Founders' Fears & Failures
It’s time to shine a light on the emotional and mental challenges of life in the startup ecosystem. Join Dr. Melissa Parks, executive coach for entrepreneurs and former therapist, as she interviews founders, investors, and other professionals supporting the startup world. Learn from their personal experiences, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way, about how to navigate the emotional rollercoaster of life as a founder. To get in touch with Melissa visit her website melissaparks.com
Founders' Fears & Failures
How Therapy Made Me a Better Founder With Ryan Schwartz
Too often we think about therapy as something to seek out as a last resort, when we’re in crisis and have exhausted all our other options.
Even if you suspect that it might help you to pursue therapy proactively, too many of us view it as something optional. Especially when you’re a founder who is acutely aware of how you’re spending your time and money.
My guest this week is here to talk about why he believes therapy is essential for founders, why it’s so helpful to seek out a therapist before you have a problem, and all of the ways his own experience in therapy has made him a better founder, as well as a co-founder.
Ryan Schwartz is the founder of Mental Health Match, a free platform that makes it easy to find a therapist. He's also the co-founder of TherapistsDAO, a community of therapists that shares ownership and governance of the infrastructure needed to advance mental health care across the globe. Ryan and his husband are nomadic, traveling around North America in pursuit of the calmest nature backdrops to their lives as startup founders.
Tune in to this episode to learn more about some of the ways founders might benefit from going to therapy, including uncovering blind spots and overcoming imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and avoidance, as well as the tips Ryan shares for how to know if a therapist is the right fit for you.
Find Ryan online:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mentalhealthmatch/
- https://mentalhealthmatch.com
- https://www.therapistsdao.com
Connect with your host, Dr. Melissa Parks, elsewhere:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissacparks/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissaparksphd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaparksphd/
Website: https://melissaparks.com/
Schedule a free 30 min. discovery call with Melissa to see if coaching with her would be a good fit: https://melissaparks.com/free-consultation-call/
If you’d like additional support for your mental and emotional well-being as a founder please visit Melissa’s website for a list of resources to help you find a coach, therapist, or peer support.