Advertise on podcast: The Mental Health Today Show

Sonja Olivia Frey is an award-winning author, parenting mentor, lawyer, and trauma-informed coach passionate about personal development, emotional wellbeing, authentic living, and meaningful relationships. Her work explores how we can move beyond perfectionism, limiting expectations, and the pressure to have everything figured out, and instead learn to understand ourselves, embrace our individuality, and live with greater self-awareness, confidence, and compassion. Sonja’s award-winning book, Happiness Is a Superpower for My Children: Be the Not-Perfect Real Parent, brings these themes into the world of parenting. Drawing on neuroscience, child development, nervous system regulation, and her own journey of healing and self-discovery, she explores how becoming more authentic and emotionally aware as adults can transform the way we relate to our children—and to ourselves. Through her writing, coaching, and speaking, Sonja encourages people to move beyond perfectionism and expectations, embrace who they truly are, and create deeper, more meaningful relationships—with themselves and with the people they love. https://www.sonjafrey.com https://www.instagram.com/sonjaoliviafrey/ The Mental Health Today Show: https://www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com Host, John Cordray, LPC Ready for weekly tips to quiet overthinking and reclaim mental freedom? Subscribe to The Mental Freedom newsletter, actionable insights delivered for high achievers and overthinkers. Sign up here: https://johncordray.me/subscribe From John Cordray, LPC – Creator of MyndStill app @JohnCordrayLPC on X/LinkedIn Informational support only—not a substitute for professional therapy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Greg carried a suffering he couldn't name from the time he was a small child, an emotional and spiritual pain so heavy that by age ten he had made his first attempt to end his life. Over the next eight years, he tried repeatedly, saw psychologists and psychiatrists, and took the medications they prescribed, but nothing touched what he was feeling, because it was never the chemical imbalance they assumed. At eighteen, he made what he intended to be his final attempt, taking hundreds of pills. He survived, and doctors called it a miracle, but the overdose left lasting damage to his heart, damage a cardiologist later told him would likely kill him within a decade. The healing that followed wasn't just emotional; it also became physical, and the two turned out to be inseparable. Years later, after a second brush with death gave him a reason to live for the first time, Greg's body was still failing him: autoimmune disease, tumors, chronic pain, and that same damaged heart left him bedridden for six months, unable even to hold a TV remote. Twenty years working in the medical field had taught him to expect answers from conventional medicine, and there weren't any. So he turned to molecular hydrogen, something he initially dismissed as a scam, and spent four years studying hundreds of studies before it became the thing that gave him his body back. For Greg, recovering his physical health wasn't separate from recovering his will to live; rebuilding one rebuilt the other. That combined journey is now his life's work: he runs the YouTube channel UPRISING144K, where he teaches hundreds of thousands of people the science of hydrogen therapy, and he speaks openly about the years he didn't want to survive, and what it took (spiritually and physically) to become someone who does. Learn more: https://www.youtube.com/@UPRISING144K The Mental Health Today Show Podcast Host: John Cordray, LPC Ready for weekly tips to quiet overthinking and reclaim mental freedom? Subscribe to The Mental Freedom newsletter, actionable insights delivered for high achievers and overthinkers. Sign up here: https://johncordray.me/subscribe From John Cordray, LPC – Creator of MyndStill app @JohnCordrayLPC on X/LinkedIn Informational support only—not a substitute for professional therapy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Kelly N. Edmondson, MSN, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, GC-C, is a nurse executive, certified grief counselor, bereaved mother, speaker, and founder and CEO of Timely Presence. With more than two decades of healthcare experience—from trauma intensive care nursing to enterprise nursing leadership—Kelly has spent her career supporting people through crisis and helping organizations build more compassionate systems of care. After the unexpected death of her 28-year-old son, Darius, in 2023, Kelly experienced how quickly support can disappear while grief continues. She founded Timely Presence to help change that reality through sustained, milestone-aware support for grieving families. Kelly speaks about grief and mental health, trauma-informed leadership, workplace bereavement, continuing bonds, and practical ways individuals and organizations can reduce the isolation grieving people often experience. Her work has been featured in TIME and Black Enterprise, and she has appeared on more than 40 podcasts discussing grief, leadership, loss, and the power of consistent presence. Learn more here: https://thetimelypresence.com The Mental Health Today Show: www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com Host, John Cordray, LPC Ready for weekly tips to quiet overthinking and reclaim mental freedom? Subscribe to The Mental Freedom newsletter, actionable insights delivered for high achievers and overthinkers. Sign up here: https://johncordray.me/subscribe From John Cordray, LPC – Creator of MyndStill app @JohnCordrayLPC on X/LinkedIn Informational support only—not a substitute for professional therapy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mark Steiner is the Co-Founder and CEO of GigSalad, the leading online marketplace that has connected over 4 million event planners with entertainers, speakers, and service providers. His path into entrepreneurship began in the world of acting, film sets, and talent representation, where he discovered his passion for helping creatives find opportunities to do what they love. Adopted at birth and late-diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood, Mark has always viewed the world through a lens of empathy, intuition, and emotional intelligence. He leads with compassion, trust, and a belief that business should feel meaningful rather than transactional. In his view, when one person succeeds, everyone should rise with them. A natural storyteller, Mark speaks openly about leadership, vulnerability, creativity, adoption, ADHD, and building a business that prioritizes humanity. His voice carries warmth, honesty, and vision, and he believes that the best ideas are the ones that make life better for others. Learn more: https://thinkupon.com/ https://www.instagram.com/stories/markandrewsteiner/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/markandrewsteiner/ The Mental Health Today Show Host, John Cordray, LPC Ready for weekly tips to quiet overthinking and reclaim mental freedom? Subscribe to The Mental Freedom newsletter, actionable insights delivered for high achievers and overthinkers. Sign up here: https://johncordray.me/subscribe From John Cordray, LPC – Creator of MyndStill app @JohnCordrayLPC on X/LinkedIn Informational support only—not a substitute for professional therapy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mental wellness after a cancer diagnosis goes beyond surviving—it's about processing the psychological trauma that comes with the diagnosis itself. In this episode, John Cordray (LPC) breaks down the emotional resilience strategies and coping techniques that help patients navigate catastrophic thinking, anxiety, and identity shifts post-diagnosis. Learn research-backed CBT tools to reclaim mental clarity during one of life's most disruptive moments. Learn more about Tim: https://www.advocacyatwork.com/ https://instagram.com/timamcdonald https://linkedin.com/in/timamcdonald The Mental Health Today Show: https://www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com Host, John Cordray, LPC Ready for weekly tips to quiet overthinking and reclaim mental freedom? Subscribe to The Mental Freedom newsletter, actionable insights delivered for high achievers and overthinkers. Sign up here: https://johncordray.me/subscribe From John Cordray, LPC – Creator of MyndStill app @JohnCordrayLPC on X/LinkedIn Informational support only—not a substitute for professional therapy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Trauma recovery takes many forms, and for singer Machan Taylor, songwriting and performance became the ultimate healing tool. In this episode, John Cordray talks with Machan about her four-decade music career, her work with icons like Sting and Pink Floyd, and how emotional resilience was forged through vulnerability on stage. Her new memoir, Naked Out Loud, reveals how art transforms pain into beauty, a lesson applicable to your own journey toward mental wellness and anxiety relief. https://www.machantaylor.com/ https://www.facebook.com/machantaylor/ https://www.instagram.com/machantaylorofficial/ https://www.youtube.com/@MachanTaylorOfficial The Mental Health Today Show site: https://www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com Host, John Cordray, LPC Ready for weekly tips to quiet overthinking and reclaim mental freedom? Subscribe to The Mental Freedom newsletter, actionable insights delivered for high achievers and overthinkers. Sign up here: https://johncordray.me/subscribe From John Cordray, LPC – Creator of MyndStill app @JohnCordrayLPC on X/LinkedIn Informational support only—not a substitute for professional therapy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Managing stress during family conflicts starts with recognizing cognitive distortions, learning wellness tips, and knowing what to say when tensions spike. In this episode, John Cordray walks you through practical boundary-setting scripts, calming techniques for overthinking partners, and evidence-based CBT tools for defusing disagreements without abandoning your needs. Perfect for burned-out professionals navigating holiday stress, family visits, or everyday partner tension. The Mental Health Today Show: https://www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com Host, John Cordray, LPC Ready for weekly tips to quiet overthinking and reclaim mental freedom? Subscribe to The Mental Freedom newsletter, actionable insights delivered for high achievers and overthinkers. Sign up here: https://johncordray.me/subscribe From John Cordray, LPC – Creator of MyndStill app @JohnCordrayLPC on X/LinkedIn Informational support only—not a substitute for professional therapy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Unresolved grief often masquerades as anxiety, burnout, or overthinking for many people. In this episode, host John Cordray explores how coping with loss and the importance of grief recovery, and how unexpected and unresolved loss impacts emotional wellness and mental clarity, and shares evidence-based coping strategies to help you process grief and reclaim your life. Using CBT techniques and professional insight, discover why some losses linger and how to build emotional resilience. www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com Host, John Cordray, LPC Ready for weekly tips to quiet overthinking and reclaim mental freedom? Subscribe to The Mental Freedom newsletter, actionable insights delivered for high achievers and overthinkers. Sign up here: https://johncordray.me/subscribe From John Cordray, LPC – Creator of MyndStill app @JohnCordrayLPC on X/LinkedIn Informational support only—not a substitute for professional therapy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Explore guided abstract drawing with Jeff Losner, founder of An Abstract Mind, to enhance mental wellness and emotional resilience. This episode introduces The Abstract Tray technique for mindful emotional awareness and stress coping strategies through a calming 5-minute creative exercise. Learn more about Jeff's work here: www.anabstractmind.com www.abstracttray.com Please leave a review and rating of the show: https://ratethispodcast.com/mentalhealthtodayshow Host, John Cordray, LPC www.johncordraylpc.com Ready for weekly tips to quiet overthinking and reclaim mental freedom? Subscribe to The Mental Freedom newsletter, actionable insights delivered for high achievers and overthinkers. Sign up here: https://johncordray.me/subscribe From John Cordray, LPC – Creator of MyndStill app @JohnCordrayLPC on X/LinkedIn Informational support only—not a substitute for professional therapy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

All-or-nothing thinking is a cognitive distortion that keeps high achievers trapped in burnout cycles. In this episode, John Cordray explores how black-and-white thinking fuels anxiety, perfectionism, and mental exhaustion—and shares CBT-based techniques to break free. Learn practical emotional wellness strategies designed for busy professionals who struggle with extremes. Listen to more of the show: www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com Host, John Cordray www.johncordraylpc.com Ready for weekly tips to quiet overthinking and reclaim mental freedom? Subscribe to The Mental Freedom newsletter, actionable insights delivered for high achievers and overthinkers. Sign up here: https://johncordray.me/subscribe From John Cordray, LPC – Creator of MyndStill app @JohnCordrayLPC on X/LinkedIn Informational support only—not a substitute for professional therapy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Loneliness and anxiety often trap overthinkers in a cruel paradox that creates mental barriers: you crave connection but fear it. In this episode, John Cordray, LPC, breaks down the connection crisis and reveals evidence-based anxiety coping skills and CBT techniques to rebuild for burnout, managing stress, relationships, and emotional wellness without triggering anxiety spirals. Perfect for stress coping strategies on your morning commute or gym workout. Please take a moment to leave a review and rating here > www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com/ratetheshow Host, John Cordray, LPC www.johncordraylpc.com Ready for weekly tips to quiet overthinking and reclaim mental freedom? Subscribe to The Mental Freedom newsletter, actionable insights delivered for high achievers and overthinkers. Sign up here: https://johncordray.me/subscribe From John Cordray, LPC – Creator of MyndStill app @JohnCordrayLPC on X/LinkedIn Informational support only—not a substitute for professional therapy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Adolescent boys face a hidden anxiety crisis, yet are 3x less likely than girls to seek help. On Mental Health Today Show, John Cordray, LPC, talks with Jarrod Hoffman about teen mental wellness, and they explore practical coping skills, emotional resilience techniques, and anxiety management strategies for teen boys and young adults. Learn how to break through socialization barriers and build emotional wellness before anxiety escalates. A little about Jarrod: I've experienced grief, anxiety, depression, addiction, job loss, purposelessness, and isolation. My parents divorced when I was 10. I found porn at age 11. I found healing through counseling at 25. I help children, teens, and families who are dealing with challenging life circumstances, young adults looking for life direction, and those in recovery because therapy helped me. My life experiences are what led me to become the therapist I am today. To find out more about what we talked about on this episode, visit Jarrod's website jarrodhoffman.com The Mental Health Today Show mentalhealthtodayshow.com Host: John Cordray, LPC johncordraylpc.com Ready for weekly tips to quiet overthinking and reclaim mental freedom? Subscribe to The Mental Freedom newsletter, actionable insights delivered for high achievers and overthinkers. Sign up here: https://johncordray.me/subscribe From John Cordray, LPC – Creator of MyndStill app @JohnCordrayLPC on X/LinkedIn Informational support only—not a substitute for professional therapy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Explore how AI and technology can support anxiety management and emotional wellness, without replacing human therapy. In this episode, John Cordray, LPC, breaks down the evidence-based mental wellness tools helping professionals manage anxiety, shares which anxiety coping strategies work best with AI assistance, and reveals where technology falls short. Perfect for overthinkers seeking practical mental health solutions, cognitive techniques, and burnout. www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com/rate-the-show www.mentalhelthtodayshow.com Host, John Cordray, LPC www.johncordraylpc.com Sources: Benefits & AdvancesSohn et al. (2026) — Systematic review and meta-analysis of chatbots in the management of depressive and anxiety symptoms. npj Digital Medicine. Published March 2026. DOI: 10.1038/s41746-026-02566-w. This covers the Hedges’ g effect sizes (0.31 for depression, 0.28 for anxiety) across nearly 7,400 participants.Feng et al. (2025) — The Effectiveness of AI Chatbots in Alleviating Mental Distress and Promoting Health Behaviors Among Adolescents and Young Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27:e79850 (2025). DOI: 10.2196/79850. This includes the standard mean differences for anxiety (-0.37), stress (-0.41), and psychosomatic symptoms (-0.48).Heinz et al. (2025) — Randomized Trial of a Generative AI Chatbot for Mental Health Treatment (Therabot). NEJM AI (2025). This is the first RCT showing clinically significant reductions in MDD, GAD, and related symptoms, with therapeutic alliance ratings comparable to human therapists.Cachia et al. (2025) — AI for Proactive Mental Health: A Multi-Institutional, Longitudinal, Randomized Controlled Trial (Flourish app). Harvard University working paper / arXiv preprint (2025). This covers improvements in positive affect, resilience, belonging, and protective effects against stress.OpenAI & MIT Media Lab (2025) — Studies on affective use and emotional well-being with ChatGPT (including voice mode). These show mixed effects on loneliness, with voice interactions sometimes reducing it at moderate use but increasing isolation with heavy daily reliance.Wysa-related studies (multiple, including 2025 updates) — Various trials showing reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms (e.g., up to 22% in some cohorts) with CBT/mindfulness integration.Limitations & DangersStanford University studies (2025) — Multiple papers and reports on AI mental health tools, including risks of stigma, crisis mishandling, parasocial bonds, and inappropriate responses. Key examples include work on LLM safety in therapy contexts and Common Sense Media collaboration with Stanford’s Brainstorm Lab.Frontiers in Psychiatry (2025) — Reviews noting that while chatbots are feasible and acceptable short-term, evidence for long-term safety and efficacy (especially in moderate-to-severe cases) remains limited.Character.AI-related tragedies (2024–2026) — Lawsuits and settlements involving families alleging harm from companion-style chatbots (including role-play scenarios leading to isolation or escalation). Google/Character.AI reached settlements in early 2026 with multiple families. Similar patterns noted in lawsuits against other platforms involving crisis responses.American Psychological Association (APA) advisory (late 2025) — Caution on generative AI chatbots and wellness apps for mental health, citing insufficient evidence and regulation for safety in emotional support or crisis situations. Ready for weekly tips to quiet overthinking and reclaim mental freedom? Subscribe to The Mental Freedom newsletter, actionable insights delivered for high achievers and overthinkers. Sign up here: https://johncordray.me/subscribe From John Cordray, LPC – Creator of MyndStill app @JohnCordrayLPC on X/LinkedIn Informational support only—not a substitute for professional therapy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join Sunita Yousuf on a journey of mindful cooking designed to combat burnout and anxiety. Learn actionable stress coping skills and wellness tips to transform your mental health with the healing power of food. Listeners are encouraged to start a 15-day habit challenge involving cooking and journaling daily, practice mindful cooking by engaging their senses, and prioritize nutritious eating as a foundation for emotional health. This episode delivers valuable wellness expert insights on using cooking as a therapeutic technique that supports mental health coping and burnout prevention in fast-paced environments. Subscribe and leave a review if this episode resonated with your own journey toward trauma recovery or better coping skills. Rate The Show To learn more about The Wannabe Cook, visit thewannabecook.com Host: John Cordray, LPC www.johncordraylpc.com Ready for weekly tips to quiet overthinking and reclaim mental freedom? Subscribe to The Mental Freedom newsletter, actionable insights delivered for high achievers and overthinkers. Sign up here: https://johncordray.me/subscribe From John Cordray, LPC – Creator of MyndStill app @JohnCordrayLPC on X/LinkedIn Informational support only—not a substitute for professional therapy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Imposter syndrome and high achiever stress create a vicious anxiety loop. In this deep-dive, John Cordray, LPC, reveals the cognitive distortions fueling "never good enough" feelings and shares evidence-based coping strategies to rewire perfectionist thinking. Learn how to distinguish imposter syndrome from legitimate growth opportunities, prevent burnout before it starts, and use your analytical mind as your recovery tool. Essential listening for overthinkers in high-pressure careers. Turn your mental barriers into mental wellness. Please rate the show here: www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com/ratetheshow Host: John Cordray, LPC johncordraylpc.com Ready for weekly tips to quiet overthinking and reclaim mental freedom? Subscribe to The Mental Freedom newsletter, actionable insights delivered for high achievers and overthinkers. Sign up here: https://johncordray.me/subscribe From John Cordray, LPC – Creator of MyndStill app @JohnCordrayLPC on X/LinkedIn Informational support only—not a substitute for professional therapy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy