In this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna sits down with Brian Coon, Chief Clinical Officer at Pavilion, for a thoughtful conversation about identity, purpose, and redefining success on your own terms. Brian shares what it was like growing up overseas in Hong Kong before moving to rural Illinois as a teenager, how his early love of marine biology unexpectedly led him into psychology and addiction treatment, and why he has remained in the field for nearly four decades despite the high burnout rate in the profession.

Together, Joanna and Brian explore the pressure many young adults face to follow a predetermined path, the value of learning through mistakes, and the importance of finding trusted mentors and allies outside the family system. Brian’s perspective as both a clinician and storyteller offers a grounded, deeply human conversation about curiosity, growth, and building a life that reflects your own values instead of someone else’s expectations.

Brian's Resources:
Pavilion Treatment Center
Pavilion Admissions
Pavilion on Facebook

Connect with Joanna Lilley

Therapeutic Consulting Association

Lilley Consulting Website

Lilley Consulting on Facebook

Lilley Consulting on YouTube
Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com

#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #PavilionRecovery #TraumaInformedCare #PavilionTreatmentCenter #AddictionCounseling

Today’s episode features Madison Burke, a trained interventionist and recovery professional whose journey through addiction, chronic illness, mental health struggles, and recovery reshaped her understanding of identity and success. Despite appearing highly functional on the outside, Madison spent years battling substance use, unmanaged diabetes, depression, and survival mode behind the scenes. Madison shares with Joanna and listeners what it was like to experience her body breaking down before her mind was ready to fully confront her addiction. She also discusses the pressure to “keep it together,” the hidden reality of high functioning addiction, and how recovery forced her to rediscover who she was outside of achievement and crisis. Today, Madison helps individuals and families navigate addiction and healing through a whole-family recovery approach grounded in compassion and lived experience.

Madison's Resources:
LinkedIn: Madison Burke
Website: Maxwell Recovery Services

Connect with Joanna Lilley

Therapeutic Consulting Association

Lilley Consulting Website

Lilley Consulting on Facebook

Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com

#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryIsPossible

In this episode of Success if Subjective, Joanna sits down with Aideen Ni Riada, a vocal coach and creative mentor who helps people build confidence and reconnect with their authentic voice through singing and creativity. Aideen shares her nonlinear journey from growing up in Ireland and pursuing “safe” career paths, to experiencing burnout in London before eventually rebuilding her life around music, self-expression, and meaningful work. Together, they explore the pressure many young people feel to choose practical paths over creative passions, the importance of self-trust and experimentation, and how success often comes from allowing yourself to evolve. This episode is a reminder that fulfillment rarely follows a straight line — and that creativity can become a powerful path back to yourself.

Aideen's Resources:

Email: info@confidenceinsinging.com

Website: Confidence in Singing

Facebook Group: Confidence In Singing With Aideen

Instagram: @aideenniriada

Connect with Joanna Lilley

Therapeutic Consulting Association

Lilley Consulting Website

Lilley Consulting on Facebook

Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com

#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #ResonateWithAideen #YourVoiceMatters #SpeakYourTruth #VoiceCoach

In this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna sits down with board certified behavior analyst and parent coach Jerrod Zertuche to explore the evolving world of ABA, emotional regulation, and supporting neurodivergent families through connection and regulation. Jerrod shares his own nonlinear journey through anxiety, depression, people-pleasing, and feeling lost after college before ultimately finding purpose in helping families heal generational patterns and build safer, more connected relationships with their children. Together, they discuss the importance of nervous system regulation, why parent support is often the missing piece in behavioral interventions, and how emotional safety can create lasting change for both parents and kids. This conversation offers an honest and compassionate look at what happens when families move beyond compliance-based approaches and begin prioritizing connection, regulation, and healing.

Jerrod's Resources:

Website: Parenting From Love

Facebook Group: Parenting From Love

Instagram: @parentfromlove

Connect with Joanna Lilley

Therapeutic Consulting Association

Lilley Consulting Website

Lilley Consulting on Facebook

Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com

#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #ParentFromLove #ABATherapy #Autism #NervousSytem #NervousSytemRegulation #ParentCoach #NeurodivergentHelp

In this episode, Dana Skaggs—a psychotherapist, keynote speaker, and podcast host known as the “Queen of Boundaries”—joins Joanna to explore burnout, boundaries, and sustainable success. With over 17 years of clinical experience, Dana shares how stepping away from external expectations led her into work that now helps high performers create more aligned, sustainable lives. She also hosts the top 5% globally ranked Phoenix and Flame podcast and is a regular contributor on her local ABC/CBS affiliate.

Together, they unpack how burnout often builds quietly—through ignored limits and internal pressure—and why boundaries start with the relationship we have with ourselves. With humor and no-BS honesty, Dana offers a more sustainable way to keep going without losing yourself in the process.

Dana's Resources:

Website: Dana Skaggs

Boundaries Quiz

Instagram: @dana.b.skaggs

Facebook: Dana Bates Skaggs

LinkedIn: Dana Skaggs

Dana’s Podcast:

Website: Phoenix and Flame Podcast

Connect with Joanna Lilley

Therapeutic Consulting Association

Lilley Consulting Website

Lilley Consulting on Facebook

Lilley Consulting on YouTube
Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com

#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #DanaSkaggs #Boundaries #LetNoBeNo #ProfessionalGrowth #BurnoutPrevention

Rebecca Guez’s journey challenges the traditional definition of success, moving far beyond the high-pressure expectations she grew up with on the Upper East Side of New York City. Raised in an environment that prioritized elite education, financial success, and status, she initially followed the expected path into business school and the finance world—only to realize it was deeply misaligned with who she truly was. In this episode, Rebecca shares how stepping away from that path led her into a much more meaningful and expansive journey of self-discovery, motherhood, and healing. From navigating the challenges of parenting to exploring spirituality and emotional growth, she ultimately built a career as an intuitive coach and emotional healer, helping others unpack limiting beliefs and reconnect with themselves. This conversation speaks directly to young adults who feel torn between external expectations and internal knowing, offering reassurance that it’s not only okay—but necessary—to question the path you were given. Rebecca reminds us that success isn’t something you arrive at once and for all, but something that evolves as you grow, heal, and choose alignment over approval.

Rebecca's Resources:

Website: Rebecca Guez

Instagram: @rebeccaguez

Facebook: Rebecca Guez

Connect with Joanna Lilley

Therapeutic Consulting Association

Lilley Consulting Website

Lilley Consulting on Facebook

Lilley Consulting on YouTube
Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com

#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #SpiritualGrowth #MindsetShift #PersonalDevelopment #SpiritualHealing #RebeccaGuez

Clay Cross grew up in a high-achieving environment that looked stable on the outside, but behind the scenes was shaped by addiction, secrecy, and a lack of emotional safety. From an early age, he learned to suppress anything beyond success or anger—carrying that mindset into boarding school and eventually into young adulthood. As expectations around achievement grew, so did his substance use. What followed was a pattern of expulsions, broken trust, and increasing distance from the life he was “supposed” to be building. After a turning point, Clay stepped away from everything familiar to pursue recovery—eventually becoming the owner and CEO of the very program where he once sought help. But his story isn’t just about sobriety—it’s about redefining success, rebuilding identity, and what it really takes to feel at home in your own life.

Clay's Resources:

Website: Ascend Recovery

Instagram: @ascendrecovery

Facebook: Ascend Recovery

Connect with Joanna Lilley

Therapeutic Consulting Association

Lilley Consulting Website

Lilley Consulting on Facebook

Lilley Consulting on YouTube
Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com

#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #AscendRecovery #OutdoorTherapy #LifeInRecovery #RecoveryWorks

Dr. Chris Putnam spent 30 years as a funeral director, building a career rooted in grief, service, and showing up for people in their hardest moments. With no clear direction after high school, he found his own path—one that eventually led him back to school, earning multiple degrees and transitioning into work as a therapist, professor, and parent coach. In this episode, Chris reflects on the pressure to prove himself, the unexpected reality of achievement, and the personal cost of building a life around it. He shares the tension between being a “fixer” and learning to step back, listen, and guide others toward their own answers. This conversation explores nonlinear paths, identity shifts, and how parents can support young adults through uncertainty with curiosity, safety, and connection instead of pressure.

Chris's Resources:

Therapy Services

Connect with Joanna Lilley

Therapeutic Consulting Association

Lilley Consulting Website

Lilley Consulting on Facebook

Lilley Consulting on YouTube
Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com

#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #ParentCoaching #TherapyWorks #RedefiningSuccess #DrChrisPutnam