Jo Leidreiter, Psychologist

Jo Leidreiter, Psychologist Jo Leidreiter I Registered Psychologist | The Bipolar Psychologist. 20+ years as a psychologist helping people navigate bipolar disorder and depression.

Sharing practical tools, lifestyle hacks, and evidence-based skills to help balance your mood. As a registered psychologist based in Australia, I am committed to helping individuals worldwide access treatment for Bipolar Disorder through an integrative, evidence-based approach that focuses on both mental health and overall wellness. My practice is centered on supporting clients in achieving emotional balance, improving their mood regulation, and enhancing their quality of life. I specialise in treating Bipolar I and II, cyclothymic disorder, rapid cycling, and major depressive disorder (MDD), along with persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia). In addition to treating mood disorders, I address co-morbid conditions such as anxiety, personality disorders, and trauma, ensuring a comprehensive approach to care. My therapeutic framework includes evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Schema Therapy, and mindfulness-based techniques. I also incorporate Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT), a specialised approach designed to help individuals with Bipolar Disorder stabilise their daily routines, manage interpersonal relationships, and regulate social rhythms to prevent mood episodes. This intervention is particularly effective in reducing the recurrence of manic and depressive episodes by promoting regularity in sleep, meal times, and activity patterns. In addition to traditional therapies, I emphasise integrative lifestyle and wellness strategies, focusing on factors such as nutrition, sleep hygiene, exercise, and stress management. These strategies are designed to complement therapeutic interventions and promote long-term mental and physical well-being. Through my private practice I create a supportive, non-judgmental environment where individuals can explore their mental health challenges and work toward personal growth and stability. I offer both in-person consultations and Telehealth services worldwide, ensuring that clients have access to care wherever they are. Through my digital learning platform, My Bipolar Therapy, I am passionate about providing affordable, on-demand courses and a supportive community, making evidence-based treatment and resources more affordable and accessible for individuals living with bipolar disorder worldwide. I am actively engaged with the mental health and Bipolar Treatment community through memberships with the Australian Psychological Society (APS), the Australian Association of Psychologsts Inc (AAPi) the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD), and the Australasian Society for Bipolar and Depressive Disorders (ASBD), staying informed on the latest research and therapeutic advancements in the field.

At  , Dr. Devika Bhushan gave an inspiring keynote to kick off the first day, on mental illness stigma - how it shapes h...
17/09/2025

At , Dr. Devika Bhushan gave an inspiring keynote to kick off the first day, on mental illness stigma - how it shapes health outcomes, identity and recovery. Dr Bhushan is the surgeon general for California and has lived experience of Bipolar 2. A particularly brave stance for advocacy given the strong culture of stigma and silence around mental illness in her profession. She shared lessons from both science and her own journey living with Bipolar II Disorder.
Her message? Stigma isn’t just an attitude - it’s something we can actively dismantle through compassion, communication and systemic change.
💙 This is how hope spreads.

Mixed states can feel like being stuck with the gas and break pressed at the same time. It’s tough 💥🤯 but not impossible...
07/09/2025

Mixed states can feel like being stuck with the gas and break pressed at the same time. It’s tough 💥🤯 but not impossible to manage. These 5 practical steps can help you ride it out without crashing out.
What’s YOUR go-to strategy for mixed states?

07/09/2025
Hypomania is an upward spiral of energy  🚀🚀🚀 ✨Extra energy > “I’m my best self when I’m high” > “I need to do everything...
07/09/2025

Hypomania is an upward spiral of energy 🚀🚀🚀
✨Extra energy > “I’m my best self when I’m high” > “I need to do everything now before I crash”.
✨You start doing more, sleeping less, and the action creates even more energy.
✨The increased light exposure and more stimulation reinforces further…
✨Suddenly your sky high, employee of the month and life of the party and the show is on the road.
It’s kinetic energy in action: momentum builds and builds - until it flips. And then comes the crash.
Fostering mindful awareness means you can notice the pull of the energy switch early, set boundaries, and protect your stability.
Just because we have the energy to go harder, doesn’t mean that we always should. Learn to reserve your energy to pull yourself about of the see-saw. Using a mood monitoring app daily can help you become more aware of your daily energy shifts. Remember to think about your episodes as changes of energy shifts, not necessarily emotive switches (happy/sad).
Comment if you need fo break up with hypomania.

The dreaded doom spiral of depression. Depression can snowball fast. Low energy: ➡️➡️ doing less ➡️➡️ sleeping more ➡️➡️...
07/09/2025

The dreaded doom spiral of depression. Depression can snowball fast. Low energy: ➡️➡️ doing less ➡️➡️ sleeping more ➡️➡️ feeling even lower. The cycle feeds itself. Awareness is the first step. Noticing the pattern means you can take small, gentle actions to break it - like moving your body, even if it’s to the couch, reaching out or setting a tiny goal. Lethargy spirals will take you down. When depression hits, it feels like there’s no fuel in the tank. But here’s the truth: energy creates energy ⚡️Just like kinetic energy in physics, once you get moving, momentum builds. The hardest part is the first push - whether that’s a 2 minute walk, a stretch l, or even sitting up in bed. Every tiny action is a spark. The more sparks, the more movement, and the more energy flows back into your system. 🔄🔄🔄 SMALL MOTION > BUILDS MOMENTUM > SHIFTS THE CYCLE UPWARDS
Comment if you agree or find this hard to do.

I’m a psychologist who’s been helping people live well with bipolar for 20+ years. I share practical tools and hacks lea...
07/09/2025

I’m a psychologist who’s been helping people live well with bipolar for 20+ years. I share practical tools and hacks learnt from the therapy room to use in your everyday life, so small steps add up to steadier days. Follow, save and tell me what you’d like to hear more of next. (Education only, not therapy).

We are currently recruiting for the largest study ever conducted on how dietary interventions, when added to medication,...
05/09/2025

We are currently recruiting for the largest study ever conducted on how dietary interventions, when added to medication, might help people with bipolar disorder. Please feel free to also join our participant registry to be contacted if you may be a good fit for future studies. You may contact us with any questions regarding the study at calmprogram@berkeley.edu. Participants will be paid $25USD hour for their contribution and add to this exciting emerging research.

An overview of an upcoming study for improving sleep for individuals with bipolar disorder. This study compares two dietary interventions: time-restricted ea...

Heston Blumenthal: My Life with BipolarA powerful new documentary aired on the BBC this week featuring world-renowned ch...
23/06/2025

Heston Blumenthal: My Life with Bipolar
A powerful new documentary aired on the BBC this week featuring world-renowned chef — and now Bipolar UK ambassador — Heston Blumenthal.

In this deeply personal film, Heston reflects on his late-in-life bipolar diagnosis and the ways the condition has shaped his creativity, relationships, and challenges. He also sits down with others with lived experience — helping break through stigma and speak candidly about the long, often painful road to getting the right diagnosis.

As a psychologist who works daily with people living with bipolar disorder, I was moved by Heston’s honesty and advocacy. The film highlights something we see too often: the average delay of 9.5 years to diagnosis. And the toll that delay can take on identity, trust, and life direction.

I encourage everyone — clinicians, carers, friends, and those with lived experience — to watch this documentary and reflect on how we can do better.

📺 Watch “Heston: My Life with Bipolar” now on BBC iPlayer
💬 If you’ve seen it, I’d love to hear your reflections — what resonated for you?

https://go.bipolaruk.org/e/947582/2h-heston-my-life-with-bipolar/5lljbv/1064363914/h/BxeD5kMFNGZnfk9jpMVlX4eowIWYDQHoEicyXJGzs54

Chef Heston Blumenthal explores the impact bipolar disorder has had on his life, his creativity and the people he loves, as well as the state of bipolar care in the UK.

Is Your Gut the Key to Bipolar Treatment Success? A new review of 12 studies found that individuals with bipolar disorde...
20/06/2025

Is Your Gut the Key to Bipolar Treatment Success? A new review of 12 studies found that individuals with bipolar disorder who responded well to treatment had gut microbiomes more similar to healthy people. The findings highlight the gut-brain axis as a potential factor in treatment success and suggest future opportunities for personalised, microbiome-informed care. Read on.

A new review has examined how bipolar disorder medications interact with the gut microbiome, revealing important links between treatment response and gut microbial composition.

Watch an exclusive interview from the newly appointed Bipolar UK Ambassador, Chef and Restaurateur, Heston Blumenthal wh...
29/03/2025

Watch an exclusive interview from the newly appointed Bipolar UK Ambassador, Chef and Restaurateur, Heston Blumenthal who is interviewed by fellow Bipolar UK Ambassador and Deputy Political Editor for ITV, Anushka Asthana where they discuss his diagnosis and stigma surrounding bipolar.

Watch an exclusive interview from our newly appointed Bipolar UK Ambassador, Chef and Restaurateur, Heston Blumenthal who is interviewed by fellow Bipolar UK...

Address

College Street
Sydney, NSW
2010

Website

http://joleidreiter.com/, http://www.mybipolartherapy.com/

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