hpy hour

On this episode of HPY Hour, Anurag sits down with Dr. Starlyn Hawes, a health and rehab psychologist, and health MPowerment Coach passionate about guiding individuals through life's complexities with empathy and insight. Dr. Hawes shares her journey from academic advising to her holistic practice, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and empowerment in navigating life's transitions. Toget...

On this episode of HPY Hour, Anurag sits down with Dr. Karen Egu, a clinical psychologist dedicated to advancing mental health through innovative therapy approaches. Dr. Egu shares her journey from hospital settings to her private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area, highlighting how severe mental illness and trauma shape therapeutic practices, and the evolving role of technology in therapy. To...

On this episode of Happy Hour, Meera sits down with Portia Bajwa from SANSARA Counseling, a clinical social worker dedicated to fostering emotional safety and personal growth. Portia shares her insights on how family dynamics and past experiences shape our relationship patterns, emphasizing the importance of experiential therapy in achieving authentic connections. Together, they explore the challe...

On this episode of Hpy Hour , @anuragagarwalla sits down with Dr. Sarah Schewitz, a licensed psychologist who helps high achievers build the same success in their personal relationships that they’ve created in their careers. Dr. Schewitz brings deep expertise in attachment theory and trauma-informed care, sharing why even subtle emotional wounds—what she calls “little t” trauma—can impact how we c...

On this episode of Hpy Hour, @anuragagarwalla sits down with Niki Castle, a certified mental health coach and founder of Healing Minds Mental Health Coaching, to unpack how technology is influencing the mental and emotional well-being of children and teens—and what parents, educators, and caregivers can actually do about it. Niki brings her experience coaching families and student-athletes to the...

On this episode of HPY Hour, @anuragagarwalla sits down with Brittnee Jordan, MS—a seasoned vocational rehabilitation counselor with over a decade of experience—who unpacks the evolving intersection of mental health, workplace accessibility, and financial wellbeing. Brittnee shares her journey into vocational counseling and mental health, shedding light on how COVID-19 shifted perceptions around r...

In this episode of HPY Hour, @anuragagarwalla sits down with Dr. David Cooper, PsyD—a clinical psychologist turned digital‑mental‑health innovator—to explore what it really takes to build healing that's both human and high-tech. With experience designing apps for U.S. service members and Veterans, leading mental-health strategy at Teladoc, and guiding therapists in the digital space through his wo...

In this episode of HPY Hour, @anuragagarwalla sits down with clinical psychologist Dr. Lynn Ianni to explore what it truly takes to heal from trauma. With decades of experience in psychospiritual therapy and family systems work, Dr. Ianni shares deep insights into the inner journey of healing — from unlearning survival patterns to finding meaning, connection, and self-trust. This conversation goes...

In this episode of HPY Hour, our founder @anuragagarwalla sits down with Eric Andrew Pierce, LCSW, a seasoned therapist with nearly 30 years of experience supporting the LGBTQIA+ community through trauma, anxiety, and depression. They dive into the transformative potential of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), exploring how this innovative treatment can open new pathways to healing when tradit...

In this episode of HPY Hour, our founder @anuragagarwalla sits down with Dr. Mary Kate Roohan, a licensed clinical psychologist, registered drama therapist, and the founder of Thrive and Feel—a therapy practice devoted to emotionally sensitive and queer-identifying individuals. Together, they explore what it means to be a sensitive person in today’s world, and how emotional depth can be a source o...

In this episode of HPY Hour, our founder @anuragagarwalla sits down with Madlen Pashinian, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Glendale, California. With deep expertise in trauma, relationship dynamics, and emotional healing, Madlen offers a compassionate and clinical lens into some of today’s most complex relational challenges. Together, they explore the realities of being in a rela...

In this episode of HPY Hour, our founder @anuragagarwalla sits down with Hannah Maxson (@talktothe_han), a marketing strategist and wellness advocate currently leading initiatives at Centered Health. With years of experience in content, branding, and campaign development, Hannah brings a thoughtful and strategic lens to her work—fusing creativity with care in everything she does. We dive into her...

Healing and Transformation Through Therapy with Dominique Hamler In this powerful episode of HPY Hour, we sit down with Dominique Hamler, RN, MSN, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Outpatient Center (LAOP) and Founder of Counseling in Color LA. With over 20 years of experience in healthcare, Dominique brings her expertise in trauma-informed care and emotional healing to the conversation. We ex...

What does it mean to truly heal after trauma — not just survive, but grow? In this powerful episode of HPY Hour, we sit down with therapist and somatic practitioner Aisha Ishtiaq, LMFT, to explore the deep connections between the body, trauma, and transformation. We unpack the difference between post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth, and how somatic tools can help you regulate your nervo...

In this powerful episode of hpy hour, we sit down with Ektha Aggarwal, licensed psychotherapist and founder of Shakti Therapy & Healing Services and Jiva Mental Health. Based in Los Angeles, Ektha is a passionate advocate for South Asian mental health, creating safe, culturally sensitive spaces for healing and self-discovery. Together, we explore the unique challenges faced by first-generation...

In this heartfelt episode, our founder Anurag sits down with Payal—known online as @payalforstyle—to talk about her mental health journey, her powerful road to sobriety and the deep intention she brings to parenting her two sons. Payal shares the moment she decided to shift her relationship with alcohol, what inspired her to speak openly about it, and how living more consciously has shaped her as...

In this episode, Meera sits down with Anna Laifer, a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) who helps leaders show up as their true selves. Anna’s journey spans from a playful, energetic childhood surrounded by high-performance athletes to a corporate career at Korn Ferry and LinkedIn, leading to her own coaching practice in 2021. Anna shares how her intuitive, curious approach meets clients where the...

🎭 Can creativity unlock deeper healing? In episode 1 of hpy hour, Tess sits down with Danielle Levanas, a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, Registered Drama Therapist, and Relationship Coach, to explore the transformative power of drama therapy in mental health and personal growth. Danielle shares how storytelling, role-play, and creative expression can help clients process emotions, build self-a...