October 14, 2025

Joe’s Mental Health Reckoning: Trauma, Anxiety & Recovery

36 minutes

This week, we sit down with Joe McQueen, a powerhouse educator and mental health professional who’s spent over two decades working with youth that the world often turns away from. Joe doesn’t just talk the talk — he’s in the trenches daily, helping young people navigate trauma, crisis, and the messy reality of mental health struggles.

As a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award winner (Best Health) and 2024 Women in Podcasting Award winner (Best Mental Health Podcast) with over 2 million downloads, we’re honored to bring you another raw, eye-opening conversation that pulls no punches.

Joe’s work through Therapeutic Perspectives LLC is grounded in real-life experience, not just theory. His approach to trauma-informed de-escalation, restorative practices, and mental health education for schools changes the way teachers, parents, and youth workers connect with kids who are hurting. In this episode, we unpack how trauma shapes behavior, why relationships matter more than rules, and how empathy can literally save lives.

🧠 “The kids who need love the most will ask for it in the most unloving ways.” — Unknown

If you’ve ever felt burned out, frustrated, or helpless working with youth, this one’s for you. Joe’s message: hope lives in hard work.

👉 Drop your thoughts or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

Meet Our Guest — Joe McQueen

Joe McQueen has spent over 20 years working in education and mental health, dedicating his life to helping the youth others send away. He calls himself “a kid who can relate to the kids I work with every day,” and his passion shows in every training, keynote, and mentoring session.

As the founder of Therapeutic Perspectives LLC, Joe delivers trauma-informed de-escalation, restorative practices, and school mental health awareness training that blend research, experience, and heart. He’s also the Author of “Calming Young Minds: Understanding Escalation and De-Escalation in Youth.”

🌐 Website: https://www.theraputicperspectives.com/

📘 Book: https://www.amazon.com/Calming-Young-Minds-Understanding-Escalation/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-mcqueen-360729240/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookcalmingyoungminds/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CalmingYoungMindsBook

Key Takeaways

Real change in youth work starts with understanding trauma, not punishment.

Crisis de-escalation is about connection, not control.

Educators need healing, too — burnout is real.

Relationships are the foundation of mental wellness in schools.

Data doesn’t fix kids — empathy and consistency do.

Actionable Items

Learn trauma-informed language — replace “What’s wrong with you?” with “What happened to you?”

Implement daily check-ins with youth to build safety and trust.

Read Joe’s book “Calming Young Minds” for practical de-escalation tools.

References Mentioned

Calming Young Minds: Understanding Escalation and De-Escalation in Youth – Joe McQueen

https://www.theraputicperspectives.com/

Important Chapters (Timestamps + Context)

00:00 – Welcome & Joe’s backstory

08:45 – Growing up “that kid” who gets sent away

16:10 – Why trauma-informed care matters more than policy

23:30 – How burnout shows up in educators and youth workers

31:00 – De-escalation in real time: practical stories from the field

40:20 – Healing through relationships, not consequences

50:00 – Final thoughts: choosing hope daily

Closing CTA

Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

Remember to subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our website: https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #TraumaInformedCare #YouthMentalHealth #DeEscalation #RestorativePractices #SchoolMentalHealth #Education #BurnoutRecovery #EmpathyMatters #CalmingYoungMinds #TraumaHealing #AnxietySupport #EmotionalWellness #HealingJourney #YouthAdvocacy

***************************************************************************

If You Need Support, Reach Out

If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.

United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
Worldwide: Find a Helpline
Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub

Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles

Official Website: goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles
LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Join Our Newsletter: Sign Up Here
Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop

Audio Editing by NJz Audio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

...more

View all episodes

By G-Rex and Dirty Skittles, Bleav

4.5

6666 ratings