clarity clinic

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders encompass a range of conditions that affect an individual's emotional state, leading to persistent changes in mood and overall well-being. At Clarity Clinic, we recognize the profound impact that mood disorders can have on an individual's quality of life. Our comprehensive treatment program is designed to provide effective strategies and support for individuals struggling with mood disorders.
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Understanding Mood Disorders

Mood disorders are complex psychological disorders in which individuals exhibit uncharacteristic alterations in mood. The symptoms and severity of mood disorders vary from person to person, and they can affect individuals’ daily lives and inhibit their ability to carry out routine tasks.

Symptoms are manifested physiologically and cognitively, and they include racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping and/or needing to sleep less, emotional sensitivity, and changes in appetite amongst others. When people exhibit a combination of symptoms, it can incite a mood episode; which is an unusually intense emotional state that occurs for a distinct period of time.

Each mood episode represents a drastic change from a person’s usual mood or behavior, and the cultivation of these episodes is what typifies a mood disorder. Mood disorders, specifically depression and bipolar disorders, are fairly common and fortunately, they are treatable.

Treatment options include medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Because mood disorders, their symptoms, and the severity of symptoms are unique to each individual, treatment is highly personalized and handled on a case-by-case basis. The goal of personalized treatment is to provide individuals with the support and cognitive frameworks necessary to control their mood episodes.

Classifying & Identifying a Mood Disorder

Classifying and accurately identifying mood disorders is difficult because they have many neurobiological, behavioral, and psychological etiological pathways unique to each individual. Individuals’ varying pathways result in the development of different symptoms. Symptoms are manifested physiologically and cognitively, and they include:

Physiological Symptoms

  • Weight loss (expressed as failure to achieve expected weight gains in children)
  • Insomnia/Hypersomnia
  • Psychomotor agitation or deferral
  • Fatigue or decreased energy levels daily

Cognitive Symptoms

  • Depressed mood (expressed as irritability in children)
  • Decreased interest or pleasure in activities
  • Excessive guilt or feelings of worthlessness
  • Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly
  • Suicidal ideation

Mood disorders are distinguished by the extent and severity of a person’s symptoms, and diagnoses are defined by the patterns of an individual’s mood disturbances observed through time.

These periods of disturbed mood are referred to as mood episodes, and they are the product of individuals’ physical and cognitive symptoms interacting or interfering with their daily lives. Episodes can last anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months. People that have mood disorders will have likely experienced multiple mood episodes in the past.

Types of Mood Disorders

There are different types of episodes, and clinicians match the type of mood episodes with their frequency to identify an individual’s disorder. There are manic or hypomanic episodes, depressive episodes, and mixed episodes. In a manic or hypomanic episode, individuals may experience an increase in self-esteem, a decreased need for sleep, be more talkative than usual, increase their goal-oriented activity, and impulsively engage in risky behaviors they deem pleasurable.

In a depressive episode, individuals may have: a prolonged depressed mood decreased interest and pleasure in most activities, substantial weight losses/gains, insomnia/hypersomnia, psychomotor complications, persistent fatigue, feelings of excessive guilt or worthlessness, indecisiveness, difficulty concentrating, and suicidal ideation. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, we urge you to contact emergency services immediately.

Finally, in a mixed episode, individuals experience symptoms of manic and depressive episodes simultaneously, or in rapid succession of each other.

Depressive Disorders

Depressive disorders are the most prominent type of mood disorder, and patients can achieve full remission from their symptoms with proper therapy. Major Depressive Disorder is characterized by one or more major depressive episodes.

A major depressive episode (MDE) occurs when an individual experiences a depressed mood or lost interest accompanied by at least four other symptoms of depression for at least two weeks. Dysthymic disorder occurs when individuals experience two or more years of depressed mood for most days during that period, in addition to other symptoms that do not meet the criteria of a major depressive episode.

Bipolar Disorders

Bipolar disorders are marginally less common than depressive disorders. While bipolar disorders are technically incurable, treatment will help those with bipolar disorder to control their symptoms.

Bipolar I Disorder occurs when individuals endure one or more manic or mixed episodes, which are usually accompanied by major depressive episodes. Bipolar II Disorder is typified by one or more major depressive episodes followed by at least one hypomanic or manic episode. Cyclothymic disorder occurs when people exhibit symptoms of hypomania and depression for two or more years.

Medically and Substance-induced Mood Disorders

Medically and substance-induced mood disorders are also fairly common. Medically induced mood disorders present a prominent and persistent disturbance in mood as the direct result of a medical condition. The severity and length of the condition are relative to the medical condition of an individual.

Substance-induced mood disorders induce a prominent and persistent mood disturbance as a direct consequence of drug abuse, medication, toxin exposure, or any other somatic treatment for depression. Substance-induced mood disorders are typically impermanent but are relative to how long an individual is exposed to the substance responsible for creating the disorder.

Evidence-Based Therapies for Mood Disorders

Our mood disorders treatment is rooted in evidence-based therapies that have shown effectiveness in managing and alleviating symptoms. We offer a range of therapeutic approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based techniques, and more. These therapies aim to equip individuals with practical tools to identify negative thought patterns, regulate emotions, and develop healthier coping strategies.

Group Therapy for Mood Disorders

Living with a mood disorder can be isolating, but you don't have to navigate it alone. Our treatment for mood disorders provides a supportive and understanding environment where individuals can connect with others who share similar experiences. Group therapy sessions offer a space for sharing, learning, and building a sense of community, fostering a sense of belonging and reducing feelings of isolation.

Medication Management for Mood Disorders

Medication is prescribed as a supplement to psychotherapy to help combat the physiological symptoms of mood disorders. It is important that individuals on prescription drugs take them as prescribed, and conduct medication management reviews with their respective clinicians. If any prescription drug is taken abusively, it can worsen an individual’s condition, and hamper their ability to recover from their condition.

Our experienced psychiatrists at Clarity Clinic are skilled in medication management, carefully evaluating the need for pharmacological intervention and tailoring medication plans to suit each individual's specific needs. Medication, when combined with therapy, can help restore the brain's chemical balance and improve overall emotional well-being.

The most commonly prescribed medications for mood disorders include:

  • Antidepressants
  • Mood Stabilizers
  • Atypical Antipsychotics

How to Help a Loved One with a Mood Disorder

The best thing that you can do for a loved one with a mood disorder is to encourage them to remain in treatment. Treatment is their only option for sustaining long-term control of their symptoms because the likelihood of relapsing symptoms is extremely high. The following options provide a sturdy framework on which you can base your support:

  • Offer continued emotional support, understanding, patience, and encouragement
  • Educate yourself about their disorder. This will give you a better understanding of
    their daily struggles.
  • Talk to them and listen very carefully to what they say about their feelings and/or
    condition
  • Listen to the feelings they express, and try and be understanding about the
    situations that trigger their symptoms
  • Help them engage in positive distractions.
  • Gently remind them that, with time and treatment, their condition will improve.

Taking the First Step: Your Journey to Emotional Wellness

If you or a loved one is struggling with a mood disorder, seeking help is a sign of strength. Clarity Clinic, the best mental health clinic in Chicago, is here to provide comprehensive and compassionate support on your journey to emotional wellness. Apart from providing leading treatment for mood disorders in adults, we also provide treatment for disruptive mood dysregulation disorder in children.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment and take the first step towards empowering yourself or your loved one to overcome the challenges of a mood disorder.

Mood Disorders Providers

Laura
Laura Valiukenas, LCSW
Clinical Supervisor
Nikhil
Nikhil Verma, MA
Therapy
Evelia
Evelia Czarnik, LPC
Therapy
Anisha
Anisha Monga, MA
Therapy
Lauren
Lauren Juarez-Duran, MSW
Therapy
Sarah
Sarah Hand, LSW
Therapy
Ian
Ian Dowdy, MA
Therapy
Carson
Carson Vasile
Therapy Clinical Intern
Stefan
Stefan Dabizljevic, LSW
Therapy
Patrick
Patrick Arant, MA
Therapy Clinical Intern
Mackenzie
Mackenzie Liotta, MA
Therapy Clinical Intern
Prezley
Prezley Pietszak, MA, LPC
Therapy Clinical Intern
Terese
Terese Daly, LPC
Therapy
Camryn
Camryn McKee, LPC, MS, Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC)
Therapy
Stephanie
Stephanie Michalski, LSW
Therapy
Giedre
Giedre Antanaitis-Rudawski, MA
Therapy
Kortney
Kortney Genske, MA
Therapy
Caroline
Caroline Frogozo, MA, LPC
Therapy Clinical Intern
Peyton
Peyton Pazera
Therapy Clinical Intern
Serena
Serena Etcheson, MSW
Therapy
Hana
Hana Khan, LSW
Therapy
De'Ayne
De'Ayne Scaife, LSW
Therapy
Jasmine
Jasmine Barlow, MA
Therapy Clinical Intern
Amanda
Amanda Fox, LCPC
Therapy
Sophia
Sophia Frane, MA
Therapy Clinical Intern
Amanda
Amanda Stephans, LCSW, MSW
Therapy
Elin
Elin Seay
Therapy Clinical Intern
Natalie
Natalie Eden, LCPC
Therapy
Jack
Jack Kim
Therapy Clinical Intern
Natasha
Natasha Hingorani
Therapy Clinical Intern
Karen
Karen Schmitz
Therapy Clinical Intern
Michael
Michael White
Therapy Clinical Intern
Shahera
Shahera Khan
Therapy Clinical Intern
Jenny
Jenny Mantis, LCSW, MBA
Therapy
Bryanna
Bryanna Tartt, LCSW, CADC
Therapy
Nicholas
Nicholas Oliva, PsyD
Post Doctoral Fellow
Alexandra
Alexandra Gremp, LPC, MEd, PEL
Therapy
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Black, LCPC
Director of Clinical Therapy
Ross
Ross Pepper, MD
Psychiatrist
Jessica
Jessica Selk, LPC
Therapy
Anish
Anish Desai, MD
Psychiatrist
Reid
Reid Alley, MD
Psychiatrist
Sheena
Sheena Patel, PA-C
PA-C
Eldina
Eldina Okic, LCPC
Therapy
Ryan
Ryan Atkins, PA-C
Psychiatry
Kaitlyn
Kaitlyn Ehler, LSW
Therapy
Hannah
Hannah Wychocki, PA-C
PA-C
Maisha
Maisha Lowery, LCPC
Therapy
Lauren
Lauren Isdale, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Hope
Hope Hirsch, LPC
Therapist
Nathaniel
Nathaniel Epstein, MA
Therapist
Gabriella
Gabriella Lerner, PA-C
PA-C
Cyrus
Cyrus Ma, PA-C
PA-C
Maggie
Maggie Semprevivo, LSW
Therapy
Kamille
Kamille Haywood, LSW
Therapy
Zubair
Zubair Khan, PA-C
PA-C
Michelle
Michelle Augoustatos, LCSW
Therapy
Zachary
Zachary Delgado, LSW
Therapy
Jordyn
Jordyn Pope, MA
Therapist
Laurel
Laurel Meiborg, LSW
Therapy
Haley
Haley Tarling, LPC
Therapist
Debby
Debby Fox, LPC
Therapist
Raul
Raul Andrade, MA
Therapist
Sarah
Sarah Tarabey, LCPC
Therapist
Kumail
Kumail Hussain, MD
Young Adult and Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist
Kyla
Kyla Goggin, LCSW
Therapist
Jaimee
Jaimee Jaucian, LCPC, BC-DMT
Therapy
Yenisis
Yenisis De Los Santos, LSW
Therapy
Sloan
Sloan Kodroff, LCPC
Therapist, Clinical Supervisor
Rahael
Rahael Mathew, LCPC
Therapist
Emma
Emma Arsic, PA-C
PA-C
Paul
Paul Bamberger, PA-C
PA-C
Tonie
Tonie White, LCSW
Therapy
Jason
Jason Brescia, LCPC
Therapy
Sankrant
Sankrant Reddy, MD
Psychiatrist
Virginia
Virginia Harren, LCPC
Clinical Supervisor
Stephanie
Stephanie Osborne, PA-C
Psychiatry
Ashley
Ashley Seredynski, PA-C
PA-C
Christine
Christine Lantin, PA-C
PA-C
Brittney
Brittney Segoviano, LCPC
Therapist
Callie
Callie Perlman, LPC, NCC
Therapist
Maria
Maria Vasilopoulos, LPC, NCC
Therapy
Chad
Chad Gaynier, LCPC
Therapist
Bianca
Bianca Miller, LCPC
Therapist
Sean
Sean Saltzberg, LCSW
Therapist, Clinical Supervisor
Timothy
Timothy Kaatman, MD
Psychiatry
Sudhakar
Sudhakar Shenoy, MD
Adult and Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist
Tara
Tara Meidinger, LCPC, CADC
Therapist
Sharon
Sharon Koys, PA-C
PA-C
Sara
Sara Fakhri, MA
Therapy
Veronika
Veronika Schroeder, MA
Therapy
Shanta
Shanta Gomez, LSW
Therapy
Reggie
Reggie Pacheco, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Sarah
Sarah Beerman, LCSW, CADC
Therapist
Renie
Renie Stoller-Zak, LCPC
Therapy
Sahar
Sahar Eftekhar, DO
General & Addiction Psychiatrist
Rebecca
Rebecca Gilfillan, MD
Psychiatrist
Rebecca
Rebecca Kuhn, PA-C
PA-C
Shelby
Shelby Gordon, LCSW
Therapy
Sonnie
Sonnie Cousins, MA
Therapy
Nicole
Nicole Ortiz, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Raymond
Raymond Monge, LPC, NCC
Therapy
Elana
Elana Horowitz, PA-C
PA-C
Pavan
Pavan Prasad, MD
Psychiatrist
Melissa
Melissa Melzer, LPC
Therapy
Mary
Mary Leighton, LPC
Therapy
Raymond
Raymond Myles, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Michael
Michael Colombatto, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Lovea
Lovea Smith, LCPC
Director of Therapy– Loop
Leslie
Leslie Wolf, LCPC
Therapist
Lindsey
Lindsey Ashamalla, PsyD
Post Doctoral Fellow
Khrystyna
Khrystyna Helner, LPC, MBA
Therapist
Laura
Laura Schroeder, LCPC
Therapist
Katerina
Katerina Fager, LCPC
Clinical Specialist
Kelli
Kelli Lo, LSW
Therapy
Kiran Binal
Kiran Binal Maharaja, MD
Psychiatrist
Karen
Karen Richardson, LCSW, ICDVP
Therapy
Keri
Keri Perillo, LCPC, CADC
Therapy
Lizzie
Lizzie Ausland, LCPC, CADC
Therapist
Kimberlie
Kimberlie Kuehne, LCPC
Therapy
Kalyan
Kalyan Rao, MD
Psychiatrist
Jonathan
Jonathan Kolakowski, MD
Psychiatrist
Judy
Judy Bitzer, LCPC
Therapist
Kaitlyn
Kaitlyn Delaney, MA, ATR-P
Therapy
James
James Histed, MA
Therapist
Julia
Julia Ray, MA
Therapy
Jessica
Jessica Masbaum, LCSW
Therapist, Clinical Supervisor
Erika
Erika Bielenstein, LCPC
Therapist
Janel
Janel Wenger, AMFT
Therapist
Jeanette
Jeanette Marinier, PA-C
PA-C
Jamie
Jamie Schubert, PA-C
PA-C
Sherita
Sherita Hernton, PA-C
PA-C
Julie
Julie Daley, MSW
Therapist
Emily
Emily Maurer, LCPC
Therapist
Frank
Frank Sassetti, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Emily
Emily Street, PA-C
PA-C
Emily
Emily Shelton, LCPC, LMHC, CADC, CAGCS, CRSS
Therapy
Eric
Eric Buchkoe, PsyD
Post Doctoral Fellow
Tyler
Tyler Basham
Therapy Clinical Intern
Liz
Liz Russell, MA
Therapist
Savannah
Savannah Sullivan, PA-C
PA-C
Summer
Summer Slininger, PA-C
PA-C
Ravali
Ravali Poreddy, MD
Psychiatrist
Ariella
Ariella Panos, PA-C
PA-C
James
James Ham, PA-C
Psychiatry
Rayna
Rayna Gorstein, PA-C
PA-C
Daniel
Daniel Shuter, LSW
Therapist
Victoria
Victoria Akhteebo, LPC
Therapy
Sierra
Sierra Purcell, PA-C
PA-C
Emily
Emily Hoag, MD
Psychiatrist
Grace
Grace Starrs, PA-C
Psychiatry
Cassie
Cassie Donahue, PA-C
Psychiatry
Gayathri
Gayathri Ganesh, PA-C
PA-C
Stella
Stella Tantillo, LSW
Therapy
Samuel
Samuel Budyszewick, LCSW
Director of Therapy- Evanston
Sydney
Sydney Means, LCSW
Therapist, Clinical Supervisor
Sara
Sara Pickens, LCSW
Therapy
Samuel
Samuel Eckert, PA-C
PA-C
Cindy
Cindy Meraz, LPC
Therapy
Chloe
Chloe Wesley, MA
Therapy
Nayeli
Nayeli Cruz-Castillo, LCPC
Therapy
Rafael
Rafael Lopez, MD
Psychiatrist
Samantha
Samantha Espinosa, MA
Therapy
Randi
Randi Schulman, LCSW
Therapist, Clinical Supervisor
Savanna
Savanna Murphy, LSW
Therapy
Kaitlin
Kaitlin Digrispino, LPC, CADC
Therapy
Scott
Scott Shadrick, PA-C
PA-C
Khadija
Khadija Manzoor, LPC, CRC
Therapy
Mira
Mira Ebalo, PA-C
PA-C
Lauren
Lauren Stanley, LCSW
Therapy
Meredith
Meredith Henry, LSW
Therapy
Mark
Mark Bey, LPC
Therapy
Samantha
Samantha Adjekum, LCPC
Therapy
Miriam
Miriam Mixon, LCSW
Therapist, Clinical Supervisor
Joel
Joel Muller, Ph.D.
Director of Clinical Therapy- River North
Mary
Mary Ivory, LCPC
Therapy
Cynthia
Cynthia Sodini, LCSW
Therapy
Justin
Justin Lee, PA-C
PA-C