59. OT’s Role in Mental Health with Mountain Valley’s Executive Director Zack Schafer
Release Date: 02/19/2025
79. Back to School Anxiety: 5 Tips for Parents to Help Teens Overcome School Avoidance
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In this special back-to-school episode Zack sits down with Mountain Valley’s Director of External Affairs and Enrollment, Everett Logan, to share practical strategies for parents whose teens are struggling with school avoidance and anxiety. Everett draws on his background as a teacher, school counselor, and leader at Mountain Valley to outline five key tips that can help families manage back-to-school stress: normalizing anxiety without enabling avoidance, managing your own parental anxiety, setting predictable routines, being proactive with plans, and looking...
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78. School Anxiety in Teens: How Therademics Helps Students Build Resilience
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In this episode Zack sits down with Patrick Cooke, Assistant Director of Studies at , to explore the powerful intersection of mental health and education. Patrick shares how the partnership between and has created therademics—an approach where therapeutic goals are woven directly into academic work. Together, they discuss how anxiety and OCD often show up in the classroom, the impact of common accommodations like extra time, and how parents and educators can better support students without unintentionally reinforcing avoidance. Drawing from both his years as an educator and his...
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77. From Fear To Love: Stories from Mountain Valley Reunion 2025
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In this special live edition of the Fear Less Podcast, recorded at the 2025 Mountain Valley Reunion, Zack brings together alumni, parents, current residents, and staff to share powerful stories of hope, resilience, and transformation. Against the backdrop of a sunny summer day in Plainfield, NH, voices from across the Mountain Valley family reflect on their personal journeys—overcoming debilitating anxiety, OCD, depression, and other mental health struggles—and the pivotal role this community played in their recovery. From heartfelt testimonies of residents who once felt hopeless to the...
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76. “What do I do with my life?” Coaching Young Adults Through Career Anxiety
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In this episode Zack sits down with career clarity expert Lisa Marker-Robbins to explore how parents can support their young adults in navigating the often overwhelming path toward school, career, and independence. Drawing on decades of experience and her role as a mom of five, Lisa breaks down the fears, anxieties, and misconceptions that keep both parents and their children stuck. She explains how her three-step framework—focusing on self-awareness, career exploration, and intentional next steps—can bring clarity and confidence to the post-high school journey. Lisa and Zack dive into the...
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75. The Trade: Helping Young Adults Launch Through Real Work, Mentorship, and Community
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In this powerful episode, Zack welcomes back two inspiring leaders—Tim Vaughan, Executive Director of and Will Laughlin, CEO of and . Together, they introduce The Trade, a new work-life preparatory program for young adults (ages 18–30) who feel stuck, disconnected, or unsure about their next steps. Drawing from decades of experience in education, mental health, and mentoring, Tim and Will explain how The Trade provides meaningful work, mentorship, and a supportive community—all on a 2,000-acre mountain campus in New Hampshire. This episode explores how hands-on learning, and genuine...
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74. Why Your Teen Is So Sensitive: Understanding Sensory Processing and Anxiety
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In this solo episode our host and Executive Director of , Zack Shafer MSOTR/L unpacks one of the most overlooked components of teen mental health: sensory processing. Speaking directly to parents of adolescents who are anxious, overwhelmed, or emotionally reactive, Zack explains how teens with anxiety, OCD, ADHD, or Autism Spectrum Disorder often experience the world through a different sensory lens—and how those differences can dramatically affect their ability to cope, self-regulate, and function in daily life. With warmth and clarity, Zack breaks down terms like sensory processing vs....
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73. Autism and Anxiety: Helping Neurodivergent Teens Thrive through a Developmental Approach
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In this insightful episode, Zack sits down with Cam Sherman, executive director at NeuroDev, to explore the intersection of neurodiversity and anxiety in young people. Cam unpacks how traditional academic and clinical approaches often miss a key component: developmental growth. Drawing from his work at NeuroDev—a mentoring-based program for neurodivergent young adults—Cam explains why young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) frequently experience anxiety and stress, particularly around identity formation, social connection, and transitions to independence. Parents will gain...
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72. From Perfectionism to Self-Compassion: Izzy’s Journey Through Teen Anxiety and Recovery”
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In this heartfelt episode Zack sits down with former Mountain Valley resident Izzy Carosi, who courageously shares her journey through anxiety, depression, and the perfectionism that once consumed her. From the outside, Izzy appeared to have it all—strong academics, athletic talent, and a vibrant personality—but beneath the surface, she struggled with crippling anxiety and perfectionism. Her path led her to where she experienced both a painful early departure and a powerful return. In her honest retelling, Izzy opens up about learning to accept help, understanding attachment and...
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71. Why Every Teen with Anxiety Should Learn DBT: Insights from Brittany Little LCSW
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In this episode Zack is joined by Brittany Little, LCSW, clinical director at and former therapist at Mountain Valley Treatment Center. Brittany shares her deep expertise in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and how it can be a transformative tool for teens struggling with anxiety, OCD, and emotional dysregulation. While often associated with borderline personality disorder, Brittany explains how DBT’s practical, skills-based approach is incredibly useful for adolescents with intense emotions—even before they're ready for exposure therapy. Topics covered include mindfulness, emotion...
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70. “I Hate the Way I Look”: Addressing Anxiety and Body Image Issues
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In this compelling episode Zack is joined once again by clinical psychologist to explore body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)—a deeply misunderstood and often overlooked condition, especially in adolescent boys and young men. Dr. Olivardia, co-author of The Adonis Complex, shares his decades of clinical and research experience in working with individuals who struggle with distorted body image, anxiety, and co-occurring disorders like OCD and depression. He breaks down how BDD presents, the dangerous cultural messages that fuel it, and why it often goes undiagnosed in young men. For parents of...
info_outlineIn this insightful solo episode, Zack dives into the vital role of occupational therapy (OT) in mental health treatment, particularly at Mountain Valley Treatment Center. Zack shares his personal journey into the OT field, the therapeutic power of meaningful activity, and how Mountain Valley integrates OT principles into their residential program for adolescents and young adults struggling with anxiety and OCD. Through personal stories and professional insights, Zack highlights how occupational therapy fosters healing through engagement, functionality, and community connection.
Listeners will gain a rich understanding of the history of OT and its practical applications within the field of mental health care. Zack reviews the "5 C’s”, a concept that originated from the work of Dr. Rachel Thibeault, an occupational therapist who studied psychological resilience and well-being in underprivileged and marginalized communities. Zack discusses how the “5 C’s” —Centering, Contemplation, Connection, Contribution, and Creativity— are core principles that guide the healing process and shape the therapeutic milieu at Mountain Valley. Zack also discusses how OTs at Mountain Valley collaborate with clinicians to support life skills, social participation, and exposure therapy, for adolescents and young adults with anxiety, OCD, and related disorders. This episode demonstrates the profound impact of OT in mental health care and is a must-listen for professionals, parents, and anyone interested in holistic approaches to mental well-being.
Zack’s Hack: In this week’s hack Zack shares a quote about how action is a key antidote to helping you fear less!
Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.