What does effective anxiety treatment actually look like for teens and young adults—and how do you know when it's time for a higher level of care? In this powerful and deeply thoughtful episode Zack speaks with River, a college student who has lived with anxiety and OCD since early childhood. River shares how her anxiety intensified through adolescence, leading to depression, self-harm, hospitalizations, and ultimately residential treatment. She walks listeners through her experience with OCD, somatic anxiety, fear of illness, and how untreated anxiety can quietly derail school, relationships, and self-confidence.

This episode offers parents and young people a rare inside look at what anxiety treatment can involve—from inpatient care to residential OCD treatment, exposure and response prevention (ERP), trauma work, and the challenges of transitioning to college. River reflects on returning to treatment as a motivated young adult, learning skills to manage intrusive thoughts, people-pleasing, and uncertainty, and eventually rebuilding her confidence through independent living and college re-entry. Her story is both reassuring and practical, reminding families that anxiety recovery is not linear—but with the right support, healing is possible. If you're a parent wondering how to help a teen with anxiety, or a young person feeling stuck and overwhelmed, this conversation offers clarity, hope, and real-world insight into what effective anxiety treatment can look like.

Zack's Hack- In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote from the inspirational Helen Keller to help you open up to Fear Less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

Why are so many teens struggling with anxiety right now—and what can parents actually do to help? In this episode, Zack speaks with psychologist Dr. Rachel Gingold, who brings nearly 30 years of experience treating adolescents and families. Together, they unpack how the COVID years disrupted social development, increased avoidance, and intensified anxiety for teens everywhere.

Dr. Gingold explains why previously confident kids may now fear everyday tasks, how to recognize when anxiety is driving behavior, and why supportive challenge—not protection—is the key to rebuilding confidence. Parents will learn practical ways to help teens re-engage with life, strengthen identity, and move toward healthy independence.

Zack's Hack- In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote from Tracee Ellison Ross, actor and to help you open up to Fear Less!

Dr. Gingold's private practice is- https://www.fhwsonline.com/rachel-gingold-phd

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this episode Zack talks with Dr. Will White about the hidden ways men experience fear, anxiety, and major life transitions. Will shares candid stories from fatherhood, leadership, loss, and aging, while Zack reflects on overworking, anger, and becoming a father again. Together they highlight how men often express anxiety through anger, shutting down, or work—rather than naming it for what it is.

They also explore healthier alternatives: men's retreats, movement, meditation, community, and asking for help before things reach a breaking point. Will explains why nature, honest conversation, and structured support can help men "turn the compost heap" of stress, rather than let it build into isolation. The episode closes with a reminder for men—and those who love them—that you don't have to carry everything alone.

Zack's Hack- In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote from Terry Crews, actor and mental health advocate to help you open up to Fear Less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

Is having another child an anxiety provoking experience? Our host Zack Shafer returns for a solo episode reflecting on the arrival of his second child, baby Meli and how becoming a parent again reshaped his understanding of fear and anxiety. He revisits the worries he had before his first child's birth—fears about not having life perfectly organized—and how becoming a dad taught him that anxiety doesn't disappear, but you learn you can handle uncertainty anyway. With more experience under his belt, Zack describes approaching this second birth with less panic and more presence, recognizing how exposure—doing something hard once—builds confidence the next time around.

He also explores the unique fears that surfaced as he became a father to a daughter and how societal expectations shaped his protective instincts. The episode expands into a powerful conversation about men's mental health, the pressure many fathers feel to "hold everything together," and how rarely dads are asked how they're coping. Zack encourages parents—especially fathers—to talk openly about stress, seek support, and remember that you don't need to be perfect to be a good parent. You just need to show up, stay aware, and keep going.

Zack's Hack- In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote from Ama H. Vanniarachchy, author and anthropologist to help you Fear Less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

Zack's episode about anxiety related to his first child was first released in July of 2024- 36. Fear, Fatherhood, and Transformation: Zack's Journey to Becoming a Dad

What happens when a teen who once struggled with anxiety and OCD grows up to help others face those same fears? In this episode Zack welcomes former Mountain Valley client, now Child Mind Institute clinician John Wyetzner, as he shares his powerful journey from school avoidance and OCD to evidence-based recovery. This episode unpacks what Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) truly looks like, how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) supports values-driven change, and the vital role of community in healing.

For parents and clinicians, John offers practical insights into tackling intrusive thoughts, reassurance-seeking, and family accommodation. Discover actionable tips to help teens generalize their therapeutic gains back to home and school environments. This podcast provides clear resources, real hope, and essential next steps for effectively treating teen anxiety and OCD.

Zack's Hack- In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote from Jim Morrison, songwriter and musician to help you Fear Less!

To find out more about John Weitzner and the Child Mind Institute check this website out- https://childmind.org/

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

What if your child's struggle with food isn't really about food at all—but about fear? In this powerful episode of Fear Less, host Zack sits down with Libby Parker, a registered dietitian, certified eating disorder specialist, and author of Permission to Eat, to explore how fear, anxiety, and control often lie at the heart of eating disorders. Drawing on both her personal recovery and clinical expertise, Libby explains how restrictive or binge cycles develop, why they can be so difficult to break, and how compassionate, evidence-based approaches—like exposure therapy—can help young people find freedom and self-trust again.

Parents will gain practical insight into recognizing early warning signs, understanding the role of fear in their child's behaviors, and responding with curiosity instead of panic. Together, Zack and Libby illuminate the deep connection between anxiety and disordered eating—and offer hope that recovery begins when families and clinicians work together to loosen fear's hold.

Zack's Hack- In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote from Jenni Schaefer, author of "Life without Ed" to help you Fear Less!

To find out more about Libby Parker check out her Theraden weblink- https://www.therapyden.com/therapist/libby-parker-ms-rd-cdn-ceds-c-new-york-ny

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

Licensed professional counselor Kelsey Irving joins Zack to demystify Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and how it helps teens with anxiety and OCD—especially when paired with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Kelsey breaks ACT down into parent-friendly language: accept tough thoughts and feelings without wrestling them, then commit to actions that serve your child's values (family, school, friendships). She shares clear metaphors teens actually remember (leaves on a stream, "bring the monkey with you") and explains "defusion" and mindfulness as practical skills that make scary moments doable—like showing up for a game, riding in the car, or eating with friends.

Parents will also hear why family involvement matters at every age, how to stop unintentionally accommodating compulsions, and what to do when a teen says, "I don't want to feel this way anymore." Kelsey draws on her OCD-specialist training (IOP/PHP), her virtual therapy & coaching work across state lines, and her children's ACT book, Jacob in the Cloud, to offer simple—but not always easy—steps that build psychological flexibility, reduce reassurance cycles, and move teens toward a bigger life.

Zack Hack- In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote from Les Brown to help you Fear Less!

To find out more about Kelsey Irving and the resources she talks about check out her website: https://steadfastpsychology.com/

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

Parents today are swimming in mental-health advice—some helpful, a lot confusing. In this episode Zack sits down with psychotherapist Lynn Lyons (author of Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents and host of the "Flusterclux" podcast) to cut through the noise. Lynn explains why anxiety thrives on over-talking, endless reassurance, and "safety chatter," and how well-meaning accommodations at home and school can accidentally make avoidance worse. She offers concrete, doable shifts for parents: talk 85% less, model approach instead of avoidance, build autonomy, and invite "productive struggle" so teens learn they can handle discomfort.

You'll also hear practical guidance for school refusal (what to change tonight and how to partner with the school), why stress ≠ trauma, and how to replace fragility language with skills and confidence. If your teen is anxious—and you're anxious about what to do—this conversation gives you a clear playbook and renewed hope.

Zack Hack- In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote from LR Nost to help you Fear Less!

To find out more about Lynn Lyonns and the resources she talks about check out her website: https://www.lynnlyons.com/

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this episode Zack talks with Mountain Valley clinician Katharine Call, who opens up about her journey from professional skiing to living with—and ultimately overcoming—anxiety. Katharine shares how the pressures of competitive athletics, from ski academies to the U.S. national team, intensified her struggles with emetophobia and performance-related fears. She describes how her anxiety often went unnoticed or was misunderstood as physical illness, and the turning point that came when she finally received the right mental health support.

Parents of anxious teens—especially those navigating sports—will find this conversation both relatable and hopeful. Katharine reflects on the hidden pressures of specializing too early, the importance of building an identity outside of athletics, and the role exposure therapy and balance played in her recovery. Her story offers valuable insights for families supporting a teen athlete wrestling with anxiety, perfectionism, and self-doubt, and reminds us that courage and strength are often found in the midst of fear.

Zack Hack- In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote from MMA fighter Ronda Rousey to help you Fear Less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this week's episode Zack talks with Nichol Ernst, LCSW, CEO/Clinical Director and co-owner of Summit Achievement, to unpack how the outdoors and adventure therapy help anxious teens. Nichol explains Summit's integrated treatment model—weekly rhythms of accredited academics, individualized therapy, and guided outdoor experiences—that turns nature into a practical lab for exposure, executive functioning, and confidence-building. They explore why time outside reduces avoidance, increases presence, and helps reframe fear—especially for school anxiety/school refusal, OCD/ERP carryover, and neurodivergent (ASD) teens who benefit from sensory input and structured challenge.

The conversation highlights parent coaching and family-system change, perceived vs. actual risk in the outdoors, and how real-world wins on trail translate to the classroom and home. Nichol also addresses the history and evolution of "wilderness therapy," best practices, and why today's outdoor behavioral healthcare is data-informed, licensed, and collaborative. Hope and next steps for families round out the episode.

Zack Hack- In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote about how time in the outdoors can address anxiety.

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.