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.

In this week's episode of the Fear Less Podcast, Zack sits down with Dr. Caroline Trustee, a licensed professional counselor who holds a PhD in counseling from UNC Greensboro and currently works at all-girls private school in Washinton, D.C. In this episode, she shares her innovative perspective on how to support youth mental health within the school system and discusses the initiatives she has undertaken to ensure that social-emotional support is integrated into the everyday curriculum at her school, making it accessible for all students. This conversation delves into the many challenges faced by adolescents today, including the impact of social media and the importance of destigmatizing mental health support in educational settings.

Dr. Trustee also shares her unique perspective of working in a single-gender educational setting. She discusses the benefits of working with all girls, emphasizing how this dynamic can create a supportive culture that can be empowering for young women. With her expertise and experience in working with adolescent girls, Dr. Trustee shares insights on common stressors that adolescent girls face, the importance of holding space for emotional expression, and how her school focuses on a holistic approach to student well-being. This episode is packed with valuable information for educators, parents, and mental health professionals looking to better understand and support the intersection between adolescent mental health and education.

Zack’s Hack: In this week’s anxiety hack Zack talks about social media and its impact on anxiety.

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this week’s episode Zack sits down with Will White, producer of the Fear Less podcast and clinical supervisor at Mountain Valley Treatment Center, to discuss their recent hike up Mount Moosilauke. They recount the challenging hike taken on Memorial Day with ten residents and adventure coordinator TJ Bauman, exploring the profound physical and emotional benefits of outdoor adventures to help people with anxiety. The episode delves into exposure therapy, adventure therapy, and the therapeutic effects of nature, highlighting how these experiences foster personal growth and resilience. Zack also shares a deeply personal story about the significance of the day, marking the anniversary of a close friend's passing, adding an emotional and reflective layer to the conversation.

Zack uses this episode to emphasize Mountain Valley's mission of helping adolescents and young adults overcome anxiety and related disorders through innovative therapeutic practices. He discusses the importance of creating opportunities for residents to step outside their comfort zones and embrace challenges, reinforcing the center's commitment to fostering an exposure-based lifestyle. Zack's heartfelt narrative and dedication to mental health advocacy resonate throughout the episode, making it a compelling listen for anyone interested in the transformative power of therapy and nature. This episode will also be featured on Dr. Will White’s podcast, "Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors."

Zack’s Hack: In this week’s anxiety hack Zack the benefits of spending time in the outdoors to help reduce anxiety and to fear less.

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this week's episode of Fear Less, Zack sits down with Bailey Cohen, a former resident of Mountain Valley and now, a thriving member of the organization as residential staff member. Bailey is currently studying forensic psychology at Johnson and Wales College and is employed as a summer intern at Mountain Valley after working this past year as per diem staff on weekends and holidays. In this discussion, Bailey shares about her transformative journey from a resident struggling with severe anxiety and emetophobia to a dedicated member of the treatment team, supporting others who face similar challenges.

Through this candid conversation, Bailey delves into her experience with exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, shedding light on the innovative techniques that helped her regain control over her life. She shares how this transformative experience in the Mountain Valley program inspired her to want to help others and has led her to return to Mountain Valley as a staff and pursue a career in mental health. Bailey’s heartfelt narrative offers listeners a profound understanding of the lived experience of someone with anxiety and OCD, the importance of community in mental recovery, and how one’s can turn their mental health struggles into their biggest superpower.

Zack’s Hack: In this week's anxiety hack Zack discusses interoceptive exposures and how to create exposure exercises at home that can help combat the physical symptoms of anxiety.

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this episode Zack interviews Kayte Knower, the co-founder and executive director of Knower Academics. Kayte discusses the origins of her organization, which she started with her husband to fill gaps in traditional academic support systems. She emphasizes the importance of addressing academic anxiety with exposure-based approaches rather than over-accommodation, a method that aligns with the philosophy of Mountain Valley Treatment Center, where her team provides educational support. Kayte highlights the necessity of specialization in education to truly help students with learning differences and anxiety, noting that teachers are often overburdened and unable to provide the individualized support some students need.

Throughout the conversation, Kayte delves into the unique challenges today's students face, such as perfectionism, fear of making mistakes, and the anxiety surrounding academic performance and college admissions. She explains how Knower Academics tackles these issues by offering personalized support and gradually exposing students to their academic fears in a controlled and supportive environment. The discussion also touches on the broader implications of integrating mental health and educational strategies, illustrating how a collaborative approach can unlock students' potential and transform their academic experiences.

Zack’s Hack: Zack discusses Polyvagel Theory and how humming can make you Fear Less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this insightful episode of Fear Less, Zack welcomes Tim Vaughan, the Director of Learning, Leadership, and Employee Programs at Moosilauke Visions. Tim shares his extensive experience in organizational development and leadership training. He highlights the common challenges faced within organizations and the importance of addressing systemic issues within the workplace environment rather than focusing on individual employee problems. He emphasizes how fulfilling three basic human needs—belonging, autonomy, and mastery—can play a huge role in reducing fear and anxiety in the workplace and help foster a healthy environment where both the employees and the organization can thrive.

Throughout the conversation Tim moves beyond discussing the philosophical ideas of good organizational leadership and begins providing practical strategies that can be implemented to improve the workplace. He reviews different ways that organizations that can help fulfill the three core needs and introduces listeners to “A-TIPS”, a feedback model that he created to help employees and leaders effectively communicate feedback so they can build a culture of trust and empowerment. This episode dives deep into the principles of fearless leadership and listeners can expect to learn how to transform their workplace into a hub of productivity and well-being.

Zack’s Hack: In this week’s hack for anxiety Zack talks about how fostering mastery can help address anxiety.

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this week’s episode of the Fear Less podcast, Zack converses with Everett Logan, who currently oversees Mountain Valley’s admissions process and has worn multiple different administrative hats throughout his time in the program. Everett dives deep into the emotional and logistical complexities of helping young people and their families commit and admit to mental health treatment. He highlights how anxiety can misguide families during such a crucial time for intervention and the important role he plays in conquering that fear by building relationships, providing education, and fostering a sense of agency.

Everett’s well-rounded experience in the Mountain Valley program has allowed him to gain a wealth of knowledge about the anxiety epidemic and what we can do to help our youth overcome their fears, embrace themselves, and live a meaningful life. Listeners can expect to receive practical wisdom, tangible strategies, and a whole lot of hope for how we can all come together to make fear less in our everyday lives.

Zack’s Hack- In this week’s hack Zack shares how moving and stretching can help ground in the face of fear!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.