just feeling stuck, reaching out is a powerful first step. Therapy offers a space to feel seen, heard, and supported — without judgment.

You don’t need to have it all figured out to begin.
You just need a safe place to talk — and someone willing to listen.

🕊️ Ready to take that step? I’m here.

Address

College Street
Sydney, NSW
2010

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