In this heartfelt episode Zack sits down with Emma, a psychotherapist and mother of two, who shares her deeply personal journey of helping her son navigate severe anxiety and OCD during his adolescence. Despite her professional background, Emma found herself grappling with the overwhelming challenges of her son's mental health struggles, which began to surface intensely when he was in sixth grade. From school refusal and debilitating fears to the complexities of co-parenting and the judgment of others, Emma opens up about the myriad obstacles she faced in trying to support her son.

Emma discusses the difficult decisions she had to make, including enrolling her son at Mountain Valley Treatment Center. She candidly shares the emotional turmoil of sending her son away, the guilt, and the relief that came with finding the right support. Throughout the episode, Emma reflects on the lessons she learned—not just about her son's condition, but also about her own anxieties and her approach to parenting. Her story culminates with her sons remarkable transformation and journey toward well-being, offering hope and insights for other parents facing similar struggles.

Zack’s Hack: In this week’s anxiety hack Zack reveals a technique that parents can use to help their child fear less.

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this episode Zack sits down with Sarah Bennison, the co-founder and CEO of The Mattering Movement. They explore the profound impact of "mattering"—the feeling of being valued and making meaningful contributions—on mental health, particularly among adolescents struggling with anxiety and related disorders. Drawing from her extensive background in education and service learning, Sarah discusses how integrating mattering into school curricula can combat toxic achievement culture and improve students' mental well-being. She shares insights on how experiential learning and community engagement empower kids to realize their inherent value, thereby reducing stress and anxiety.

The conversation delves into practical strategies for parents and educators to foster environments where children feel they matter. Sarah emphasizes that small acts of contribution and explicit affirmations of a child's worth can have significant mental health benefits. By shifting the focus from individual achievement to meaningful participation in the community, The Mattering Movement aims to create a cultural change that promotes mental well-being. This episode offers valuable, actionable advice on how fostering a sense of mattering can transform not only individual lives but also educational systems and communities.

Zack's Hack: In this weeks episode Zack shares how careing for others can help you fear less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this special episode of the Fear Less podcast, host Zack Schafer and Mountain Valley’s clinical director Alison LaFollette present live from the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) Conference on how the integration of occupational therapy (OT) and counseling psychology can transform mental health treatment.

Their talk explores the shared theoretical foundations of both disciplines—such as humanistic psychology, systems thinking, and a strengths-based perspective. They discuss how combining OT's focus on meaningful, everyday activities with counseling psychology's emphasis on personal development and holistic care, help those struggling with fear, anxiety, and related disorders. In the talk, Zack and Alison discussed real world examples from their work together at Mountain Valley Treatment Center and they provide practical strategies on how to integrate the fundamentals of these two professional approaches into your everyday practice.

Through their unique but fundamentally aligned professional perspectives, Zack and Alison paint a picture of an approach to mental health care that extends beyond the treatment of symptoms and aspires to help clients live meaningful, purposeful, and fulfilling lives. It is inspiring and informative conversation for any mental health practitioner, consultant, educator, etc. who is looking to broaden their professional lens and improve the care they provide.

Zack’s Hacks: In this week’s anxiety hack Zack talks about magnesium can help you fear less.

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this episode of the Fear Less podcast, Zack interviews Patrick Babcock, the founder and CEO of Foundation House, a behavioral health and substance abuse treatment program for young men in Portland, Maine. They explore the deep connections between fear, anxiety, and substance use, discussing how these factors intertwine in the lives of individuals struggling with addiction. Patrick shares his personal journey through fear, anxiety, and substance abuse, detailing how his experiences have shaped the innovative approaches employed at Foundation House.

The conversation delves into the broader definitions of substance use, emphasizing that addictions can extend beyond drugs and alcohol to include behaviors like excessive gaming and constant technological distraction. Patrick highlights the importance of experiential therapy, explaining how Foundation House incorporates global travel and challenging activities—such as night diving with sharks—to help clients confront their fears and anxieties directly. By fostering connection, mindfulness, and exposure to new experiences, the program empowers young men to develop healthier coping mechanisms and break the cycle of anxiety and addiction.

Zack's Hack: In this weeks anxiety hack Zack discusses how travelling to an unknown place can help you fear less to do more!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this episode of the Fear Less Podcast, Zack interviews Dr. Anne Marie Albano, renowned expert in anxiety and founder of the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders. Dr. Albano shares her deep insights on childhood and ado lescent anxiety, the importance of family involvement in treatment, and her developmental approach to helping children overcome anxiety while navigating key milestones. She offers practical advice for parents struggling to support their anxious children and discusses how enabling behaviors can unintentionally maintain anxiety.

Dr. Albano and Zack explore how parents can foster independence by stepping back and allowing children to manage their own challenges, leading to improved confidence and emotional resilience. They also delve into how anxiety can impact developmental progress and how tailored strategies can support children through their journey. This insightful conversation is packed with actionable advice for parents, educators, and anyone supporting a child with anxiety.

Zack’s Hack: In this week’s anxiety hack Zack dives into developmental issues.

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

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.