Success is Subjective: Real People. Raw Stories. Embracing a Non-Linear Life!

Episode 330: Out with the Old, In with the New - The Identity Crisis That Led Me to Myself w/ Dr. Max Doshay

In this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna sits down with psychologist and mental health leader Dr. Max Doshay to explore the identity shift that reshaped both his life and career. Max reflects on how losing a version of himself he once deeply identified with forced him to confront who he was beneath the roles, titles, and expectations he carried. What followed wasn’t a straight path, but a series of pivots that led him toward leadership, purpose, and deeper self-awareness. Together, they talk about humility, ambition, and the tension between striving and staying grounded. Max shares what it’s like to lead without ego, to build something meaningful without losing yourself in the process, and to remain open when life unfolds differently than planned. This conversation offers a thoughtful look at what can emerge when identity falls away — and something more honest takes its place.Dr. Max’s Resources:WebsitesDrMaxDoshay.comMonima Wellness Center Element Q Healing Center Social MediaLinkedIn: Dr. Max DoshayLinkedIn: Monima Wellness CenterInstagram: @drmaxdoshayInstagram: @monimawellnessInstagram: @elementqhealingcenterFacebook: Monima Wellness CenterFacebook: Element Q Healing CenterBooksSecond Firsts by Christina RasmussenThe Road Less Traveled — M. Scott Peck Simon & SchusterDaring Greatly — Brené Brown Brené BrownMan’s Search for Meaning — Viktor E. Frankl Beacon PressTransitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes — William BridgesPodcast / TalkElement Q Podcast: Empowering LGBTQ+ Voices, One Story at a TimeReThinking — Adam GrantConnect with Joanna Lilley  Therapeutic Consulting AssociationLilley Consulting WebsiteLilley Consulting on Facebook Lilley Consulting on YouTubeEmail joanna@lilleyconsulting.com#TherapeuticConsulting #

Episode 329: From the Slopes to Sobriety - Arch Wright’s Journey of Healing

In this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna sits down with Arch Wright — former professional athlete, trauma therapist, and co-founder of One Elm at Horton Bay — for an honest and deeply human conversation about healing, identity, and what it truly means to live a successful life. Arch shares his journey through addiction, recovery, and emotional healing, reflecting on how success can mask unresolved trauma and how true fulfillment comes from learning to feel safe within ourselves and our relationships. Together, they discuss emotional sobriety, developmental trauma, and the courage it takes to do the deeper work. This conversation offers an honest look at growth, resilience, and redefining success from the inside out.Arch’s Resources: One Elm at Horton BayAdult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families (ACA)Al-Anon Family GroupsConnect with Joanna Lilley  Therapeutic Consulting AssociationLilley Consulting WebsiteLilley Consulting on Facebook Lilley Consulting on YouTubeEmail joanna@lilleyconsulting.com#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryIsPossible #SobrietyIsBeautiful #SobrietyJourney

Former Program Participant Series - Episode 328: When One More Try Changed Everything - Jaysa’s Journey

On this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna brings you another story from our special former participant series where she extends the opportunity for former participants to share their journey with others. Today’s former participant is Jaysa Brown. In this episode, Jaysa reflects on entering the mental health system at a young age, navigating multiple treatment settings that didn’t always help, and the deep resistance she felt toward trying yet another program. She shares how relocating to Colorado became a turning point, the role community and support played in her healing, and how redefining success has allowed her to build a life rooted in stability, purpose, and self-trust. Now working as a mentor within the same program that helped her turn her life around, Jaysa offers an honest perspective on recovery, family dynamics, and what sustainable progress can truly look like.NOTE: The podcasts in this series can include sensitive subjects such as suicide, self-harm, substance abuse, hospitalizations, psychotic episodes, and other traumatic experiences which include parts of the treatment journey. No topic is off limits and not all stories are positive but they are real, raw, and transparent.**Listener discretion is advised** Connect with Joanna Lilley  Therapeutic Consulting AssociationLilley Consulting WebsiteLilley Consulting on Facebook Lilley Consulting on YouTubeEmail joanna@lilleyconsulting.com#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryIsPossible #SobrietyIsBeautiful #SobrietyJourney 

Episode 327: Playing the Hand You’re Dealt - Brian Sacks on Survival, Stewardship, and Success

In this conversation, Brian Sacks shares what it was like to grow up as the only child of parents who had him late in life—parents he would eventually care for emotionally, physically, and financially while still trying to become an adult himself. Brian opens up about the pressure of stepping into adulthood far too early, running his father’s business as a teenager, and learning to navigate life without the safety net most young people rely on. Brian also reflects on how those early hardships shaped him as a husband, father, and professional—and why breaking generational patterns became a non-negotiable part of raising his own children. Now, decades into a successful marriage and career, Brian has turned his lived experience into service, creating the Stuck in the Middle newsletter, podcast, and community for people balancing the simultaneous demands of aging parents, growing children, relationships, and work. This episode is a grounded, heartfelt reminder that success isn’t defined by ease—it’s defined by resilience, compassion, and the willingness to play the hand you’re dealt with integrity and grit.Brian’s Resources: Podcast: Stuck in the Middle Episode: Guiding Young Adults Through Emotional Struggles and Family Transitions with Joanna Lilley Newsletter: Stuck in the Middle Facebook: Stuck in the Middle NewsConnect with Joanna Lilley  Therapeutic Consulting AssociationLilley Consulting WebsiteLilley Consulting on Facebook Lilley Consulting on YouTubeEmail joanna@lilleyconsulting.com#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #StuckInTheMiddle #StuckInTheMiddlePodcast #BrianSacks #TeenYears #TeenAnxiety #ParentingHelp #LifeTransitions #UpsAndDownsOfLife

Episode 326: Parenting from Fear to Understanding - A Conversation with Ann Coleman

In this week’s episode, Joanna sits down with Ann Coleman—attorney turned parent-educator and the host of Speaking of Teens. After years of struggling through her son’s anxiety, ADHD, and eventual placement in treatment, Ann realized that her own fear, misunderstanding, and emotional reactivity were driving the conflict at home. What happened next changed everything. Ann shares how she dove into adolescent neuropsychology, rewired her entire approach to parenting, and ultimately built a framework that has since helped thousands of families break destructive cycles. She talks openly about the grief of letting go of old expectations, the relief that comes from understanding the developing brain, and why “success” must be defined by the young person—not the parent. This conversation is an anchor for any parent navigating adolescence or young adulthood. Ann offers clarity, compassion, and the kind of perspective that can genuinely shift a family’s trajectory.Ann’s Resources: Website: https://speakingofteens.com/Podcast: Speaking of Teens Instagram: @speakingofteenspodcast Facebook: Speaking of Teens PodcastConnect with Joanna Lilley  Therapeutic Consulting AssociationLilley Consulting WebsiteLilley Consulting on Facebook Lilley Consulting on YouTubeEmail joanna@lilleyconsulting.com#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #SpeakingOfTeensPodcast #TeenYears #MomEmotions #TeenAnxiety #ParentingHelp