In this powerful episode of the Fear Less Podcast, host Zack welcomes Danielle, a former resident of Mountain Valley Treatment Center, who courageously shares her personal journey of battling anxiety, self-harm, and other mental health challenges. Danielle opens up about the pivotal moments that led her to seek treatment, including how her anxiety-driven self-harm became a coping mechanism. She offers valuable insights into how exposure therapy and other treatment modalities at Mountain Valley helped her develop healthier coping strategies. Danielle discusses the challenges she faced in transitioning out of treatment, the role of self-acceptance in her healing, and how she now manages anxiety with tools like mindfulness and progressive muscle relaxation.

The conversation also highlights Danielle's inspiring resilience as she navigates her return to academic life and social interactions. Through a mix of vulnerability and wisdom, Danielle’s story sheds light on the complexities of anxiety, self-harm, and the importance of finding the right support system. She provides hope for listeners struggling with similar issues, emphasizing the role of mindset and perseverance in overcoming mental health challenges.

Zack’s Anxiety Hack: In this episode Zack explains how diary cards can help you to fear less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this episode of the Fear Less Podcast, host Zack interviews Professor Mary Beth Gallagher from Duke University. With over 25 years of experience in occupational therapy across the U.S. and abroad, Mary Beth shares her insights on how fear shapes and impacts mental health care systems. The conversation highlights the risk-averse nature of mental health care environments and how fear of litigation often leads to conservative treatment decisions, which can hinder patient progress. Mary Beth discusses her perspective on occupational therapy’s role in promoting well-being and how practitioners can balance safety with evidence-based interventions.

The episode also delves into the systemic challenges faced by mental health professionals, particularly in hospital settings, where fear can limit innovation and personalized care. Mary Beth shares examples of how risk aversion affects therapeutic interventions and emphasizes the need for more dialogue and flexibility in the mental health care system. She also introduces a community-focused nonprofit which she helped co-found, the Center for Community Connection (C4CC), which aims to provide holistic, occupation-based interventions to foster well-being and connection at individual, family, and community levels.

Zack’s Hacks: In this week’s anxiety hack Zack shares a tool called, Seven Column Thought Record which can help you to Fear Less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this episode Zack is joined by Joanna Lilley, a therapeutic consultant and podcaster who specializes in helping young adults and their families navigate the complex transitions of young adulthood. As a therapeutic consultant, Joanna offers proactive support that helps young adults “launch” into a college, gap year program, vocational opportunity, etc. Joanna also offers reactive support, helping young adults and their families pivot from their current plan to find opportunities best suited to help them launch.

In this conversation, Zack and Joanna discuss how anxiety and fear impact this transitional period for young adults. Joanna shares the common fears she sees in the young adults and families she works with and offers her expert advice and wisdom on how to best navigate a time that is riddled with uncertainty. Joanna’s discusses her recent article, "Cold Feet," where she explores why it's common for students to experience last-minute doubts about their college plans and how to approach these feelings constructively. Whether you're a student, parent, or educator, this episode provides valuable strategies for how to manage the inevitable stress, anxiety, and fear that uncertainty that comes with such significant life changes and is an essential listen for anyone involved in guiding young adults through these critical developmental years.

Zack Hack: In this week’s anxiety hack Zack dives into the “5-4-3-2-1-“ sensory strategy that you can use to ground yourself in a moment of anxiety or panic.

Check out Joanna’s Success is Subjective Podcast.

Here is a link to the Cold Feet article on Joanna’s website.

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this special episode of the "Fear Less" podcast, Zack sits down with alumni at the annual Mountain Valley Reunion so they can share their stories of fear, anxiety, and triumph. On August 10th, Mountain Valley welcomed back over 35 alumni residents and families to reconnect as a community and celebrate the life changing experience they had during their time in the program. Each year the reunion ends with a fire ceremony, where alumni are given the opportunity to step forward and share their stories as way to continue their own therapeutic healing and inspire those around them to continue to do the same.

This episode is a live recording of that ceremony and the alumni stories that were shared. The narratives are deeply personal and very vulnerable. Alumni discuss the struggles they faced before Mountain Valley, the transformative moments they had along their journey, and enduring healing effect that their Mountain Valley experience has had on their lives. They share openly and honestly about the crippling anxiety and mental health challenges that plagued their lives, the bravery it took to face their fears, and the more fulfilling life they have been able to live by doing so. Each person who spoke is a testament to the courageous young people who make up the Mountain Valley community and choose to take on the challenge of making “fear less.” Listeners will find these narratives to be incredibly inspiring and full of wisdom, offering a beacon of hope for anyone out there whose life has been disrupted by fear and anxiety.

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this episode of the Fear Less podcast, host Zack engages in a profound conversation with Dr. Heather Kuhaneck, a seasoned expert in occupational therapy and sensory processing. Dr. Kuhaneck, who has dedicated over 30 years to the field, shares her insights into the complexities of sensory processing and how it intertwines with fear and anxiety. The discussion delves into the eight sensory systems, emphasizing the lesser-known ones—proprioception, vestibular, and interoception—and their critical roles in emotional regulation and daily functioning. Through this dialogue, Dr. Kuhaneck sheds light on how sensory processing challenges can exacerbate anxiety and offers practical strategies for individuals to manage their sensory needs effectively.

Dr. Kuhaneck also explores the distinction between sensory processing and sensory integration, providing clarity on these often-confused terms. She discusses how various activities, both therapeutic and recreational, can help improve sensory processing over time, offering hope and practical advice to those struggling with sensory-related anxiety. The episode is rich with examples and actionable tips, making it an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand and manage the intersection of sensory challenges and mental health.

Zack’s Hack: In this week’s anxiety hack Zack talks about how yoga practice can help you Fear Less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this episode of Fear Less, Zack interviews Hann Bernardi, the Animal and Farm Coordinator at Mountain Valley Treatment Center. Hann shares their journey from working as a conventional farmer to now using animal husbandry and farm work to help youth heal from their mental health challenges. Hann discusses how the farm at Mountain Valley is used to help residents overcome fears and anxieties, emphasizing the therapeutic impact of fostering a deeper connection between humans, animals, and the land. They dive into the concept and philosophy of “stewardship”, and how working with animals on the farm helps residents develop life skills, foster self-efficacy, and find a greater sense of purpose as they become active contributors to something bigger than themselves.

Listeners can expect to learn more about what the day-to-day farm work is like at Mountain Valley, the different animals and projects included in the farm, and how farm life provides valuable lessons in communication, boundaries, and self-care. Hann also shares vulnerably about how their work at Mountain Valley has served as a powerful mirror for their own struggles and has played a large role in their personal growth. Hann is a beautiful soul, full of wisdom and insight, and this episode is a must listen for anyone who is curious about the healing power of farming, animals, and working with the land.

Zack’s Hack: In this week’s anxiety hack Zack talks about how having a pet can help you fear less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this week’s episode of the Fear Less Podcast, Zack sits down with the new clinical director of Mountain Valley, Dr. Alison LaFollette. Alison brings a wide array of expertise and experience to Mountain Valley. With a PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kansas, extensive post-doctoral work at the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute, and a wide range of professional experiences across multiple mental health settings, Alison has fostered a deep and holistic understanding mental health and how to support individuals with a variety of mental health challenges. Her unique approach, which focuses on leveraging clients' strengths and values while addressing their challenges, aligns perfectly with Mountain Valley’s mission.

Prior to coming to Mountain Valley, Alison was running her own business, providing neuropsychological testing to youth in residential programs and other settings across the United States. In this episode she discusses her passion for neuropsychological testing, highlighting how it enhances clinical practice and how she plans to integrate it into Mountain Valley’s clinical approach. She also discusses her excitement for working in a team environment and her plans for further integrating recreational therapy and occupational therapy into Mountain Valley’s holistic therapeutic model. This episode provides listeners with a deeper understanding of Alison’s personal and professional experience, her innovative approaches to treatment, and her vision for the future of the Mountain Valley clinical treatment.

Zack’s Hack: In this week’s anxiety hack Zack talks about how play can help us fear less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this heartfelt solo episode of the Fear Less Podcast, host Zack Schafer shares his intimate journey into fatherhood. Zack opens up about the fears and anxieties he experienced through the process of welcoming his first son, Micah James, into the world. Reflecting on his experiences from late pregnancy, through childbirth, and now one month into fatherhood, Zack discusses how fear served as an ally and played a crucial role in helping him transform into becoming the dad he wants to be. This episode takes a raw and insightful look into the realities of parenthood and the powerful role fear can play in helping us develop resilience, define our values, and find a deeper sense of meaning and purpose.

Listeners will find Zack's candid reflections both relatable and inspiring, whether they're parents themselves or simply someone facing their own fears in their life. Zack speaks to how fear can be leveraged and used a resource to become the person you were always meant to be. So tune in, and discover how fear can be a motivating force for positive change and along the way learn some practical strategies for how to effectively manage your own anxiety. Don't miss this touching episode that underscores the essence of the Fear Less Podcast: embracing fear as a friend, not a foe.

Zack hack: In this week’s anxiety hack Zack talks about values and how one can use their values to Fear Less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.