In this episode of Highly Therapized, I speak with Amberly Potter, LMFT, about her personal and professional journey through addiction, undiagnosed bipolar II disorder, and the path to renewal. Amberly vulnerably shares what it was like to navigate early trauma, substance use, motherhood, and mental illness—all while building a career as a therapist. We discuss: The hidden struggles Amberly faced during grad school and early clinical workLiving with untreated bipolar II disorder and the impact on identity, work, and relationshipsThe normalization of burnout and perfectionism in the mental health fieldAmberly’s experience with hospitalizations and hitting multiple “rock bottoms”Navigating ethical fears and stigma as a therapist with a dual identity: healer and patientWhat real recovery, spirituality, and professional redemption look likeHow she reclaimed her story and her life on her own termsThis is a must-listen for clinicians, students, and anyone who wants an honest look at what it means to fall apart and put yourself back together in a system that often expects you to hide the mess. Guest Info: Connect with Amberly Potter, LMFT 🌐 Blog: Soul Centered Recovery: https://amberlypotter.substack.com 📸 Instagram: soulcentered_recovery: https://www.instagram.com/soulcentered_recovery/ 🔗 LinkedIn: Amberly (Amero) Potter, LMFT: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberly-potter-lmft-a32a60283/ Explore resources mentioned in this episode: The Recovery Blueprint for Professionals: A Step-by-Step Guide for Lasting Sobriety: https://app.typeset.com/play/DYJV6N Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Highly Therapized 00:32 - Meet Amberly Potter, LMFT 01:30 - Early career beginnings and passion for storytelling 03:00 - From writing to psychology: the shift to mental health 05:15 - Trauma, perfectionism, and the hidden cost of caring 07:30 - Grad school, substance use, and undiagnosed bipolar disorder 10:45 - Practicum experiences and trauma in the field 14:00 - The pressure of productivity and clinical burnout 16:30 - Early signs of alcoholism and mood instability 20:00 - Misusing medication and suicide attempt 22:30 - Recovery setbacks and cognitive dissonance 25:00 - Working in crisis care while unraveling personally 28:15 - Being a therapist and hiding addiction 30:30 - Supervision, stigma, and ethical fears 34:10 - The myth of "high-functioning" addiction 37:00 - Domestic violence, arrests, and rock bottom 41:00 - Inpatient hospitalization and surrender 44:00 - Losing everything: identity, relationships, and stability 46:30 - Healing, recovery, and reclaiming her story 49:00 - What therapists need to hear about suffering and support 52:00 - Final reflections and Amberly’s message to other clinicians #MentalHealth #BipolarDisorder #SubstanceUseRecovery #AddictionRecovery #TherapistBurnout #LivedExperience #TherapyJourney #MentalHealthPodcast #HealingNarratives #BipolarII #WomenInRecovery #TherapistLife #AddictionAwareness Get full access to Highly Therapized at www.highlytherapized.com/subscribe