In this heartfelt and revealing episode, Anna sits down with New York City-based psychotherapist Sean Hershey, LCSW, to explore what it really means to heal—from chronic pain, from emotional repression, and from the lifelong habit of hiding parts of yourself to survive.

Sean is the host of the podcast Mind-Body Medicine for Chronic Pain, where he brings raw honesty, depth, and humor to the complex world of chronic symptom recovery. In today’s conversation, he shares what led him to this work, how his own experiences with pain and identity shape his approach as a therapist, and why expressing your truth—even when it’s scary—is a crucial part of healing.

We talk about:

• What it means to be “a highly functioning zombie”
• The emotional root causes of chronic pain
• Why Sean launched his podcast (and what it brought up for him emotionally)
• How telling your story can be a healing act
• The role of community and mentorship in building self-trust

If you’ve ever felt like you had to hide parts of yourself to get through life, or if you’re on your own healing path and looking for inspiration to keep going, this episode will speak directly to you.

Learn more about Sean and his work:

• 🌐 mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com
• 📸 Instagram: @my_gay_therapist
• 🎧 Podcast: Mind-Body Medicine for Chronic Pain (available wherever you listen)

Work with Anna

If you’re a sensitive, purpose-driven human—like a coach, creative, or entrepreneur—who wants to build a life and business that feels deeply aligned (without overriding your nervous system), I’d love to support you.

✨ Learn more and apply to work with me, visit annaholtzman.com or find me on Instagram @anna_holtzman