In this episode, Patrick Casale talks with Liz Ridgway about her career journey—how growing up as an athlete in small-town Pennsylvania ultimately led her to founding MENTL.SESH, collaborating with brands like Nike and NASCAR, and supporting high performers and creatives through therapy and consulting.

After years in nonprofit and foster care settings, Liz realized the importance of bringing all passions and parts of herself into work. By building a brand that authentically reflects who she is, she's connected with incredible clients and partners in some of the world’s most high-pressure spaces.

Here are 3 key takeaways:

Think outside the therapy office: Your skills are valuable across industries. Connect what you love (sports, fashion, music—whatever it is) with your professional expertise.
Relationship-building is essential: Go beyond just “networking”—form genuine connections with people and organizations in your target industries. Sometimes, years of conversations lead to that dream opportunity.
Embrace your unique brand: Show up as yourself, both online and off. The clients and opportunities carved out just for you will follow.

More about Liz:

Liz Ridgway, LCSW, is a licensed therapist, speaker, mental health consultant, and content creator specializing in the wellness of elite athletes, high performers, and creatives. Based in Philadelphia and NYC, Liz brings a modern, culturally aware approach to mental health - making her a trusted voice for individuals and organizations looking to prioritize emotional wellbeing in high-pressure spaces.

As the founder of MENTL.SESH, Liz leads a private practice that provides individual therapy and mental health support to athletes, entertainers, entrepreneurs, and creatives. This includes working with MLB and NASCAR athletes and personnel, helping them navigate performance pressure, identity, recovery, and the mental demands of competing on the world’s biggest stages. She also partners with brands and companies to design and deliver interactive workshops, keynotes, and mental health strategy consulting.

Her consulting work includes collaborations with leading global brands such as Meta, Adidas, StockX, Champion, and more - providing training on topics like burnout prevention, identity beyond achievement, and building a culture of mental wellness. Liz is also a sought after content partner, having worked with Nike, Complex, Bleacher Report, Reebok, Red Bull, Crocs, Disney, The Hundreds, and more. She designed the Nike Air Max 270 React “In My Feels”, the first sneaker to center mental health in both name and narrative.

With a Master’s in Social Work from NYU and a strong digital presence, Liz uses storytelling and social media to break down stigma and build safe spaces where mental health is seen, heard, and supported.

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Thanks to Our Sponsors: The Receptionist for iPad, Alma, & Portland, Maine, Summit 2026!

✨ The Receptionist for iPad

Thanks to The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode.

The Receptionist for iPad is a HIPAA-ready digital check-in system that eliminates the need to walk back and forth from your office to the waiting room to see if your next appointment has arrived. Clients or patients can check in for their appointments, and you'll be immediately notified by text, email, or your preferred channel. Break free from interruptions and make the most of your time, because it is valuable. Start a free 14-day trial of the Receptionist for iPad by going to thereceptionist.com/privatepractice. Make sure to start your trial with that link to get your first month free if you decide to sign up.

✨ Alma

Thanks to Alma for sponsoring this episode.

Alma empowers you to confidently accept insurance backed by an all-in-one EHR that simplifies scheduling, documentation, and day-to-day practice operations. With a network of engaged providers and free CE courses, Alma makes it easy for you to build the practice of your dreams on your terms. Alma believes that when therapists get the support they need, mental healthcare gets better for everyone. Learn more at helloalma.com/ATPP.

✨ Portland, Maine, Summit 2026

The 2026 Doubt Yourself Do It Anyway Summit is happening for the first time in the United States in beautiful Portland, Maine, on September 1st–3rd, 2026. Portland, Maine, is a beautiful coastal city in the Atlantic Ocean. There's a lot of history there, and it's a very funky, creative, safe, walkable, diverse, and progressive city. You will get 9 NBCC CEs. We have ASWB pending—we'll make an announcement when that's finalized—and have 13 prolific industry leaders. This summit has always been about showing that our skills are applicable in so many different ways, and to motivate you to think bigger, grow in this profession, take more risks, work through self-doubt, and really embrace the doubt-yourself-do-it-anyway mentality. Spots are limited. Reserve your spot here: empoweredescapes.com/portland-maine-summit

Doubt yourself. Do it anyway. See you in Maine.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

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