Fear Less

In this episode of  Fear Less , Zack interviews Hann Bernardi, the Animal and Farm Coordinator at Mountain Valley Treatment Center . Hann shares their journey from working as a conventional farmer to now using animal husbandry and farm work to help youth heal from their mental health challenges. Hann discusses how the farm at Mountain Valley is used to help residents overcome fears and anxieties,...

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 expe...

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 a...

In this week's episode of the Fear Less Podcast,  Zack sits down with Dr. Caroline Trustey, 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 u...

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 pe...

I n 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 di...

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 ph...

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...

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...

In this episode of Fear Less, Zack sits down with Keeleigh Mahler, a licensed clinical social worker who previously worked at Mountain Valley and currently works at the Anxiety Institute in Washington D.C. In this discussion, Keeleigh shares candid reflections from her first few years of practice, highlighting the parallel process and internal anxiety that many new clinicians experience as they le...

In this week's episode of Fear Less, Zack welcomes Ivy Wydler, a young adult with OCD who graduated from Mountain Valley in the summer of 2023. Ivy shares vulnerability about her journey with OCD, what led her to Mountain Valley, and insight she has gained over her past year of intensive mental health treatment. In this conversation, Ivy discusses her battles with perfectionism, her complicated re...

In this week's episode of Fear Less, Zack welcomes Meg Paul, a licensed clinical social worker with over a decade of experience working with youth and families in adventure-based programs, therapeutic boarding schools, and now through her new outpatient practice, Crosswinds Counseling.   In this conversation, Meg recounts her journey from direct care staff at an adventure therapy residential treat...

In this week's episode of Fear Less, Will and Zack discuss school phobia and the state of youth anxiety with Ira Hayes, a licensed clinical social worker who owns his own outpatient practice and serves as the Director of Programs at the Center for Wellness in New Jersey. Ira is a practitioner, educator, and professional speaker who specializes in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders, wit...

In this episode Fear Less, co-host Zack Schafer welcomes Dr. Dan Villiers, one of the founding  team of Mountain Valley Treatment Center and the co-founder and current president of the Anxiety Institute . In this discussion, Dr. Villiers shares how his personal struggles with anxiety and his own experience with exposure-based treatment led him to spend the last fourteen years creating, owning, and...

In this episode Zack interviews his colleague and friend, J'Amy Chamberlain, a certified recreational therapist at Mountain Valley Treatment Center . They explore the influential role of recreational therapy in treating anxiety and fostering well-being among youth. J'Amy explains how recreational therapy utilizes fun, connection, and real-life experiences to complement traditional exposure therapy...

In this episode of Fear Less, Will Laughlin sits down Greg Hitchcock, an expert in the field of education and therapeutic programs. Greg has over 30 years' experience working with youth and families in the education and therapeutic industry. In this conversation, Greg shares his personal journey from an adventure seeking youth, to being parent of a child in treatment, to becoming one of the most s...

On this week's episode of Fear Less Zack is joined by the show's producer, Dr. Will White, who is a leader in mental health care with over 30 years in the field and is currently serving as Mountain Valley's Clinical Supervisor. Will  is an author, podcaster, historian, and mental health provider who has owned and operated a successful mental health treatment program for adolescents that emphasized...

In this insightful episode Zack talks with Sharon McCallie-Stellar, Director of Family and Transition Services at Mountain Valley and the innovative mind behind the Mountain Valley Transitions Program. Sharon shares her groundbreaking work on a 90-day transition program that aims to support individuals grappling with anxiety as they transition from a structured residential treatment setting back i...

In this episode, we delve deep into the transformative power of nonviolent communication (NVC) with Nathan Thoele, the Residential Director at Mountain Valley . Nathan's ability to listen, empathize, and communicate effectively is core to who is and has played an influential role in his journey from a nature center employee in Vermont, to his current leadership role at Mountain Valley. Nathan is r...

In a heartfelt episode of "Fear Less," Zack speaks with Ashley Metz, a dedicated clinician at Mountain Valley, about her transformative seven-year journey from a residential counselor to a clinician. Ashley shares deep insights into the evolving landscape of anxiety treatment, emphasizing the unique challenges and strategies developed to address the complex needs of youth struggling with anxiety a...

In this episode host Zack interviews Noah a former student of Mountain Valley Treatment Center and a current student-athlete at Colby College. The discussion centers around Noah's journey through mental health challenges, focusing on his struggle with  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and his treatment experience at Mountain Valley. Noah shares his story, starting from the onset of his OCD symp...

In this episode Zack interviews Antoinette Moody MA, a clinician with over a decade of experience in the mental health field and an expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Antoinette explains ACT as a therapy that involves accepting one's inner experiences to commit to living a valued life. She breaks down the acronym ACT, where 'A' stands for acceptance of internal experiences, 'C' for...

In this episode of the Fear Less podcast, Will and Zack talk with TJ Bauman, a milieu specialist at Mountain Valley Treatment Center , about how Narrative Therapy and Jospeh Cambell's "Hero's Journey" framework are integrated into their unique approach to anxiety treatment. TJ specializes in experiential education, helps lead Mountain Valley's adventure-based programming, and facilitates a therape...

Interview: In this episode, Zack Schafer, OTR/L,  provides insight into the unique approach to anxiety treatment offered by Mountain Valley—the treatment program where he serves as executive program director.  In addition to highlighting exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP)—a method that involves gradually exposing patients to their fears to rewrite their narratives and reduce anxiety—Za...

Interview: In this episode, we immerse ourselves in the inspiring story of our co-host Will Laughlin, an ultra-runner, devoted father, and the innovative CEO of Mountain Valley Treatment Center.   Will's exceptional journey as an athlete includes braving the intense heat of Death Valley and the extreme cold of the Yukon, experiences that have shaped his understanding and management of fear and anx...