Anxiety, Self-Trust, and Joy: A Mental Health Deep Dive with Alyssa

This week on Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads, we’re joined by the incredible Alyssa Kushner, LCSW—a licensed therapist and fierce mental health advocate who helps clients navigate anxiety, trauma, burnout, and self-doubt. In this honest and empowering conversation, Alyssa shares how she built her private practice, overcame impostor syndrome, and framed her approach to self-trust and joy heading into 2025. Whether you’re feeling paralyzed by perfectionism or just trying to figure out where to begin, Alyssa’s story and practical insights will leave you feeling seen, supported, and inspired to take that next step.

And hey, we’re not just your average mental health podcast—we’re officially award-winning! 🎉 In 2024, we won the People’s Choice Podcast Award for Health and the Women in Podcasting Award for Best Mental Health Podcast. Oh,—and we also passed 1 million downloads! Thank you for being part of this growing, stigma-breaking, soul-nourishing community.

🗣 Got feedback? Leave us a message or drop your thoughts here:
📢 https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

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💬 Quote of the Episode
"The relationship you have with yourself is the most important one you’ll ever nurture." – Alyssa

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👤 Meet Our Guest: Alyssa Kushner, LCSW
Alyssa is a licensed clinical social worker providing virtual therapy in NY, NJ, MD & D.C. She specializes in:

• Anxiety, trauma & burnout
• People-pleasing & perfectionism
• ADHD, disordered eating, & body image
• Relationship patterns & self-worth

Her approach is relational, trauma-informed, somatic, and holistic—infused with creativity, mindfulness, and compassion.

📌 Learn More About Alyssa:

• Bio: https://bio.site/alyssakushnerlcsw
• Website: https://www.ak-psychotherapy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssaktherapy
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssakushner/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AKPsychotherapyLCSW
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alyssaktherapy

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🧩 Key Takeaways

1. Your anxiety is a signal, not a flaw.
2. Impostor syndrome happens to everyone—yes, even therapists.
3. Joy is powerful, even when it has no “purpose.”

✅ Action Steps You Can Try Today

• 💛 Try mindful self-compassion by placing your hand over your heart and speaking kindly to yourself.
• 🧠 When self-doubt hits, ask: “Is this my voice—or someone else’s?”
• 🎨 Do something joyful just because it feels good.

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⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps
00:00 – Cold weather banter 🧤
03:00 – Meet Alyssa + her path to therapy
04:45 – Anxiety, wellness basics, and sobriety
10:00 – What joy and self-permission look like in 2025
20:00 – Sleep, exercise, reframing thoughts
28:00 – Mel Robbins’ Let Them Theory explained
30:00 – Owning impostor syndrome
35:00 – How to let go of perfection
37:00 – Wrapping with joy, calm, and clarity

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📚 Resources Mentioned

• Mel Robbins: Let Them Theory – .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}