Patients & Families
Bipolar education for you and the people who support you.
Free videos, mood charting tools, self-assessments, books and support groups, chosen by the CoBE team of bipolar specialists at CU Anschutz.
I’ve been diagnosed
Bipolar 101 videos and the Bipolar
Toolbox
Toolbox
I’ve been diagnosed
Bipolar 101 videos and the Bipolar
Toolbox
Toolbox
Free to watch
Bipolar 101: Video Series
Episode 01 · 14:01
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Chapter
00:06
Bipolar disorder defined
00:41
How many people in the world have bipolar disorder
01:04
What bodily symptoms does bipolar affect
01:20
Areas of the brain important in mood disorders
02:00
How the diagnosis of bipolar disorder is made
03:55
Symtoms: Mania
06:21
Symptoms: Depression
08:48
Differences between bipolar I and II
10:25
Unspecified bipolar disorder
11:04
Bipolar spectrum disorders
11:29
Tools helpful in making diagnosis
12:16
Making diagnosis can be difficult
Episode 02 · 07:43
Mood Charting for Adults
Chapter
00:13
What is mood charting?
00:57
Mood charting options: using paper & pencil method
02:56
Suggested mood charting apps for iOS and Android
04:16
Why keep a mood chart?
05:09
The minuses of mood charting
05:53
Tips for mood charting
Episode 03 · 07:57
Mood Charting for Children & Teens
Chapter
00:10
Bipolar disorder in children & teens
01:45
How to track different moods
02:09
Mood tracking options - paper charts & apps
04:15
Why track moods?
06:12
Tips to get the most out of mood charting
Episode 04 · 03:27
Measurement Based Care
Chapter
00:32
What is measurement-based care
01:30
Using scales
02:13
Evidence that measurement-based care works
02:49
Tools for measurement-based care
Episode 05 · 09:23
Psychotherapy for Bipolar Disorder
Chapter
00:27
General Treatment Options
01:00
Realistic Expectations
01:44
Finding an Experienced Provider
03:38
Types of Psychotherapy
04:03
Evidence-Based Treatments
04:28
Family Focused Therapy
05:41
Interpersonal Social Rhythm Therapy
06:45
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
07:15
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
07:58
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
08:40
Psychotherapy Outcomes
09:10
References
Episode 06 · 22:05
Overview of Medication Treatment Options
Chapter
00:30
4 Elements for Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
01:08
Treating 3 Different States
01:39
Treatment Process
02:17
Medication Treatment & Effects
04:25
Types of Medications
04:50
Other Common Disorders in Patients with Bipolar Disorder
06:48
FDA-Approved Medications for Bipolar Disorder
08:23
Side Effects
09:28
Controversies in Antidepressant Use for Bipolar Disorder
11:49
Anti-Anxiety Medications
13:00
Insomnia Medications
17:45
Off Label Use of Medications
18:40
Rescue Medications
19:56
Dosing
21:20
Summary
Episode 07 · 10:51
Bipolar in Children & Adolescents
Chapter
00:21
Adult vs Early-Onset Overview
00:53
Depressive Episodes
01:33
Manic Episodes
02:00
Poor Decisions Differ by Age
03:00
Children vs Teens
05:58
Treatment Options: Family Focused Therapy (FFT)
06:30
Mood Charting
07:09
Interpersonal Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT)
09:17
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
10:00
Summary
01 · 14:01
What is Bipolar Disorder?
02 · 07:43
Mood Charting for Adults
03 · 07:57
Mood Charting for Children & Teens
04 · 03:27
Measurement Based Care
05 · 09:23
Psychotherapy for Bipolar Disorder
06 · 22:05
Overview of Medication Treatment Options
07 · 10:51
Bipolar in Children & Adolescents
Free to watch
Books, apps, podcasts and common self-assessments
Self-assessment tools can provide useful information, but are not a substitute for an evaluation and interpretation by a professional.
Books & guides
8 resources
Self-assessments
4 resources
Mood charting
8 resources
Podcasts
2 resources
Find a therapist
3 resources
I’m supporting someone
Support for families
and caregivers
Supporting a spouse, child, parent or friend through a new diagnosis raises its own questions. These groups connect you with other caregivers, online and in Colorado.
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Family Support Groups
Peer-led groups for family members of people with mental health conditions
Peer-led
Family members
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Colorado Support Groups
Find a DBSA chapter or support group near you in Colorado.
In Colorado
Local chapters
Stevenson School
Parent to Parent Network
Monthly online forum offering parent-driven resources and support in real time for parents and caregivers raising emotionally complex children and young adults.
Online
Monthly
Parents & caregivers
Free Community Lecture Series
Let’s Talk About Bipolar Disorder
Five free Tuesday evenings on Zoom, Oct 13 – Nov 10, 2026, with live Q&A from the CoBE panel.