Joshua Korac Podcast

How can couples, families, and friends create the kind of relationships they actually want?

In this episode, licensed professional counselor Josh Korac speaks with therapist Clinton Nunnally about co-creating relationships, navigating conflict, working with children and families, and building connection through greater awareness and communication.

Clinton explains that healthy relationships are not created by one person doing all the work or by trying to force another person to change. They are co-created through the patterns, expectations, reactions, and choices each person brings into the relationship. When people become more aware of their own role in these patterns, they may gain more freedom to respond differently.

Josh and Clinton discuss how couples can move away from blame and toward clearer conversations about what they need, value, and hope to build together. They explore how conflict can become an opportunity to understand the relationship more deeply rather than simply deciding who is right or wrong.

The conversation also examines the importance of recognizing a relationship’s existing strengths. Clinton describes how couples can build on what is already working while developing new skills for communication, emotional awareness, repair, and connection.

Josh and Clinton also discuss working with children and families. They explore how children communicate through behavior, play, emotion, and relationships, and why parents may need support understanding the needs underneath a child’s actions. Rather than viewing one person as the problem, family therapy often looks at the larger system and the patterns affecting everyone.

The episode also includes a personal reflection on the mentorship Josh and Clinton have co-created over eight years. They discuss how mentoring relationships develop through curiosity, trust, honesty, shared growth, and the willingness for both people to influence one another.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• What it means to co-create a relationship
• How each person contributes to recurring relationship patterns
• Moving from blame toward shared responsibility
• Communicating needs, values, and hopes more clearly
• Navigating conflict without trying to win
• Recognizing and building on relationship strengths
• Creating greater emotional awareness and connection
• Understanding children through behavior, play, and emotion
• Looking at the whole family system rather than one “problem” person
• Supporting parents and children through change
• How mentorship develops through trust and mutual influence
• Building relationships that reflect what matters most to you

Clinton Nunnally is a licensed professional counselor and co-owner of Foundations Family Counseling and Caring Heart Counseling. He works with older adolescents, adults, couples, parents, and families experiencing anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship concerns, life transitions, family challenges, spirituality, and sexuality.

Clinton has a particular interest in helping couples understand conflict, identify what they want from their relationships, and develop the awareness and skills needed to create meaningful change.

Learn more about Clinton at foundationsfamilycounseling.com and caringheartcounseling.com.

Josh Korac is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado who specializes in trauma, family estrangement, loneliness, and complex relationship concerns. He is also the Lead Moderator of Estrangement.com.

Learn more about Josh at joshuakorac.com.

This podcast is for educational purposes and does not constitute mental health treatment, diagnosis, couples therapy, family therapy, or an established therapeutic relationship.

How can spirituality, mentoring, and supportive relationships help protect adolescent mental health?

In this episode, licensed professional counselor Josh Korac speaks with pastor and longtime youth mentor Zachary Kreeger about faith, mental health, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and the importance of consistent adults in the lives of young people.

Zach reflects on more than a decade of working with adolescents through Young Life and other community roles. He discusses what helps teenagers feel seen, supported, and safe enough to talk honestly about stress, family challenges, identity, faith, and emotional pain.

Josh and Zach explore the relationship between spirituality and mental health. Faith communities can offer belonging, meaning, hope, and practical support, but spiritual language should not be used to dismiss emotional struggles or replace appropriate mental health care. They discuss how pastors, mentors, parents, and therapists can work together while respecting the limits of their roles.

The conversation also introduces Adverse Childhood Experiences, often called ACEs. These include experiences such as abuse, neglect, household instability, violence, substance use, and the loss or absence of caregivers. A higher number of ACEs can be associated with increased risks later in life, but ACE scores do not determine a person’s future.

Josh and Zach discuss the protective power of stable relationships. A trustworthy adult who listens, stays consistent, and responds without shame can help a young person build resilience. They also explore why mentorship is less about having the perfect advice and more about showing up, remaining curious, and creating space for honest conversation.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• The relationship between spirituality and mental health
• How faith communities can support emotional well-being
• Why spiritual advice should not replace mental health treatment
• What Adverse Childhood Experiences are
• How childhood adversity can affect later health and relationships
• Why ACE scores are risk indicators, not destiny
• The role of trusted adults in adolescent development
• How mentoring can build resilience and belonging
• Listening to teenagers without immediately trying to fix them
• Creating emotionally safe spaces for difficult conversations
• Collaboration between pastors, parents, mentors, and therapists
• The importance of consistency, curiosity, and compassion

Zachary Kreeger has a background in Christian education and theology and has spent many years mentoring adolescents and supporting families in the Broomfield and Adams County communities. His experience has included youth ministry, emergency response, community initiatives, and pastoral leadership.

Josh Korac is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado who specializes in trauma, family estrangement, loneliness, and complex relationship concerns. He is also the Lead Moderator of Estrangement.com.

Learn more about Josh at joshuakorac.com.

This podcast is for educational purposes and does not constitute mental health treatment, diagnosis, pastoral counseling, or an established therapeutic relationship. Anyone concerned about a young person’s safety or mental health should contact a qualified professional or appropriate crisis service.

Can time alone strengthen mental health, clarify your values, and deepen your relationships?

In this episode, licensed professional counselor Josh Korac speaks with outdoor educator Derek Branstrom about solitude, experiential learning, wilderness education, mentorship, and the ways time outdoors can shape identity and resilience.

Derek explains that solitude is different from loneliness. Loneliness often involves feeling disconnected or unwanted, while solitude can be a chosen space for reflection, rest, creativity, and self-understanding. Josh and Derek discuss why many people avoid being alone and how constant stimulation can make it difficult to notice what they think, feel, need, or value.

The conversation explores how outdoor experiences can create distance from everyday routines and distractions. Time in the wilderness may help people become more aware of their limits, strengths, fears, relationships, and dependence on others. Derek reflects on leading students through backpacking, climbing, mountaineering, and other challenging experiences that require patience, responsibility, teamwork, and adaptability.

Josh and Derek also discuss experiential learning. Some lessons are difficult to learn through lectures alone. Challenge, discomfort, failure, and reflection can help people develop confidence and practical wisdom, especially when they have skilled support and an environment that balances risk with safety.

The episode also includes stories from Josh’s experiences as Derek’s student, including an outdoor trip that became unexpectedly dangerous. They reflect on leadership, decision-making, trust, and how intense shared experiences can influence students long after a course ends.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• The difference between solitude and loneliness
• Why intentional time alone can support self-awareness
• How constant stimulation can interfere with reflection
• The mental health benefits of time outdoors
• Experiential learning through challenge and discomfort
• How wilderness experiences can build resilience
• Risk management and decision-making outdoors
• The role of mentors in identity development
• Building confidence through practical experience
• Why reflection is essential after difficult experiences
• The importance of community alongside solitude
• How outdoor education can shape values and purpose

Derek Branstrom is an educator, outdoor leader, and director of the Outdoor Leadership program at Colorado Christian University. He has taught math and physical education, led backpacking, climbing, and mountaineering courses, and instructed wilderness medicine.

His training includes wilderness first response, Leave No Trace education, avalanche training, and professional climbing instruction. He has led students on outdoor experiences ranging from the Grand Canyon and Vedauwoo to Mount Kilimanjaro.

Josh Korac is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado who specializes in trauma, family estrangement, loneliness, and complex relationship concerns. He is also the Lead Moderator of Estrangement.com.

Learn more about Josh at joshuakorac.com.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of outdoor risk and a potentially life-threatening wilderness experience.

This podcast is for educational purposes and does not constitute mental health treatment, medical advice, wilderness instruction, or an established therapeutic relationship.

How can we recognize suicide risk, respond with compassion, and help someone move toward safety?

In this episode, licensed professional counselor Josh Korac speaks with clinical psychologist and suicide prevention expert Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas about suicide risk, warning signs, protective factors, stigma, grief, and practical ways individuals and communities can help save lives.

Dr. Spencer-Thomas explains that suicidal crises are often shaped by intense psychological pain, hopelessness, isolation, entrapment, and the belief that others would be better off without you. She discusses why people may hide their distress, how stigma interferes with help-seeking, and why direct, caring conversations about suicide do not cause suicidal thoughts.

Josh and Dr. Spencer-Thomas explore how to ask someone if they are thinking about suicide, how to listen without panic or judgment, and why it is important to take concerns seriously. They discuss the value of staying connected, involving appropriate support, reducing access to lethal means, and helping the person create time and distance from an immediate crisis.

The conversation also looks beyond individual intervention. Suicide prevention requires supportive families, workplaces, schools, healthcare systems, and communities that make it easier for people to speak honestly before they reach a breaking point. Dr. Spencer-Thomas emphasizes the importance of belonging, purpose, peer support, and cultures that treat mental health as a shared responsibility.

She also reflects on losing her brother Carson to suicide and how that experience shaped her work as an advocate, researcher, and educator. Josh and Dr. Spencer-Thomas discuss suicide loss, grief, guilt, unanswered questions, and the need to support survivors without reducing their loved one’s life to the way they died.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• Common warning signs and risk factors for suicide
• Hopelessness, isolation, burdensomeness, and feeling trapped
• How to ask directly about suicidal thoughts
• Why talking about suicide does not plant the idea
• Listening without judgment, panic, or argument
• Protective factors such as connection, purpose, and belonging
• Safety planning and reducing access to lethal means
• The role of friends, family members, clinicians, and communities
• Stigma and barriers to seeking help
• Supporting someone after a suicidal crisis
• Grief and healing after a suicide loss
• Building cultures that promote mental health and prevent suicide

Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas is a clinical psychologist, mental health advocate, researcher, speaker, and suicide loss survivor. She is internationally recognized for her work in suicide prevention, resilience, workplace mental health, and community-based approaches that help people move from crisis toward connection and hope.

Learn more about Dr. Spencer-Thomas at sallyspencerthomas.com.

Josh Korac is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado who specializes in trauma, family estrangement, loneliness, and complex relationship concerns. He is also the Lead Moderator of Estrangement.com.

Learn more about Josh at joshuakorac.com.

Content note: This episode includes direct discussion of suicide, suicidal thoughts, and suicide loss.

This podcast is for educational purposes and does not constitute mental health treatment, diagnosis, crisis intervention, or an established therapeutic relationship. If you or someone else may be in immediate danger, call 911. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

What mental health information is protected at work, and what rights do employees have when anxiety, grief, or other mental health concerns affect their job?

In this episode, licensed professional counselor Josh Korac speaks with employment attorney Chuck Passaglia about mental health in the workplace, employee privacy, disability protections, reasonable accommodations, grief, anxiety, and the legal limits of what employers can ask or require.

Chuck explains that employees do not have to share every detail of a diagnosis or personal history to request support. At the same time, workplace protections are not unlimited. Whether a condition is legally protected may depend on how it affects daily functioning, whether the employee can perform essential job duties, and whether a requested accommodation creates an undue hardship for the employer.

Josh and Chuck discuss how federal and state anti-discrimination laws may apply to mental health conditions, as well as the difference between having a diagnosis and qualifying for legal protection. They explore when an employee may need documentation, what employers are generally allowed to ask, and why confidentiality matters when mental health information is disclosed.

The conversation also examines grief in the workplace. Grief does not always fit neatly into a medical or legal category, even though it can significantly affect concentration, energy, sleep, and performance. Josh and Chuck discuss the importance of humane workplace policies, flexible communication, and managers who know how to respond without becoming therapists.

They also explore anxiety and practical ways people can respond when fear, uncertainty, or workplace conflict begin to feel overwhelming. Chuck reflects on the role of preparation, perspective, communication, and knowing what is within your control.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• Mental health rights in the workplace
• When a mental health condition may qualify for legal protection
• The difference between a diagnosis and a disability
• Reasonable accommodations for mental health concerns
• What employers may ask about an employee’s condition
• Privacy and confidentiality at work
• Documentation and the accommodation process
• Grief, bereavement, and workplace policies
• The responsibilities of employees and employers
• Anxiety, uncertainty, and practical coping
• When to speak with human resources or an employment attorney
• Why legal advice depends on the facts and location

Chuck Passaglia is an employment attorney and founder of Employment Law Solutions, Inc., a Colorado consulting firm that provides employment-law and human-resources guidance, workplace investigations, and training on harassment prevention, ethics, employee leave, compensation, and anti-discrimination laws. He previously served as a judge advocate in the United States Navy, worked as a litigation attorney, and served as in-house employment counsel.

Learn more about Chuck at defendwork.com.

Josh Korac is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado who specializes in trauma, family estrangement, loneliness, and complex relationship concerns. He is also the Lead Moderator of Estrangement.com.

Learn more about Josh at joshuakorac.com.

This podcast is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice, mental health treatment, diagnosis, or an established attorney-client or therapist-client relationship. Employment laws vary by location and can change over time. Consult a qualified attorney about your specific circumstances.

What is the difference between public health and mental health, and how do the two fields work together to improve community well-being?

In this episode, licensed professional counselor Josh Korac speaks with public health professional Gracie Pearcy about health equity, social determinants of health, mental health stigma, workplace boundaries, and the connection between individual care and community-level change.

Gracie explains that public health looks beyond one person’s symptoms to examine the systems and conditions that shape health across entire populations. Access to healthcare, income, housing, education, discrimination, transportation, neighborhood safety, and social support can all influence physical and mental health.

Josh and Gracie discuss how public health and mental health overlap. Therapy can support an individual, but broader problems such as poverty, unequal access to care, stigma, and discrimination also require changes in policy, education, prevention, and community resources. They explore why mental health should be treated as an essential part of overall health rather than as something separate or less important.

The conversation also reflects on their high school experiences and how difficult it might have felt to speak openly about anxiety, depression, or emotional struggles at that age. Josh and Gracie discuss the value of creating environments where young people can ask for help without shame and where adults know how to respond with empathy.

They also explore boundaries between work and home. Careers in public health, healthcare, and mental health can involve emotionally demanding stories and responsibilities. Gracie and Josh discuss the importance of rest, relationships, self-awareness, and routines that help helping professionals remain connected to their own lives.

The episode also touches on addiction, family impact, and the film and memoir Beautiful Boy. Josh and Gracie reflect on how stories can make public-health and mental-health issues more understandable by showing the human experience behind statistics.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• The difference between public health and mental health
• How public health addresses community and population well-being
• Social determinants of physical and mental health
• Health equity and unequal access to care
• Why prevention and education matter
• The relationship between individual therapy and systemic change
• Mental health stigma among teenagers and young adults
• Creating safer conversations about emotional distress
• Boundaries and burnout in helping professions
• Addiction as both a personal and public-health concern
• How stories can increase empathy and awareness
• Why mental health deserves the same attention as physical health

Gracie Pearcy studied community health and public health with a focus on health promotion. Her work has included research on social determinants of health, diversity, inclusion, and health equity. She is passionate about making healthcare more accessible and ensuring that mental health is recognized as an essential part of overall well-being.

Follow Gracie at @gracie.pearcy.

Josh Korac is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado who specializes in trauma, family estrangement, loneliness, and complex relationship concerns. He is also the Lead Moderator of Estrangement.com.

Learn more about Josh at joshuakorac.com.

This podcast is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, mental health treatment, diagnosis, public-health guidance, or an established therapeutic relationship.

What makes someone a good therapist, and what does quality counselor training actually involve?

In this episode, licensed professional counselor Josh Korac speaks with psychologist and counselor educator Dr. Jeffrey Rings about therapist development, graduate training, clinical supervision, suicide risk, higher education, and the personal qualities that help counselors build strong therapeutic relationships.

Dr. Rings explains that becoming an effective therapist requires more than learning techniques. Good counseling depends on self-awareness, humility, emotional presence, curiosity, sound judgment, ethical practice, and the ability to form a relationship in which clients feel understood and respected.

Josh and Dr. Rings discuss what happens in a counseling graduate program, including coursework, skills practice, supervision, practicum, internship, feedback, and the gradual process of developing a professional identity. They also explore what makes the University of Northern Colorado’s counseling programs distinctive and why strong training should include both academic knowledge and real-world clinical experience.

The conversation examines the role of supervision in therapist growth. New counselors need space to reflect on mistakes, recognize blind spots, manage emotional reactions, and learn when to seek consultation. Dr. Rings discusses why good supervision should challenge developing clinicians while also supporting their confidence and growth.

Josh and Dr. Rings also discuss suicide risk and how frequently counselors may encounter clients experiencing suicidal thoughts. They explore the importance of direct assessment, preparation, consultation, and taking concerns seriously without responding with panic or judgment.

The episode also considers whether graduate school is the right path for everyone. Dr. Rings reflects on the financial, emotional, and professional demands of higher education and why prospective students should think carefully about their goals, expectations, and reasons for entering the mental health field.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• The qualities that help make a good therapist
• What counselor training involves
• The role of practicum, internship, and clinical supervision
• Why self-awareness matters in therapy
• Humility, curiosity, and emotional presence
• Learning from mistakes and professional feedback
• Developing a therapist identity
• Suicide risk assessment and prevention
• Why counselors need consultation and support
• What makes a strong graduate counseling program
• The challenges and benefits of higher education
• Questions to consider before becoming a therapist

Dr. Jeffrey Rings is an associate professor of Applied Psychology and Counselor Education at the University of Northern Colorado. He earned his PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Denver and is a licensed psychologist and licensed professional counselor in Colorado. His professional interests include clinical supervision, crisis intervention, grief and loss, peer counseling, veterans’ concerns, projective assessment, and suicide risk assessment and prevention.

Josh Korac is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado who specializes in trauma, family estrangement, loneliness, and complex relationship concerns. He is also the Lead Moderator of Estrangement.com.

Learn more about Josh at joshuakorac.com.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of suicide and suicide risk.

This podcast is for educational purposes and does not constitute mental health treatment, diagnosis, supervision, crisis intervention, or an established therapeutic relationship. If you or someone else may be in immediate danger, call 911. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

9/6/22: Trigger Warning: I am saddened to share that Cody recently passed away. Some of the content in this episode may be triggering to some people. Please make sure you are in a safe and supported environment during and/or after listening to this episode. Thank you Cody for your kind and inspiring message.

Who gets access to the outdoors, mental health care, and the experiences that can help people feel more alive?

In Part 2 of this conversation, licensed professional counselor Josh Korac continues speaking with professional rock climber and outdoor guide Cody Bradford about access, privilege, social media, mental health education, and the responsibility professionals have to remain within the limits of their expertise.

Josh and Cody compare barriers within mental health care and outdoor recreation. Therapy, climbing, guiding, and wilderness experiences can all be meaningful, but they may also require money, transportation, time, equipment, insurance, or access to trained professionals. These barriers can make healing and recreation less available to people who might benefit from them.

They discuss the privilege involved in outdoor spaces and why the climbing community is not equally accessible or welcoming to everyone. Cody reflects on the responsibility guides and outdoor professionals have to consider cost, culture, identity, safety, and the assumptions they bring into their work.

The conversation also examines social media as a tool for education. Online platforms can make information about mental health, climbing, and safety more widely available, but short-form content can also oversimplify complex subjects. Josh and Cody discuss the difference between sharing helpful information and presenting yourself as an expert in areas where you lack appropriate training.

They explore professional boundaries and the importance of knowing what you do not know. Therapists should not present themselves as outdoor guides without proper experience, and outdoor professionals should not attempt to provide therapy without clinical training. Collaboration and referral can better protect the people seeking support.

Josh and Cody also discuss popular culture, including the film Joker, and how media portrays mental illness, trauma, violence, and social isolation. They consider how entertainment can encourage meaningful conversations while also reinforcing misleading or harmful ideas.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• Barriers to mental health care and outdoor recreation
• How cost, location, equipment, and transportation affect access
• Privilege and inclusion within outdoor communities
• Why outdoor experiences are not equally available to everyone
• The benefits and limitations of mental health education on social media
• How short-form content can oversimplify complex issues
• Staying within your professional scope of practice
• The importance of consultation, collaboration, and referral
• Ethical responsibility in therapy and outdoor guiding
• How films and media portray mental illness
• The relationship between trauma, isolation, and community
• Creating safer and more accessible helping spaces

Cody Bradford was a professional rock climber, outdoor guide, and educator. He was an AMGA Certified Rock Guide, AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, and AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Assistant Provider. His work centered on climbing, mentorship, access, education, and helping people build confidence through meaningful experiences outdoors.

Josh Korac is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado who specializes in trauma, family estrangement, loneliness, and complex relationship concerns. He is also the Lead Moderator of Estrangement.com.

Learn more about Josh at joshuakorac.com.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of suicide, mental illness, violence in media, and barriers to care.

9/6/22: Trigger Warning: I am saddened to share that Cody recently passed away. Some of the content in this episode may be triggering to some people. Please make sure you are in a safe and supported environment during and/or after listening to this episode. Thank you Cody for your kind and inspiring message. 

Link to Cody Bradford GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/9695c296

How can time outdoors support mental health, create a sense of purpose, and help someone survive a suicidal crisis?

In this episode, licensed professional counselor Josh Korac speaks with professional rock climber and outdoor guide Cody Bradford about climbing, flow, suicide, identity, and the ways outdoor experiences can help people reconnect with life.

Cody shares how he became an outdoor guide and what drew him to climbing. He describes the sense of focus that can emerge when a person is fully absorbed in an activity, sometimes called flow. In these moments, attention narrows, self-consciousness quiets, and the demands of the present become clearer.

Josh and Cody also discuss suicide and the role the outdoors played in helping Cody. Cody reflects on how climbing, guiding, movement, risk, and connection gave him reasons to keep going during periods of intense emotional pain. The conversation does not present the outdoors as a replacement for treatment, but as one meaningful source of structure, belonging, purpose, and hope.

They also explore how mental health can show up in unexpected parts of life. For Cody, the climbing community offered relationships, responsibility, and opportunities to help others experience challenge and growth. Guiding became more than a career. It became part of how he understood himself and contributed to the lives of other people.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• How outdoor experiences may support mental health
• The relationship between climbing, focus, and flow
• Why purpose and responsibility can matter during emotional distress
• How community and belonging can reduce isolation
• The role of movement, challenge, and nature in well-being
• Why meaningful activities are not substitutes for professional care
• Cody’s path into professional climbing and outdoor guiding
• How helping others can strengthen a sense of purpose
• The importance of talking openly about suicide
• Finding reasons to remain connected to life

Cody Bradford was a professional rock climber, outdoor guide, and educator. He was an AMGA Certified Rock Guide, AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, and AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Assistant Provider. His work centered on climbing, mentorship, outdoor education, and helping people build confidence through meaningful experiences in nature.

This episode was originally recorded before Cody’s death. It is shared in appreciation of his honesty, warmth, and commitment to helping others.

Josh Korac is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado who specializes in trauma, family estrangement, loneliness, and complex relationship concerns. He is also the Lead Moderator of Estrangement.com.

Learn more about Josh at joshuakorac.com.

Content note: This episode includes direct discussion of suicide and suicidal thoughts. Please listen in a safe and supported environment.

This podcast is for educational purposes and does not constitute mental health treatment, diagnosis, crisis intervention, or an established therapeutic relationship. If you or someone else may be in immediate danger, call 911. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

How do the stories we learn about gender and sexuality shape identity, mental health, relationships, and the way people understand themselves?

In this episode, licensed professional counselor Josh Korac speaks with therapist Daniel Lechleiter about gender identity, sexual orientation, LGBTQ+ mental health, gender dysphoria, minority stress, and the cultural narratives that influence how people make sense of who they are.

Daniel explains how his background in English and storytelling informs his work as a counselor. The language available to us can shape which identities and experiences feel understandable, acceptable, or possible. Josh and Daniel discuss how examining personal and cultural narratives may help people question messages they have received about gender roles, sexuality, relationships, and belonging.

The conversation also looks at Colorado’s history as the “Hate State,” a label connected to the passage of Amendment 2 in 1992, which restricted protections for gay, lesbian, and bisexual people before being struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Josh and Daniel discuss how discrimination, rejection, stigma, and lack of affirming support can affect mental health within LGBTQ+ communities.

They explore elevated risks involving depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicide, while emphasizing that LGBTQ+ identities are not themselves mental illnesses. Much of the risk comes from minority stress, including prejudice, concealment, family rejection, harassment, violence, and barriers to appropriate care.

Daniel also discusses gender dysphoria, the distinction between identity and distress, and the importance of allowing clients to explore their experiences without pressure. The episode considers how affirming therapy can support autonomy, safety, self-understanding, and healthier relationships.

Josh and Daniel also touch on domestic violence treatment and the importance of accountability, context, and avoiding stereotypes when discussing abuse. They examine how power, control, identity, and social expectations can affect relationships across different communities.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• The difference between gender identity and sexual orientation
• How cultural narratives shape identity and belonging
• LGBTQ+ mental health and minority stress
• Why LGBTQ+ identity is not a mental illness
• Family rejection, stigma, and barriers to support
• Gender dysphoria and identity exploration
• Suicide and substance-use risk within LGBTQ+ communities
• The role of affirming and collaborative therapy
• Colorado’s history as the “Hate State”
• How an English and storytelling background can support counseling
• Power, control, and domestic violence treatment
• Creating space for clients to define their own experiences

Daniel Lechleiter is a licensed professional counselor, approved clinical supervisor, and founder of Aspen Summit Wellness & Counseling in Greeley, Colorado. His clinical work includes LGBTQ+ identity, transgender and nonbinary concerns, ADHD, depression, anxiety, trauma, relationships, and domestic violence. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in clinical counseling from the University of Northern Colorado.

Learn more about Daniel at aspenswc.com.

Josh Korac is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado who specializes in trauma, family estrangement, loneliness, and complex relationship concerns. He is also the Lead Moderator of Estrangement.com.

Learn more about Josh at joshuakorac.com.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of suicide, substance use, discrimination, domestic violence, and mental health concerns affecting LGBTQ+ people.

This podcast is for educational purposes and does not constitute mental health treatment, diagnosis, crisis intervention, or an established therapeutic relationship. If you or someone else may be in immediate danger, call 911. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.