How do we balance growth and self-acceptance while navigating anxiety, depression, and the constant pressure to have it all figured out?

In this episode, I sit down with Gianna LaLota, LMHC a New York-based therapist and speaker, who shares her deeply personal journey through anxiety and depression during her teenage years. Despite having what looked like a "perfect life" on paper, Gianna opens up about her struggle to find ground and the transformative power of therapy, yoga, and internal family systems work that helped her discover a new relationship with herself.

We explore the misconception that healing has a final destination and instead discuss how growth can be a lifelong journey of self-discovery. Gianna shares practical mindfulness techniques, including her favorite grounding exercises, and explains how developing self-trust became the biggest agent of change in her life.

Gianna and I dive deep into the difference between controlling behavior born from anxiety versus genuine agency, and how slowing down in our fast-paced world can be an act of rebellion that leads to a richer, more connected life.

Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• A powerful reframe that can change your entire healing journey
• The missing ingredient in mindfulness that most people overlook
• The hidden language your nervous system is speaking to you

All show notes are available at www.deanapanza.com!

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Gianna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfultherapynyc

Let's connect:

Follow along on ⁠Instagram⁠ + ⁠TikTok⁠

Email: deana@deanapanza.com

Reminder: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a replacement for therapy or individualized mental health or medical care.

Secure your spot in the next Reclaim + Reconnect: A Program for Healing After Trauma. Heal your nervous system, break free from the patterns that are keeping you stuck, and reconnect with the real you so you can reclaim the life you have always deserved.

https://www.deanapanza.com/reclaimandreconnect