Welcome to STEADY!

The CU STEADY Program (STabilizing Emerging Affective Disorders for Youth to Adults) is an integrated program providing expert treatments for individuals with bipolar disorder, and those at elevated risk for developing bipolar disorder. We are a team of psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed therapists, and researchers collaborating to offer standardized diagnostic evaluation and early intervention for individuals on the bipolar spectrum. 

Currently, we are offering treatment through a multi-site research program, The Child Bipolar Network, a consortium of five universities across the country (University of Colorado, UCLA, University of Pittsburgh, University of Cincinnati, and Virginia Commonwealth University). For more information about participating in this research, please click here.

In the future, we plan to expand our services to include:

• Preventative support for individuals who are at elevated risk for developing bipolar disorder (namely, those who experience mood
• Time-limited specialized care for individuals who are experiencing the initial episode(s) of a bipolar disorder
• One-time, second-opinion consultations
  
  We encourage interested individuals and families to reach out to learn more about the STEADY Program offerings; please contact us.

MELISSA BATT, MD, MPH
Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Psychiatrist

Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center FAMILY provider 

BA, Carnegie Mellon University
MPH, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
MD, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Psychiatry Residency, University of Colorado
Child Psychiatry Fellowship, University of Colorado

Treatment focus: depression, bipolar disorder, infant mental health (age 0-5,) ‘tween’ years, transitioning young adults, kids experiencing anxiety, peri-partum/post-partum mental health, psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Melissa Batt, MD, is a child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist and an instructor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Her residency was completed at the University of Colorado and she completed her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Colorado, where she also served as chief resident.

Dr. Batt provides medication evaluations, consultations and medication management at the Johnson Depression Center. She also provides some psychotherapy services, including play therapy, for children of all ages, adolescents and young adults. Her research interests focus on mood disorders, most recently involved in the Colorado Family Project by providing research medication visits for adolescents with a mood disorder at risk for developing bipolar disorder. Currently, Dr. Batt enjoys finding new ways to be mindful, either by being in nature, performing detail-oriented activities like coloring, or finding a calming scent.

CHRISTOPHER SCHNECK, MD
Medical Director, Psychiatrist

BA, Stanford University
MD, University of Colorado
Psychiatry Residency, Yale University
Psychiatry Fellowship, Yale University

Treatment focus: Mood disorders, bipolar disorder, with a particular emphasis on rapid cycling bipolar disorder and adolescent bipolar disorder.

Christopher Schneck, MD, is the medical director for the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center, and oversees patient care delivered by the clinic providers. Additionally, Dr. Schneck works in the outpatient division of the University of Colorado Hospital and is the behavioral health director of the UCHealth Infectious Disease Clinic. In addition to his clinical duties, Dr. Schneck teaches in the divisions of Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Neuroscience and the University of Colorado Medical School. Most recently, he was involved in 3-site National Institute of Mental Health study examining the efficacy of family focused therapy in treating adolescents at-risk for bipolar disorder. He has been recognized annually as one of Denver’s “Top Doctors” in 5280 magazine since 2004.

AIMEE SULLIVAN, PHD
Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Psychologist

Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center FAMILY provider

BA, University of Michigan
PhD, University of Colorado at Boulder
Predoctoral Internship, University of California, Los Angeles

Treatment focus: bipolar disorder, depression, behavioral difficulties; children (6+), teens, and young adults; individual and family therapy.

Aimee Sullivan, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and senior instructor in the School of Medicine. While in Ann Arbor, she worked with Dr. Catherine Lord at the University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center, and Dr. Israel Liberzon at the U of M Psychiatry Affective Neuroimaging Lab. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology with Dr. David Miklowitz at the University of Colorado Boulder, and completed her predoctoral clinical internship at UCLA.

She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at University of Colorado Boulder and University of Denver Graduate School of Professional Psychology. At the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center, she uses evidence-based psychotherapies to work with children and adults with mood and anxiety symptoms, and has a special interest in using Family-Focused Therapy to treat bipolar disorders. Current research interests are focused on the role of family variables in the development and course of early-onset bipolar disorders.