I think you actually answered your own question. I think you should be direct and ask her what her professional opinion is. You are the client, and paying good money for her services, you have every right to know where she stands therapeutically with respect to your case.

I think, if you and her are divergent on this issue, you may not receive the most benefit from your therapy experience, and it may be best to find another therapist, who may be more on your wavelength..

Yes. You must confront her. You can say you simply feel it's just not working out for you, And you have found a new therapist.

If you obviously display bipolar symptoms and she is in fact ignoring them or doesn't recognize them it's time for a new therapist. She, quite frankly sounds incompetent. You should add the fact that you have had the dx independently by 3 different pdocs who said you are bipolar and by discounting that conclusion, she is discounting you. Never, ever give up and always trust your gut feelings about therapists. Sounds like you already have and you are simply trying to find the right words to tell her so. Be brief, polite, to the point, thank her, then leave. Whatever you do, if she pushes you to stay or says abusive things (well then you KNOW she's not a good therapist!) continue to ignore them and simply walk out. Don't look back because she is only proving what you already know!!! Good luck, Robin

Yes. Print out what you've said here and show it to her. If she still thinks you're not Bipolar, perhaps she isn't the right counselor for you.

Nip it in the bud.

Definitely confront her. You need to be on the same page as to what you are treating otherwise there will be some real conflicts.

Ask her what her opinion is and ask her to back it up. Definitely listen to what she has to say - but dont be afraid to stand up for yourself. Some "professionals" deny certain diagnosis simply because they do not like dealing with that problem.

Does it really matter what your diagnosis is? Effective treatment should be the aim of your work not that everyone agrees with what you have.

Why do you think she does not believe you are bipolar? Did she talk to your pdoc and try to get your diagnosis changed?

well sicne uve been diagnnosed with this 3 times i think u shud tell her that and tell her about ur mixed episodes and the mania before

If you like her and you think she is helping you, then don't worry about it, if you have doubts, time to find a new therapist that you can be comfortable with and trust. If you can no longer trust her and be comfortable with her, you will not be able to be relaxed around her and the "therapy" you seek will not happen, then you are not only wasteing your time and her time, but you are wasteing your money and fooling your self into thinkg you are getting better when you are not. So you have to be honest with yourself here, is she helping you? do you want help, or are you just trying to make an excuse to not see her anymore and find a new Pdoc? My Pdoc decided she didn't like the meds I was on, I wanted to stay where I was, so I found a new Pdoc, got that second opinion and switched, I am glad I did. He left me on one med, but added a second one and the change is great. Sometimes we need to make a change. Think about where you are in your relationship with your therapist, and what you really want out of it before you change though, I thought about it for nearly 4 months before I made the switch.

On the whole medical professionals are under educated and I'm not sure they'll ever really get it without having first hand experience. They only know from what we tell them and we can't say enough in some instances.

Just because you aren't showing or displaying any symptoms now means nothing. If you have had 1 episode of mania then you are bipolar you might be bipolar 2.

She does seem to help with the therapy part, and I have told her I've been diagnosed. She asked me what the pdoc's diagnosis was, she wanted to know if he diagnosed me major depressive instead of bipolar. I can tell she doesn't think I'm bipolar. I feel funny just saying...hey, i am bipolar, i know i am you just haven't seen a full mania and you don't understand. But if I continue with her, I will tell her and see how it goes.

Yes - you both want to be on the same page. I have also dealt with that issue because I have mixed episodes and severe depression and not full blown mania- though my parents say when I am normal - I exhibit mania.

Discuss your concerns with her. If you can't find closure & don't think she's singing from the same sheet as you, then time to change your therapist.

A Therapist is not qualified to DX BP....in fact many therapists have very little education.....it doesn't take much to be able to hang up a shingle saying "Therapist"....which is why I don't see one