Fear Less

In this episode, hosts Will and Zach delve into the pressing issue of teenage anxiety, a struggle that many parents are seeking to understand and address. They explore the concept of 'Hikikomori,' a term born in Japan that encapsulates the all-too-common response to fear: avoidance.

Will, drawing on his unique experience as a college president in Japan in the late 90s, shares insights into how this concept of Hikikomori can be applied to today's youth in the United States. He reflects on his learnings about fear and how they can help us comprehend the growing trend of anxiety-induced withdrawal among teenagers in the increasingly intimidating world we live in today.

Not to miss out, Zach promises to reveal one of his effective anxiety hacks - a tool that could be transformative in addressing fear. So, tune in for an enlightening conversation that promises to equip you better in supporting your anxious teen or yourself.

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

In this inaugural episode of the Fear Less podcast, hosts Will Laughlin, MA, M.Ed., and Zack Shafer, MS, OTR/L, kick off their mission to help listeners gain freedom from limiting fear and anxiety.

As they share anecdotes from their personal and professional journeys, Will and Zack discuss their shared goal of helping listeners make Fear Less—less bossy, less controlling, less limiting and, well, less scary!

At the end of the episode, stay tuned for a segment entitled Zack's Anxiety Hacks where Zack Schafer outlines a simple, practical, effective strategy to begin right-sizing your fears.