A powerful personal narrative exploring how Bipolar II Disorder, when properly managed through treatment and self-acceptance, becomes a source of creativity, empathy, and strength rather than suffering.
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Influential Woman · Mental Health Care / Behavioral Health Services
Caitlin C Regan
Owner / Therapist, Caitlin’s Counseling Corner
Freehold, NJ 07728
7Years experience
1Article published
Her Story
About Caitlin
Caitlin Regan is a Licensed Professional Counselor in New Jersey, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida, National Certified Counselor, certified Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) therapist, and trained trauma specialist with over 15 years of experience in teaching and counseling. She is the founder and owner of Caitlin’s Counseling Corner, a private mental health practice based in Freehold, New Jersey, where she provides compassionate, trauma-informed care to adolescents, young adults, and adults. Caitlin specializes in trauma, mood disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, and mental health support for individuals and families navigating complex emotional challenges. Caitlin’s professional journey is rooted in advocacy, education, and a passion for creating meaningful change in the mental health community. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and Master’s in Education from Fairleigh Dickinson University, followed by a Master of Arts in School Counseling and an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Professional Counseling from Seton Hall University, where she also serves as an adjunct professor. Through her clinical work, teaching, and community involvement, Caitlin has dedicated her career to helping others develop resilience, improve emotional wellness, and move from simply surviving to truly thriving. Beyond her private practice, Caitlin is committed to expanding access to mental health services through the development of Caitlin’s Counseling Center, a nonprofit mental health initiative designed to support individuals and families who may face barriers to care. She is an active contributor to mental health awareness through her writing, including published articles in NAMI’s online magazine and ACA’s Counseling Today, as well as her ongoing advocacy for social justice and wellness. Guided by her philosophy of “Choose Your Healthy,” Caitlin continues to empower others through compassion, education, and a commitment to building healthier, more supportive communities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Caitlin
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my personal journey, resilience, and the challenges I have overcome. After facing mental health struggles and trauma from a young age, I sought treatment, received a diagnosis of Bipolar II Disorder, and gained the courage to confront my challenges and use my experiences to help others. I also credit my success to my education, earning my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Fairleigh Dickinson University and my Ed.S. from Seton Hall University, which have allowed me to continue making an impact as a mental health professional and adjunct professor.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received came from the mentors and role models who believed in me throughout my journey. From my high school teacher Mrs. Banerjee to Dr. Judy Kulstad at Seton Hall and Dr. Shaw and the Carrier Clinic team, each of these persons provided guidance, support, and unending encouragement. I also credit my parents, Janice and Brian Regan, for teaching me compassion and service and being my greatest supports in life, and my husband, Roy, for his unwavering love and support as I have begun this journey. I am also blessed with many friends who stand by me every day and others in the community who lift me up. While too long to list here, the amount of support I have received at every turn in life is something I hold gratitude for each and every day. While I have worked hard to get to where I am, it has not been a journey alone and I am so grateful for all who have met me at different points in the journey. Some remain with me to this day and others our time came to an end, but always all those who have supported and believed in me are always in my heart.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to build a strong support system and surround yourself with people who believe in you and accept the whole of you. Too often, I see young women trying to mold themselves into what is 'believed' to be appropriate rather than shinning for who they are. Accepting yourself and loving yourself will lead you to the right people and will empower you along the way. Having understanding and encouragement from loved ones has been essential throughout my journey, especially while balancing my work, advocacy, and personal life. I also believe in prioritizing self-care through practices like yoga, meditation, reading, music, and spending meaningful time with loved ones. Empowering myself each step of the way and loving myself gives me strength in the hardest moments. Having a balance of self love and support from others is key in living and thriving!
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge and opportunity in my field is being able to support every person who needs help due to funding issues. In my role, I strive to reach and make a meaningful difference for as many individuals as possible, while recognizing the importance of providing compassionate, accessible, and effective support. My hope in building the nonprofit is to engage with other professionals who bring passion and empathy to the field so we can provide aid and support to more of those in need. Finding funding in order to be able to provide more help can be a struggle during a time where finances are tight for many. I work, with my team, to find grants and other areas of funding, but this remains the greatest challenge.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are compassion, empathy, advocacy, and spreading love and awareness. I am passionate about sharing my personal journey with Bipolar II Disorder to inspire hope and support others while using my 18+ years of experience in family and mental health care to make a difference. Through my work as a trauma specialist, therapist, and founder of Caitlin’s Counseling Corner LLC and a nonprofit mental health center, I strive to create positive change, serve my community, and advocate for accessible mental health support to all in need no matter their background. I do not believe mental health care should be reserved for those who are financial able only. All whether rich, poor, or struggling deserve compassionate and empathetic care from dedicated mental health professionals.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Caitlin
Bipolar is My Superpower
Discovering Strength and Purpose in Living Well with Bipolar II Disorder
Finding My Spark: Bipolar Disorder as My Superpower
Sometimes I am asked, "If you were given the opportunity, would you cure your Bipolar Disorder?"
Truthfully, my answer is no.
I have come to understand that having Bipolar Disorder is my superpower-with the acceptance that, at times, I encounter my own version of kryptonite.
Let me explain.
When I am successfully managing my moods, I have access to what I call my Spark. My Spark is my superpower. My brain functions in ways others don't always understand, allowing me to think creatively and envision possibilities that help me do what I do best.
Yes, it's true that I sometimes experience episodes of depression or hypomania (I live with Bipolar II Disorder). Those episodes are my kryptonite, and they can make life incredibly difficult.
However, just like Superman, I have my own way of protecting myself from kryptonite: I commit to living well with Bipolar Disorder. When I follow my treatment plan and work closely with my doctors to manage my medications, I have greater access to my Spark without the pain of depression or the impulsive consequences of hypomania.
Living with Bipolar II Disorder doesn't mean I have to suffer constantly. Through daily coping skills, taking my medication, and participating in maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-yes, I receive shock therapy, and it has been life-changing for me-I am able to live and thrive.
There are times during conversations at work or with friends when my mind moves incredibly fast. Unlike the anxiety I once experienced, it now feels like pure thought power. I can process ideas and make connections in ways that sometimes surprise even me.
This isn't bragging. It's acceptance. It's understanding how my brain works and learning to work with it instead of against it.
If you also live with Bipolar Disorder, you may recognize what I'm describing. Don't fear your brain or the way it works. Instead, learn about it, work with qualified professionals, and discover the possibilities that become available when your condition is well managed.
Finding a therapist, working with a psychiatrist, and developing a treatment plan that works for you may help you discover strengths you never knew you had.
My Lead Suit
I often think about people like Vincent van Gogh or Abraham Lincoln, both of whom have been suggested by some historians and mental health scholars to have experienced bipolar disorder, although no formal diagnosis was possible during their lifetimes. Whether those historical theories are accurate or not, countless people living with mental health conditions have made extraordinary contributions to art, science, politics, education, medicine, and countless other fields.
Mental health conditions can feel suffocating. They can feel like kryptonite. But when we build our own "lead suits"-our treatment plans-we give ourselves protection and the opportunity to thrive.
For me, that means channeling impulsivity into creativity. It means transforming experiences with depression into deeper empathy and compassion for others.
During the past eight years, I've moved from simply surviving to genuinely living and thriving. My treatment plan-my lead suit-has given me access to the creativity and empathy that now allow me to help others.
When I first began this journey, I was a high school English teacher. Since then, I have earned my counseling license and now work as a mental health and addiction counselor specializing in trauma therapies. Without my lead suit, I wouldn't be able to help others the way I do today.
Learning to understand and develop my superpower has opened a life I never imagined possible. Today, my creativity and empathy fuel my Spark.
Yes, depression and hypomania still appear from time to time. But they no longer overwhelm me. If kryptonite enters my orbit, my mood episodes are generally much shorter than they once were because I contact my treatment team, make the necessary adjustments, and work toward restoring balance.
Over the past eight years, my episodes have been significantly more manageable than the debilitating episodes I once experienced. Now I put on my lead suit, find my sunshine, and return to my Spark.
Living and Thriving
Don't fear your Bipolar Disorder-or any mental health condition. Instead, work to understand it. Learn how your brain works. Discover the strengths that exist alongside your challenges.
I no longer hide in shame. Today, I can confidently say,
"Yes, I have Bipolar II Disorder."
The shame and self-loathing no longer define me. I genuinely feel grateful for the way my brain works because I've done the work to understand it, accept it, and learn how to manage it.
You, too, can find peace and self-acceptance. Just as Superman had to learn how to control his powers, I had to learn how to manage mine. It took years of therapy, maintenance ECT, medication management, healthy daily coping skills, and learning to love myself. But eventually, those efforts led me from surviving to thriving.
I believe everyone living with Bipolar Disorder-or any mental health condition-deserves the opportunity to find a treatment plan that helps them live their fullest life. When I work with my clients, many tell me they don't believe that kind of life is possible. I understand why they feel that way. I've been there.
But I also know healing is possible. Growth is possible. Living and thriving are possible.
Finding the right treatment plan requires commitment, patience, and a willingness to keep doing the work. That's something I emphasize with every client I meet.
Learn to strengthen your Spark. Learn to fly. Learn to live. Learn to thrive.
When I finally experienced what it meant to truly live instead of merely survive, I made myself a promise: I would never go back willingly. Today, I do everything I can to protect myself from kryptonite.
I believe everyone living with a mental health condition can build their own lead suit by working with therapists, physicians, support groups, family, and trusted loved ones to create a treatment plan that meets their individual needs.
Your power may feel buried. It may feel dormant. But that doesn't mean it isn't there. With the right support, understanding, and commitment, you can awaken it. You can become your own hero. You can discover what you need not merely to survive-but to truly live and thrive.
So spread your wings. Find your Spark. And discover the strength that has been within you all along.
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