Do you feel like you’ve tried therapy, self-help, maybe even medication, but you’re still stuck thinking… why am I not better yet?

I’m joined by Dr. Will Dobud, a social worker, researcher and educator who has worked with adolescents and families across the United States, Australia, and Norway, to explore why the mental health system can leave good people feeling broken, even when they’re doing all the “right” things.

We talk about the uncomfortable truth that mental health outcomes haven’t improved in decades, how passive interventions and labels can replace real change, and why “awareness” without personal ownership can actually keep you trapped. We also get into why medication can’t be the finish line, what it means to stop outsourcing your healing, and the mindset shift that helps you move from self-blame to self-trust.

This episode will help you change your life by changing your relationship with mental health, so you can take ownership of it and move forward today.

Dr. Will Dobud is a social worker, researcher, and educator who has worked with adolescents and families in the United States, Australia, and Norway.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:57) Quick Fix Culture: Labels, Pills, and Passive Interventions

(02:33) Treat Young People as Crew (Not Passengers)

(06:06) Phone Bans vs Real Priorities: The Broken Hill Lead Story

(07:57) ‘Kids These Days’: Moral Panics, History Repeats, and Common Sense

(11:13) Modeling Responsibility: What Adults Must Do After the Ban

(12:53) Bridging the Divide: Politics, Outrage, and What We’re Protecting

(17:27) Beginner’s Mind & Learning: Conferences, Curiosity, and Humble Pie

(19:22) Dr. Will Doba’s Origin Story: From ADHD Kid to Social Work & Outdoor Therapy

(26:10) Process Over Outcomes: Excellence in the Work (and the Podcast Trap)

(32:36) Building a Feedback Culture: How to Get Better Without an Echo Chamber

(37:28) Systematic Self-Critique: Recording Sessions, Asking Better Questions, Elite Practice

(41:30) Feedback, growth, and why relationships get confronting

(42:31) Therapy alliance: asking for negative feedback early

(45:50) Micro-habits vs overwhelm: making change doable

(48:52) Simple can be elegant: tiny tweaks, agency, and noticing the good

(52:27) Change doesn’t have to match the problem: finding a direction

(56:48) Outdoor therapy & nature: benefits without the hype

(59:01) Where to find the book + bonus resources

(01:01:12) Biggest mental health burden: social connection, community, and engagement

(01:04:28) Vulnerability at home: modeling teamwork through hard times

(01:07:25) What kids imitate: phones, conflict, and healthy disagreement

(01:09:57) Advice, regrets, and what happiness really means

(01:16:18) Curiosity, learning, and the messy process of creating (plus wrap-up)

Get the FREE Move Your Mind Masterclass here:

go.nickbracks.com/moveyourmind

Access FREE Move Your Mind training here:

https://go.moveyourmind.io/training

Connect with Nick:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracks

Website: http://nickbracks.com

Email: contact@nickbracks.com

Connect with Will:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willdobud/

Book: https://www.kidsthesedaysbook.com/will-dobud

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#261: The Mental Health Industry Is Failing You - Here’s Why - Dr. Will Dobud