Podcast
Mental Health Today Show | Mental Wellness & Overthinking
Hosted by John Cordray, LPC | Overthinking & Mental Wellness Expert · EN
Hosted by John Cordray, LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor). The Mental Health Today Show is your top resource for mental wellness, burnout prevention, and overthinking relief. Explore episodes packed with CBT-based anxiety coping skills, emotional resilience strategies, trauma recovery insights, and practical tips for managing common mental health problems, including imposter syndrome and depression. Designed for professionals seeking quick mental therapy insights and anxiety relief, this podcast empowers listeners to overcome stress and achieve true emotional wellness.
The Mental Health Today Show podcast is dedicated to helping busy professionals and high-achievers break free from overthinking, anxiety, and common cognitive distortions like catastrophizing, all-or-nothing thinking, should statements, jumping to conclusions, mental filtering, and more.
Hosted by John Cordray, LPC, a national board-certified counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and founder of MyndStill, an innovative mental wellness app designed as your 24/7 evolving AI Mental Wellness Coach. Each episode delivers practical, evidence-based insights rooted in CBT principles, mindfulness, and quick, actionable tools for fast relief without long therapy sessions. John often interviews leading professionals in the mental health field as well, and occasionally, a True Crime Psychology episode.
Whether you're dealing with work-related stress, burnout prevention, decision-making doubt, or those 2 a.m. replay loops, John shares relatable stories from high-pressure environments, expert-backed coping skills, reframing techniques, and wellness tips to help you reclaim focus, build mental resilience, and achieve true mental freedom.
If you're searching for the top mental health podcast for professionals, one of the best mental health podcasts offering anxiety coping skills, stress management strategies, and real-world mental wellness guidance—this show is your go-to resource.
Tune in weekly for empowering conversations that quiet the noise, interrupt overthinking cycles, and support lasting mental peace. Perfect for leaders, executives, and anyone ready to feel mentally unbreakable.
Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform.
Disclaimer: The Mental Health Today Show is for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as therapy. If you are seeking therapy, please contact a licensed therapist or LPC for help.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Managing Stress And Family Conflicts With Wellness Tips
1w ago00:27:20Tap to summarizeManaging 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.comHost, John Cordray, LPCReady 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/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcribe →
Grieving the Unexpected: Emotional Wellness After Loss
2w ago00:26:48Tap to summarizeUnresolved 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.comHost, 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/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcribe →
5-Minute Abstract Mind Reset: Emotional Wellness and Stress Coping w/Jeff Losner
3w ago00:27:42Tap to summarizeExplore 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.comwww.abstracttray.comPlease leave a review and rating of the show: https://ratethispodcast.com/mentalhealthtodayshowHost, John Cordray, LPC www.johncordraylpc.comReady 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/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcribe →
Breaking Free From All or Nothing Thinking Patterns
May 2700:22:43Tap to summarizeAll-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.comHost, John Cordray www.johncordraylpc.comReady 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/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcribe →
The Overthinking Paradox: Loneliness and Anxiety Connection
May 2000:20:04Tap to summarizeLoneliness 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/ratetheshowHost, John Cordray, LPC www.johncordraylpc.comReady 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/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcribe →
Adolescent Boys and Mental Wellness w/Jarrod Hoffman
May 1300:30:44Tap to summarizeAdolescent 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.comThe Mental Health Today Show mentalhealthtodayshow.comHost: John Cordray, LPC johncordraylpc.comReady 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/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcribe →
AI & Mental Wellness: Can Technology Help Burnout?
May 600:22:30Tap to summarizeExplore 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-showwww.mentalhelthtodayshow.comHost, John Cordray, LPC www.johncordraylpc.comSources: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/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcribe →
Stress Relief Cooking: Mindful Techniques & Mental Wellness w/Sunita Yousuf
Apr 2900:25:57Tap to summarizeJoin 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 ShowTo learn more about The Wannabe Cook, visit thewannabecook.comHost: John Cordray, LPC www.johncordraylpc.comReady 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/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcribe →
Imposter Syndrome: Turning Mental Barriers Into Mental Wellness
Apr 2200:24:22Tap to summarizeImposter 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/ratetheshowHost: John Cordray, LPC johncordraylpc.comReady 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/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcribe →
Managing Anxiety: Calm Techniques and Mental Rewiring w/ Dr. Dhruva Gulur
Apr 1500:33:21Tap to summarizeDr. Dhruva Gulur presents trauma-informed Mind Hygiene® methods to strengthen anxiety coping skills and emotional resilience. This episode covers CBT techniques, stress management, and mental rewiring approaches to combat workplace anxiety and support mental wellness. Discover how trauma-informed care is becoming essential in mental health treatment, helping individuals break mental barriers and manage anxiety with therapeutic techniques such as writing exercises and mindfulness anxiety interventions. Whether you're seeking help for trauma recovery, emotional health, or managing stress in high-pressure environments, this conversation offers actionable tools and counselor tips you can use immediately.Join us to learn about cultivating cognitive resilience and stress wellness with techniques rooted in CBT and emotional health expertise, empowering you to move beyond reactive coping and toward proactive mental self-management skills for long-term wellness.Suggested Calls to Action:Subscribe and leave a review if this episode resonated with your own journey toward trauma recovery or better coping skills. Rate The ShowDownload Dr. Dhruva’s free Mind Hygiene resources https://dhruvamd.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/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcribe →