This week on Breakthrough, join therapist and host Michael Pipich, LMFT as he welcomes special guests from the Bipolar Network. Two people who have suffered Bipolar Disorder will share their personal stories, from when trouble began in childhood, through discovering their mental illness, to today as they continue their journey to healing. Michael and his guests will have a message of hope for all who must face Bipolar Disorder everyday. Don't miss this episode of Breakthrough with Michael Pipich coming Thursday May 30 at 9:00 Pacific / Noon Eastern.

Bipolar Disorder is one of the most disturbing and misunderstood of all psychiatric disorders. Typically starting in the teenage to young adult years, Bipolar can turn creative, intelligent people into lives filled with chaos and tragedy. In this episode of Breakthrough, host and therapist Michael Pipich will talk with return guest Dr. Joe Shrand about the problem of Bipolar Disorder, how to understand the Bipolar mind, and what patients and families need to know about getting in and staying with treatment. They'll also discuss the Bipolar Network, a new way to get people connected with help and support, as well as how Dr. Joe uses his Imax approach in the treatment of this disease. Tune in live to Breakthrough with Michael Pipich, this Thursday May 23 at 9:00 Pacific/Noon Eastern.

In modern medicine, we're learning more everyday about traumatic brain injury (TBI). Whether caused from sports, workplace accidents, car collisions, military service, or any other incident, brain injuries--even mild ones--can change a person's life forever. In this episode of Breakthrough, Michael Pipich, LMFT talks with Gail Denton, Ph.D. about her book, Brainlash, Maximize Your Recovery from Mild Brain Injury. Dr. Denton not only shares her expertise, but also her life story of survival from her own brain injury and the struggle to find the right path to healing. Don't miss this episode of Breakthrough with Michael Pipich, Thursday May 16 at 9:00 Pacific Time.

When national surveys show that one out of five high school students report they have seriously considered suicide over the previous 12 months, we know it's time to act. In this episode of Breakthrough, host Michael Pipich discusses the epidemic of teen suicide with therapist Marjorie Laird, co-founder of the Second Wind Fund, an organization dedicated to the prevention of youth suicide. Also on the program is Gage Crispe, a speaker/ambassador from Second Wind, who shares his inspiring story of recovery following the tragic loss of his childhood friend. Michael, Marjorie and Gage will discuss the warning signs of youth suicide, and also how parents, teachers and counselors can develop prevention programs in their area to give new hope to kids and families. Don't miss this episode of Breakthrough with Michael Pipich, Thursday March 28 at 9:00 Pacific Time.

In the world of dysfunctional relationships, there’s no doubt that opposites attract. Who do you know that keeps searching for true love, but instead only finds true heartache? Repeating the constant cycles of poor relationships may seem to be a mystery, but uncovering the dance between emotional manipulators and co-dependents can break that cycle towards more rewarding and healthier bonds. In this episode of Breakthrough with Michael Pipich, author and relationship expert Ross Rosenberg will discuss his new book, The Human Magnet Syndrome, Why We Love the People Who Hurt Us. Join Michael and Ross as they uncover the important psychological obstacles to modern relationships, and offer hopeful solutions to one of life’s most painful problems. Tune in to Breakthrough with Michael Pipich, Thursday May 2 at 9:00 pacific time.

Can you be addicted to alcohol even if you don't drink everyday? Is your spouse's prescribed pain killers causing more harm than good? Can anyone really get hooked on marijuana? This week on Break Through, Michael's guest is Dr. J. Wesley Boyd, author of Almost Addicted, Is My (or My Loved One's) Drug Use a Problem? Dr. Boyd is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and has been featured on network television, along with The Wall Street Journal and Time Magazine. Michael and Dr. Boyd will explore what it means to be almost addicted, where alcohol or drug use teeters on the edge of a full-blown addiction, and the disaster it can cause to health and relationships. Be sure to tune in to this episode of Break Through with Michael Pipich, Thursday, February 28 at 9:00 Pacific Time.

As our soldiers return from Iraq and Afghanistan, we as a nation are faced with a generation of soldiers and their families suffering with the psychological injuries of war. Just as we came together as one people following 9/11, it’s time for us to stand solidly with our wounded warriors, and understand the issue of PTSD through the stories of how they were forever changed in battle. In this episode of Breakthrough, Michael Pipich, LMFT will speak with Kevin Sites, the awarding-winning freelance journalist and author who has spent years covering global wars for ABC, NBC, CNN and Yahoo! News. They will discuss Kevin’s latest book, The Things They Cannot Say, Stories Soldiers Won’t Tell You About What They’ve Seen, Done or Failed to Do in War. His book not only presents the raw and gripping stories of the scars of battle, but the power that comes through redemption, healing and hope. And Kevin shares his own personal struggle that came from his experiences as an embedded war reporter. Don’t miss this episode of Breakthrough with Michael Pipich, Thursday April 18 at 9:00 Pacific Time.

One in four women and one in six men have been sexually abused as children. Are you one of them? Or do you know or love someone who has been abused? Recent media exposure of childhood sexual abuse, and the people and institutions that try to cover for abusers, have dramatically brought this issue to light. But for adults who were victimized as children, it may look like there’s no where to turn to break the years of silence, and heal from the trauma of early life sexual abuse. On this episode of Break Through, host and therapist Michael Pipich will discuss Surviving Childhood Sexual Abuse with guests Alison Vaughan Terry and Meg Noll of the WINGS foundation of Denver Colorado, a center for healing from childhood sexual abuse. Together, they’ll explore how abuse can create a range of psychological and relationship difficulties throughout adult life, while offering positive solutions and stories of hope that can begin the freedom from pain and fear. Be sure to tune in to Break Through with Michael Pipich this Thursday March 7 at 9:00 Pacific Time.

Incurable and chronic disease affect approximately 133 million Americans--about 45 percent of the nation's population. With more chronic patients on the near horizon, and fewer doctors to treat them adequately, it's more important than ever to live well with chronic illness. On this episode of Breakthrough with Michael Pipich, author Richard Cheu brings his vast professional and personal experiences to the program, and will discuss his book, Living Well with Chronic Illness, a Practical and Spiritual Guide. He and Michael will share important information and inspiring stories to help guide patients and their caregivers, and offer new reasons to hope. Tune in Thursday April 4 at 9:00 pacific time.

When national surveys show that one out of five high school students report they have seriously considered suicide over the previous 12 months, we know it's time to act. In this episode of Breakthrough, host Michael Pipich discusses the epidemic of teen suicide with therapist Marjorie Laird, co-founder of the Second Wind Fund, an organization dedicated to the prevention of youth suicide. Also on the program is Gage Crispe, a speaker/ambassador from Second Wind, who shares his inspiring story of recovery following the tragic loss of his childhood friend. Michael, Marjorie and Gage will discuss the warning signs of youth suicide, and also how parents, teachers and counselors can develop prevention programs in their area to give new hope to kids and families. Don't miss this episode of Breakthrough with Michael Pipich, Thursday March 28 at 9:00 Pacific Time.

Anger can be the most intense and confusing emotion we possess. If unrestrained, it can result in the destruction of life and spirit. But if recognized, understood and used intelligently, we can harness the power of anger to motivate ourselves, and create new and important changes in our lives and our communities. In this episode of Breakthrough with Michael Pipich, Harvard psychiatrist and author, Dr. Joseph Shrand will discuss his new book, Outsmarting Anger, Seven Strategies for Defusing Our Most Dangerous Emotion. Michael and Dr. Joe will explore the biology of anger, how to distinguish rage, jealousy and envy, and move towards reducing tensions in yourself and others. Be sure to tune in to this episode of Breakthrough, Thursday March 21, 9:00 Pacific Time.

The statistics are undeniable: Half of all American children will witness the break up their parent’s marriage. And the sad truth is that children of divorce have significantly more adjustment and achievement problems than children from non-divorced families. All the research points to the same conclusion: how parents deal with the divorce/separation directly impacts adjustment of children. On the next Breakthrough with Michael Pipich, author and therapist Shannon R. Rios, LMFT, with discuss her book The 7 Fatal Mistakes Divorced and Separated Parents Make: Raising Healthy Children of Divorce. Michael and Shannon will not only examine the common problems children of divorce often face, but what every parent should know about how to co-parent effectively and focus on the needs of their children, even as they themselves struggle with the emotional pain of separation. If divorce or separation has touched your life, or you're a professional who works with divorced families, you won't want to miss this episode of Breakthrough with Michael Pipich, Thursday March 14 at 9:00 Pacific Time.

One in four women and one in six men have been sexually abused as children. Are you one of them? Or do you know or love someone who has been abused? Recent media exposure of childhood sexual abuse, and the people and institutions that try to cover for abusers, have dramatically brought this issue to light. But for adults who were victimized as children, it may look like there’s no where to turn to break the years of silence, and heal from the trauma of early life sexual abuse. On this episode of Break Through, host and therapist Michael Pipich will discuss Surviving Childhood Sexual Abuse with guests Alison Vaughan Terry and Meg Noll of the WINGS foundation of Denver Colorado, a center for healing from childhood sexual abuse. Together, they’ll explore how abuse can create a range of psychological and relationship difficulties throughout adult life, while offering positive solutions and stories of hope that can begin the freedom from pain and fear. Be sure to tune in to Break Through with Michael Pipich this Thursday March 7 at 9:00 Pacific Time.

Can you be addicted to alcohol even if you don't drink everyday? Is your spouse's prescribed pain killers causing more harm than good? Can anyone really get hooked on marijuana? This week on Break Through, Michael's guest is Dr. J. Wesley Boyd, author of Almost Addicted, Is My (or My Loved One's) Drug Use a Problem? Dr. Boyd is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and has been featured on network television, along with The Wall Street Journal and Time Magazine. Michael and Dr. Boyd will explore what it means to be almost addicted, where alcohol or drug use teeters on the edge of a full-blown addiction, and the disaster it can cause to health and relationships. Be sure to tune in to this episode of Break Through with Michael Pipich, Thursday, February 28 at 9:00 Pacific Time.