Finding Balance: A Family's Journey to Treatment for Bipolar Disorder (The ORP Library) (Volume 13)

Author: Jeff KrukarPublisher: RTC PublishingPaperback:ISBN 10: 1939418763ISBN 13: 978-1939418760Everyone has good days and bad days—but for seventeen-year-old Alex Magana, the shifts between despair and elation are dramatic, and they impact every area of his life. For years, Alex has been misdiagnosed with depression. In fact, he has bipolar disorder, and the correct diagnosis is only the beginning of his journey. Along with his parents, Alex must navigate the complex physical and emotional effects of using psychotropic medication, eventually discovering that medication is only one component of a lifelong comprehensive treatment plan. Based on dozens of intensive interviews with parents and clinicians, Finding Balance shares the challenges and triumphs of using medication to help treat a significant psychiatric disorder, as well as provides invaluable education for families on similar roads. About the Author Jeffrey Krukar, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist with more than 20 years of experience working with children and families in a variety of settings, including community-based group homes, vocational rehabilitation services, residential treatment, juvenile corrections, public schools, and private practice. He earned his Ph.D. in educational psychology, with a school psychology specialization and psychology minor, from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dr. Krukar is a Think:Kids Certified Trainer in Collaborative Problem Solving, and an assistant professor at the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology. He is a registrant of the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, and is also a member of the American Psychological Association. As the psychologist at Genesee Lake School in Oconomowoc, WI, Dr. Krukar believes it truly takes a village to raise a child—to strengthen developmental foundations in relating, communicating, and thinking—so they can successfully return to their families and communities. Dr. Krukar hopes the ORP Library of disabilities books will bring to light the stories of children and families to a world that is generally not aware of their challenges and successes, as well as offer a sense of hope to those currently on this journey.