The Bipolar Coach

A Life Beyond the Cycle

About Me

Welcome, I’m Dorothy Herson, founder of The Bipolar Coach

I’m a mental health expert, accredited bipolar coach, and a published contributor to leading journals, newspapers, and publications, dedicated to advancing the understanding of bipolar disorder. My mission is to leverage this expertise to help you live a life that goes beyond your diagnosis, offering you compassionate support, deep understanding, and practical strategies for lasting change.

I also have lived experience with bipolar disorder, and understand its complexities and challenges in ways that go beyond the textbook. I've spent weeks in psychiatric hospitals, navigated both private and NHS treatment systems, and explored numerous medication regimens, therapies, and diets. My journey has not been easy, but it has given me a profound understanding of bipolar disorder—knowledge that I am dedicated to sharing with you.

Qualifications and Experience:

Mental Health and Coaching

IAFPD Certificate in Coaching
Bipolar Disorder Awareness Accreditation
Qualified Solicitor with experience in disability law
Editor and Contributing Writer at Cambridge University Press & Assessment Research Directions: Depression Journal; with a focus on mood disorders
Editor and Contributing Writer at pamphlet for the Fabian Society (youth branch): Unveiling the Mental Health Impact of the Cost of Living Crisis in the UK
Freelance journalist with a focus in mental health published in the Independent, the Times, Lacuna Voices, National Geographic and others

Creativity/Life Experience

BA in English Literature from Warwick University
MA in Creative Writing from Roehampton University
MSc in Law, Business and Management from the University of Law
Vice President of The Young European Movement
Member of the National Council of European Movement

“Working with Dorothy Herson has been life-changing. Dorothy not only provided me with practical strategies but also helped me rebuild my confidence and sense of self. She guided me through a huge career transition and helped me navigate dating with bipolar disorder. I am now thriving in my personal and professional life, and I owe so much of that to Dorothy’s guidance."

— James R., London

Half a century of bipolar disorder

More than 50 years ago, the NHS did a stellar job of supporting people with Bipolar Disorder. We must to get back to that.

Could a resilience retreat help with my stress and PMS?

Dorothy Herson tried a three-day retreat that promised to help with the stress of modern life by reconnecting with nature, dipping in freezing Lake Coniston in winter and learning to breathe properly. Did it help?

Audiobooks are the only thing that get me through my bipolar episodes

Three years ago, I was halfway through reading a copy of Elvia Wilks’s Oval, a novel about a fictional feminist dystopia, when a crushingly familiar wave of depression descended upon me.

An attempt to actively record subjective energy states and objective motoric behavioural patterns in Type 1 bipolar disordercentury of bipolar disorder

Dorothy Herson examines the idea that mood disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder, might be better understood as conditions of energy dysregulation and motor activity rather than simply disorders of mood.

The Ketogenic Diet as a Means of Treating Type 1 Bipolar Disorder

Dorothy Herson explores her journey with the ketogenic diet as a treatment for bipolar disorder. She reflects on the question "Does altering your diet reduce your risk of depression and are any dietary manipulations an effective treatment for depression?"