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 episode Zack sits down with Nicole Carosi, the mother of a former Mountain Valley Treatment Center resident, Isabella. Nicole shares an intimate look into her family’s journey with Isabella’s anxiety, perfectionism, and depression, detailing the struggles that led them to seek intensive treatment. She reflects on the challenges of parenting an anxious child, the decision to enroll Isabella at Mountain Valley, and the nonlinear path toward healing. Throughout their discussion, Zack, who was Isabella’s therapist during her time at Mountain Valley, offers unique insight into her therapeutic journey, including the pivotal moments that led to breakthroughs for both Isabella and her family.
Nicole candidly discusses the emotional toll of seeking treatment, the difficult transition of dropping Isabella off, and the heartbreaking moment of realizing that initial treatment wasn’t working. She also shares how Isabella’s return to Mountain Valley, after a brief departure, allowed her to truly engage with the program and make lasting progress. Through therapy, family coaching, and deep self-reflection, Nicole and Isabella learned valuable lessons about managing anxiety, setting boundaries, and fostering resilience. Now thriving in her senior year of high school, Isabella’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and finding the right support.
Zack’s Hack: In this week’s anxiety hack Zack shares some words of wisdom from singer/songwriter Taylor Swift.
Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.