Book now
What We Help With

Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder Support

Book an appointment
a woman in a consultation with a professional psyc 2026 01 08 06 42 59 utc converted
Learn

Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder Support

Psychosis can occur in conditions including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar affective disorder. These experiences may affect a person’s thoughts, perceptions, emotions, energy and everyday life. Living with these experiences can feel overwhelming, but support is available, and with the right help many people manage well and rebuild their confidence.
What is psychosis?

Psychosis is a term for experiences where a person loses some contact with reality. It can involve hallucinations, which means seeing, hearing or sensing things that other people do not, and delusions, which are strongly held beliefs that are not based in shared reality. A person may also find that their thoughts feel muddled or hard to follow.

Psychosis can occur in conditions including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar affective disorder, and it may affect a person’s thoughts, perceptions, emotions, energy and everyday life.

Signs of psychosis can include hearing or seeing things that other people do not, holding beliefs that others do not share, finding it hard to think clearly, and changes in feelings, motivation or behaviour. An episode may build up gradually or come on more quickly, and getting support early can make a real difference.

Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that can involve psychosis, along with changes in thinking, feelings and behaviour. It affects people in different ways and looks different from one person to the next.
Schizoaffective disorder involves a combination of psychotic experiences, such as hallucinations or delusions, and mood-related changes, such as depression or periods of very high mood.

Bipolar disorder, also known as bipolar affective disorder, is a condition that affects a person’s mood. It can bring episodes of low mood, or depression, as well as periods of unusually high or elevated mood, known as mania or hypomania. During more severe episodes, some people also experience psychosis. These changes in mood and energy can affect sleep, concentration, relationships and everyday life.

During a low period, a person may feel sad, tired or hopeless, or lose interest in things they usually enjoy. During a high period, they may feel elated or irritable, have lots of energy, need less sleep, think or talk quickly, or take risks they would not usually take. Between episodes, many people feel more settled.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, is a talking therapy that looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour. At Well Mind People, we offer specialist CBT to help people make sense of their experiences, reduce distress and develop effective ways of managing.

Therapy aims to promote recovery, build confidence and help people move forward with greater ease. CBT is usually structured and practical. It often involves working together to understand difficult experiences, notice patterns that add to distress, and build coping strategies that fit each person’s life, at a pace that feels manageable.

Psychosis and bipolar disorder affect not only the person experiencing them, but also the people who care about them. We also support families and loved ones affected by these conditions, helping them understand what is happening and feel more confident in how to help.

Support for families and loved ones can include help to understand what is happening, guidance on how to respond, and space to look after their own wellbeing too.
You do not have to wait for a crisis to ask for help. If psychosis or changes in mood are affecting your thoughts, relationships, work or day to day life, talking to a professional can help you understand what is happening and find a way forward. Support is available whether these experiences are new or something you have lived with for a long time.

We offer support from our clinics in Wallingford, Reading, Thame and Mortimer, as well as online appointments.

To arrange an appointment or ask a question, please get in touch.
If you or someone you know is in crisis or at immediate risk, contact your GP, call NHS 111, or in an emergency call 999. You can also call Samaritans free on 116 123 at any time.
Book an appointment
woman consoling friend during difficult time
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is psychosis?
Psychosis is a term for experiences where a person loses some contact with reality, such as hallucinations or delusions. It can occur in conditions including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar affective disorder.
Bipolar disorder, also known as bipolar affective disorder, is a condition that affects mood. It can cause episodes of low mood and periods of unusually high or elevated mood, and during severe episodes some people may also experience psychosis.
We offer specialist CBT to help people make sense of their experiences, reduce distress and develop effective ways of managing. Therapy aims to promote recovery, build confidence and help people move forward with greater ease.
Yes. We also support families and loved ones affected by these conditions.
Therapy aims to promote recovery, build confidence and help people move forward with greater ease.
Book an appointment