Hello!

About me:

I wear many hats in life. I am:

a therapist specializing in treating bipolar.
an author.
an award-winning mental health advocate.
a speaker and a writer.
an academic.
the creator of an original self-stigma program for bipolar.

In everything, I am someone who lives with bipolar.

My passion and mission is to better the lives of people (like me) living with bipolar and other mental health conditions through awareness, advocacy, and outreach.

As a lived experience advocate, Dr. Vassilev is available for individual speaking engagements, panels, consultation, and more.

Please reach out to connect!

Biography of Advocacy Work

Dr. Andrea Vassilev, who has lived with bipolar disorder for nearly 30 years, is a passionate, dedicated, and effective mental health leader. She has committed her life to mental health outreach, awareness, and advocacy. Her primary passion is the fight to eradicate stigma regarding mental illness and heal self-stigma in those living with these conditions.

An award-winning advocate, Dr. Vassilev is a frequent invited global speaker on the topic of bipolar for organizations such as Bipolar UK, the International Bipolar Foundation, conferences, and universities. Her work and commentary have appeared in outlets including Slate, bpHope Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times.

She is an active member of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD), serving on the Board of Directors (2025–2028) and on the Task Force for Psychological Interventions in Bipolar Disorder. She co-chaired the ISBD Experts by Experience planning committee for multiple years, developing programming that integrates clinical expertise with first-person perspectives.

Dr. Vassilev is the creator of Overcoming Self-Stigma in Bipolar Disorder (OSSiBD), a novel therapeutic program currently in use internationally with multiple translations underway. Dr. Vassilev published "Beyond the Bipolar Label: A Workbook to Overcome Self-Stigma, Break Free from Shame, and Live Authentically," an adaption of the popular program for individual use, with New Harbinger Publications.

Dr. Vassilev has never forgotten her roots as a peer group leader for the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). She began in her local chapter, where she served as a facilitator for years and later served as CEO of the 501(c)(3). Later, she went on to serve both on the Advisory Board of DBSA California as well as the Education Chair. She co-founded and co-leads the Mood Pros Society, a DBSA support group specifically and exclusively for mental health clinicians with mood disorders.

Her other academic and clinical accomplishments are varied but all stem from her dedication to her community. These include having presented at national and international academic conferences and having been honored with awards such the Mogens Schou Award for Public Service & Advocacy (International Society for Bipolar Disorders) and the Revolutionary Researcher Award (Social Health Network.) During her education, she was honored with a number of scholarships that recognize her own life with a mental health condition, including the Bridge the Gap scholarship from the Quell Foundation.

One of Dr. Vassilev's favorite hobbies is creating relatable content for others living with bipolar and sharing it on her Instagram @best.life.bipolar.

Ultimately, she hopes that by telling her own story of life with bipolar disorder will provide education, hope, and comfort to others. In all things, she remains a dedicated warrior in the fight against mental health stigma!