In this episode of The Secret Life of Therapists, host Dr. Habiba Zaman and guest Amanda explore how childhood survival mechanisms shape both personal identity and professional life, beginning with the unique pressure and fast-tracked hyper-independence of growing up as an only child. They unpack how reliance on high achievement, perfectionism, and people-pleasing can morph into functional masks that hide high-functioning depression behind a veneer of external success. Amanda shares her own journey through imposter syndrome and the disorienting struggle to find her place within the traditional mental health system, where standard talk therapy often allows clients to intellectualize their pain. Ultimately, she details her shift toward Yoga Psychology, using somatic practice, breathwork, and nervous system awareness to move past performati ...