In this inspiring episode Zack talks with former Mountain Valley resident, Gin Majka, who candidly shares her journey through anxiety, perfectionism, and the path to self-discovery. As an 18-year-old facing severe panic attacks and academic pressure, Gin’s time at Mountain Valley served as a turning point in her young life. Now, nearly a decade after graduating the program, Gin reflects on how the supportive environment and exposure-based therapies helped her accept discomfort, embrace vulnerability, and set her on a path towards healing and self-discovery.

Today, Gin thrives as a freelance photographer, harmonizing her passions for creativity, environmental storytelling, and meaningful human connection. As she continues the never ending journey of managing her mental health, Gin shares how she has learned to leverage coping strategies, therapeutic support, and view her sensitivity and perfectionism as assets rather than liabilities in her everyday life. Gin encourages others to accept that life’s journey—both personally and professionally—is rarely straightforward and there is beauty to be found in the chaos.

Zack’s Hack: In this week’s anxiety hack Zack shares how harnessing creativity can help you fear less.

Gin Malka’s website is-https://www.ginmajka.com/

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this episode Zack talks with Ciara Fanlo, founder of The Homing Instinct, a mentoring program for teens. Drawing on her own experience as a “troubled teen,” Ciara recounts the challenges she faced in adolescence—ranging from crippling anxiety and perfectionism to questioning her sense of belonging. Through wilderness therapy, therapeutic boarding schools, and a series of transformative treatment programs, she forged a deeper understanding of herself. Ciara’s story highlights how facing discomfort and embracing vulnerability can help individuals discover their inner compass, ultimately guiding them toward resilience, clarity, and personal growth.

Today, Ciara pays her journey forward by mentoring teens who find themselves navigating similar waters. With empathy and insight, she supports them as they take incremental steps beyond their comfort zones, encouraging them to harness self-expression, develop coping strategies, and connect meaningfully with others. Whether through journaling, tapping into nature, or using metaphors like the “hero’s journey,” Ciara F helps teens build emotional “toolkits” and cultivate a grounded sense of self-worth. Her message resonates for anyone seeking to understand adolescence as an essential rite of passage—a period of uncertainty, yes, but also a powerful opportunity for growth and authentic self-discovery.

Zack’s Hack: In this week’s anxiety hack Zack shares how imaging self in a future context can help you fear less.

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this heartfelt episode Zack sits down with Chris Leston, the Executive Director and founder of Away Recovery, a treatment program dedicated to helping individuals overcome substance use challenges located in Pike, N.H. Chris shares his personal journey through addiction and recovery, offering deep insight into the complex world of substance use disorders and the pivotal role the fear and anxiety play in the process.

Chris discusses how underlying issues like perfectionism, control, and fear of judgment contributed to his struggles and how confronting these anxieties was crucial for his healing. He emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, connection, and facing discomfort to achieve true recovery. The episode also explores how Away Recovery provides a supportive environment for individuals to self-reflect, embrace holistic practices, and work through 12-step immersion programs. This conversation offers valuable perspectives for anyone interested in understanding addiction, recovery, and the transformative power of facing your fears.

Zack’s Hack: In this week’s anxiety hack Zack talks about how vulnerability will help you Fear Less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this enlightening episode Zack welcomes back Ira Hayes, a licensed clinical social worker from New Jersey, to discuss the transformative power of the growth mindset. Ira has an incredible passion for the transformative power of growth mindset and has extensive experience integrating growth mindset into school systems and therapeutic practices. In this episode, Ira unpacks the essence of what growth mindset, how it differs from a fixed mindset, and its profound impact on anxiety, resilience, and personal development.

Throughout the conversation, Ira discusses the latest research behind growth mindset, highlighting key figures like Dr. Carol Dweck and Dr. David Yeager. He offers practical strategies for parents, educators, and clinicians to foster a growth mindset in children and adolescents, addressing challenges such as overcoming fixed beliefs and encouraging resilience in the face of failure.

By integrating growth mindset with stress-enhancing perspectives, Ira demonstrates how embracing challenges, and reframing stress can lead to significant improvements in mental health and overall well-being. This episode provides valuable insights and actionable advice for anyone interested in empowering themselves or others through the power of mindset transformation.

Zack's Hack: In this week’s anxiety hack Zack shares how using a growth mindset can help you fear less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this episode Zack interviews Becca Winant, the Admissions Manager at Mountain Valley Treatment Center. With nearly eight years of experience at Mountain Valley, Becca shares her journey from starting as a residential counselor to becoming a key figure who guides families through the admissions process. She discusses her passion for working with adolescents struggling with anxiety and related disorders, drawing from her background in health education and yoga instruction.

Becca offers valuable insights into Mountain Valley's unique approach to treating anxiety, including their three-phase treatment model and holistic methods like outdoor activities and mindfulness practices. She also opens up about her own experiences with anxiety, emphasizing the importance of finding effective coping strategies. This episode provides listeners with an inside look at the resources available for adolescents and their parents dealing with anxiety and how Mountain Valley supports both residents and their families.

Zack’s Hack: In this episode Zack shares how connecting with others can help you Fear Less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

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.