In this episode of Choosing Help, Dr. Tracy Stecker is joined by Angela Geraci of the Geraci Zoo, a wildlife rehabilitator who spends her days—and nights—caring for injured, orphaned, and non‑releasable wildlife.

Angela shares what it’s really like to be a helper who rarely gets a break, including compassion fatigue, grief, public criticism, and the challenge of knowing when to hold on and when to let go. This episode is a powerful reminder that caregivers need care too—and that choosing help takes courage.

In this insightful episode of Choosing Help, Dr. Tracy Stecker is joined by Drs. Ashrafiune and Allan to explore the rising political anxiety many of us face today. They unpack the polarized “team A vs. team B” mentality fueling fear and division, and introduce practical strategies to manage anxiety and engage in healthier, more productive political conversations.

Key Topics Covered:

• Understanding Political Anxiety: How extreme “all-or-nothing” thinking about opposing political sides creates fear, stress, and emotional distress.
• Managing Anxiety: Expert advice from Dr. Allen on calming political fears and reframing anxious thoughts.
• Breaking the Cycle: Discussion on how media and social platforms amplify polarization and reduce nuance.
• Approaching Political Conversations: Four essential principles — empathy, respect, authenticity, and active listening — to foster meaningful dialogue.
• Testing Your Assumptions: Encouragement to challenge your own beliefs and fears by having open conversations with friends and family, rather than avoiding them.
• When and How to Engage: Insights on recognizing the right time and person for political discussions, and when it’s okay to step back.
• Building Common Ground: Tips on finding shared values and gently persuading others without confrontation.

Whether you’re dreading holiday gatherings or simply want to reduce political tension in your life, this episode offers compassionate, science-based guidance on how to stay connected across divides and lower your stress.Tune in to learn how to transform challenging political conversations into opportunities for understanding and connection. Visit choosinghelp.com for more resources.

In this heartfelt episode of Choosing Help, Dr. Tracy Stecker sits down with caregivers Ann Greenwald, Rebecca Horvath, and Kelly Winter for an honest, intimate conversation about the emotional reality of caregiving.

Together, they explore the overwhelm that comes with constant responsibility, the guilt that lingers even when you’re doing everything you can, the fear that accompanies serious illness, and the complicated shift in family roles that caregiving brings.

Throughout their discussion, the group opens up about burnout, resentment, and the exhausting feeling of trying to do it all. They reflect on the loneliness many caregivers experience, especially when support systems are limited or nonexistent. Yet woven through these stories are powerful insights on what it truly means to “help the helper.”

The conversation dives into the importance of creating a plan before crisis strikes, allowing caregivers to feel more grounded when situations escalate. They also discuss the role of palliative care—what it really is, how it differs from hospice, and why it can be an incredible source of comfort and guidance for both patients and families.

The episode highlights the necessity of finding personal coping tools, carving out small moments for breath and reflection, and leaning into whatever tribe of support you can gather.

It also explores the idea that caregiving, at its core, is an act of profound love and connection. Even in the middle of chaos, moments of joy—tiny, brief, unexpected—have the power to soften stress and bring the nervous system back into balance.

Whether you're caring for a parent, partner, friend, or client, this conversation offers validation, compassion, and a reminder that you don’t have to navigate it alone. It’s an episode filled with honesty, guidance, and hope for anyone carrying the responsibility of caring for someone they love.

This episode of the Choosing Help Podcast offers a comprehensive exploration of Stoicism as both an ancient philosophy and a practical psychological tool.

Hosted by Tracy Stecker, PhD and featuring guest Kortney Yasenka, LCMHC the discussion highlights Stoicism’s relevance to mental health, trauma recovery, and everyday challenges, emphasizing personal empowerment through focusing on controllable aspects of life and cultivating virtues.

Practical strategies like the Stoic pause and negative visualization provide actionable methods to integrate Stoic principles. The dialogue also underscores the importance of self-reflection and ethical living as foundations for resilience and well-being.

Through accessible resources and relatable examples, Stoicism emerges as a valuable framework for navigating modern life’s complexities with wisdom and grace.

For more on Tracy Stecker, PhD, please visit www.choosinghelp.com.

For more on Kortney Yasenka, LCMHC and Stoicism, visit www.stoicmoments.com.

In this insightful episode of the Choosing Help podcast, Dr. Tracy Stecker is joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Amanda Raines to explore the often overlooked topic of "safety aids"—behaviors and cognitive strategies people use to reduce anxiety in the moment but that can paradoxically increase anxiety over time.

From everyday examples like drinking alcohol or a child’s security blanket to more complex behaviors such as avoidance and mental distractions, they break down how these safety aids develop, why they persist, and how they can become barriers to true healing. The conversation delves into how to identify when safety aids become problematic, the impact on daily functioning, and practical steps to gradually reduce reliance on them through behavioral experiments and cognitive reframing.

Real-world stories, including personal experiences and clinical cases, illustrate the challenges and successes in overcoming safety aids. Whether you struggle with anxiety yourself or support someone who does, this episode offers compassionate, expert guidance on confronting fear, breaking cycles of avoidance, and fostering courage to choose help and embrace life. Resources for further support are also shared.

Tune in for a powerful discussion that demystifies anxiety management and empowers listeners to reclaim control over their fears.

Why are mental health treatment rates lower in racial and ethnic minority groups, and how can we bridge the gap?

In this episode, Dr. Tracy Stecker sits down with clinical psychologist and help-seeking expert Dr. Taylor Rodriguez to dismantle the barriers facing minoritized communities. From the "one-size-fits-all" approach of traditional therapy to the cultural value of "staying strong," they explore why many feel formal care "isn't for them."

Discover a wealth of specialized resources—including Therapy for Black Girls and Therapy for Latinx—designed to help you find a provider who truly understands your lived experience.

Remember: choosing help isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a strategic step toward growth.

Many people who clearly struggle with mental health or substance use still say, “I don’t need help.”

In this conversation, Dr. Tracy Stecker and longtime teacher/prison educator Ronald Pendley unpack what “I’m good” can really mean—mistrust, fear, learned survival strategies—and how honest, empathetic, non‑judgmental conversations can open the door to support.

You’ll hear stories from classrooms and prisons, why boundaries matter, and how harm‑reduction can be a compassionate first step.

We close with a powerful metaphor: you don’t have to hold the ball alone—build your team. Learn more and find resources at choosinghelp.com.

In this impactful episode of the Choosing Help podcast, Dr. Tracy Stecker is joined by Tedra Cobb and Dr. Lisham Ashrafioun to explore the pervasive stigma surrounding substance use disorders and addiction.

Through heartfelt stories—including Dr. Stecker’s personal account of her elderly mother’s struggle with pain management and addiction—this conversation sheds light on how stigma complicates recognizing addiction and seeking help.

The episode highlights the Community Conversations program, a transformative workshop designed to break down stigma through honest dialogue, lived experiences, and educational activities that engage diverse community members.

Listeners gain insight into how stigma arises from perceptions, biases, and prejudices, and learn about strategies to counteract these barriers. The episode also emphasizes the importance of understanding addiction as a brain disease, the role of medication-assisted treatment, and the critical need for compassionate, community-based support systems.

Ultimately, this episode inspires hope by affirming that recovery is possible and ongoing, encouraging listeners to join a compassionate community that fosters courage, connection, and healing.

In this insightful episode of the Choosing Help podcast, Dr. Tracy Stecker is joined by Tyler Webb, a therapist and social worker specializing in substance use disorder treatment. Together, they explore the profound impact addiction has on relationships, examining how substance use can create patterns of isolation, shame, and behavioral changes that strain connections between loved ones.

They discuss the subtle signs that a relationship may be deteriorating, the emotional toll on both the person struggling with addiction and their family or friends, and the complex dynamics of enabling versus supporting recovery.

Tyler and Dr. Stecker emphasize the crucial role of honest communication, social connection, and community support—such as 12-step programs—in healing and rebuilding relationships damaged by addiction.

This episode offers compassionate guidance for those affected by substance use disorders, whether as individuals or loved ones, highlighting the importance of self-awareness, setting boundaries, and seeking help to foster healthier, more supportive relationships.

In this episode of Choosing Help, Dr. Tracy Stecker speaks with Michael Dennis—pastor, storyteller, comedian, and longtime Austin community leader—about the deep connections between spirituality, mental health, and the search for meaning.

Drawing from his 25 years in ministry, personal experiences with his mother’s schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s, and his work with people facing depression, loneliness, and addiction, Michael explores what it means to care for the soul in a culture that often neglects it. Together, he and Dr. Stecker discuss:

• How spirituality offers a framework for purpose, connection, and emotional resilience
• Why so many people today feel disconnected—from themselves, others, and their place in the world
• The importance of starting small when mental health feels overwhelming
• Healthy boundaries when supporting loved ones with addiction or severe mental illness
• The unique role of faith communities and family support when seeking help
• Why community, humor, and shared humanity can break through isolation and rumination

Warm, grounded, and honest, this conversation invites listeners to consider their own spiritual well‑being and reminds us that we don’t need to navigate pain, questions, or healing alone.