Newsletter - October 2008

Bipolar Advantage LogoMore New Videos on the Website and on YouTube:
I know many people will not get the chance to hear the talks that I give. I wanted to reach out to more people and let them hear a positive message of hope. Now almost every time that I give a public talk we take video and often produce short clips to put on our web site and on YouTube. I like putting up clips that get people to think in new ways. It is just one more way to get the message out there. Please visit http://www.youtube.com/bipolaradvantage, and pass it on! Better yet, subscribe and comment while you are there and YouTube will notify you when we put up new ones.

NEW Non Profit Organization:
We are in the process of applying to create a California Non-Profit Corporation called "Friends Of Bipolar Advantage" with 501(c)3 tax status. The new organization will handle the scholarship and volunteer programs as well as support education efforts on behalf of those dealing with mental conditions and their friends and family.

NEW Volunteer Program:
Many people have contacted us with the desire to help further our mission. Others have inquired about our scholarship programs to be able to afford our services. We have decided to combine both requests into a program that rewards those who help us spread our message. Volunteers share their time and talents to reach out to people with mental conditions and help them shift their thinking and behavior so that they can lead extraordinary lives. As part of the previously mentioned Non-Profit organization, we already have over 40 volunteers helping in many ways. There are many very simple things you can do to help on-line or over the phone. We even have a program in place where you can be rewarded with free books, videos, and even substantial workshop discounts. Please visit www.bipolaradvantage.com/AboutUs/Volunteers.php for more information and help us foster the positive behavior that can turn bipolar and depression to true advantages!

Upcoming Events:
Sign Up for Workshops Now!

Although the educational workshops can be taken separately, the complete series provides a necessary base of knowledge as well as a shift in thinking that leads to success. The complete education program is for those who experience mental health conditions as well as those who love and support them.

Saturday, November 22, 2008 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Tom Wootton will facilitate Bipolar In Order. This is the foundation course for the Bipolar Advantage workshops. In a cooperative, friendly, interactive environment, Tom guides participants through defining a life worth striving for. The steps to get there are presented as a clear and logical path. Lectures are replaced with guided discussions, games, mental exercises, and visualizations. A must for those with bipolar or depression, their families, and friends. This workshop is an essential step for those therapists interested in working with Bipolar Advantage.

"The problem is not that we are mentally ill; The problem is that we experience 150% of what 'normal' people do and we are frustrated that we have not yet learned how to handle it." - Tom Wootton


Sunday, November 23, 2008 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Dr. Peter Forster MD. graduate psychiatric instructor for UCSF and founder of Gateway Psychiatric will teach "The biopsychosocial model of assessment and treatments." This is a rare opportunity to spend a day with one of the top psychiatrists in this field. He has a lot of material to share with you. Dr. Forster will give you tools to work with and will share his concepts of working collaboratively toward turning mental conditions to your advantage.

"The biopsychosocial model is both a philosophy of clinical care and a practical clinical guide. Philosophically, it is a way of understanding how suffering, disease, and illness are affected by multiple levels of organization, from the societal to the molecular. At the practical level, it is a way of understanding the patient's subjective experience as an essential contributor to accurate diagnosis, health outcomes, and humane care." Francesc Borrell-Carrio

Bipolar Advantage workshops are held in the Bay Area. All learning materials are provided. Lunch is provided. Lodging is not included. Clothing is casual. Atmosphere is friendly, professional, confidential. Space is limited. Registrations and payments must be completed before attending. CEU credits are available for MFT and LCSW.

Early Registration Fee for one day is $325. Early Registration Fee for the weekend is $545. Bipolar Advantage has a great scholarship program so be sure to contact us and don't let pricing keep you from attending.

Please Call Us Today or send us contact us to Register Now! Space is limited and Early Registration Discounts are available. Visa and MasterCard are accepted.

If you are interested in enrolling for the complete Assessments and Treatment portions of the Advantage Program, contact us at 415-992-5315. Assessments and Treatment programs are designed on an individual basis.

Bipolar Advantage Newsletter Team
PO Box 923
Tiburon, CA 94920