We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hannah Buzzo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hannah below.

Hi Hannah, thanks for joining us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

Through my diverse work experiences, I have learned so many important lessons but the biggest one is how important it is to have mentorship and community. I look back at my early career and feel so lucky to have had such knowledgeable, helpful, and encouraging mentors and colleagues – I truly wouldn’t be where I am without them. Business ownership, especially working as a solo entrepreneur can be lonely, scary, and confusing and I’ve found that having a community of colleagues that I can lean on, talk to, ask for advice, and gain support has helped me more than words can say.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a licensed therapist, business owner, and most recently, podcast host.

I am a results-driven therapist that is interested in helping individuals and couples overcome what is blocking them from living their truest, most connected life. I moved from West Virginia (take me home, country roads!) to Colorado over 7 years ago to pursue my education in the field of mental health counseling. Prior to starting my business, I have worked in a variety of settings as a clinician, supervisor, and clinical director in residential and outpatient treatment facilities.

I am also passionate about educating and training therapists, and provide training for clinical interns as well as clinical supervision and consultation for more experienced clinicians. I am also a teacher at a psychedelic assisted psychotherapy training program for therapists and guides.

Over the years working as therapists, myself and my dear friend and colleague – Jane Thatcher Hahn – found that our clients were working hard to change things in their lives – improving their mental health, changing their relationships, healing from trauma, or decreasing the amount of stress they were under. As demand for mental health services have increased over the past few years, it seemed to us that although mental health was less stigmatized and more services were being desired, people continued to struggle, reporting feeling anxious, depressed, discontent, stressed, and unhappy no matter what individual changes they made
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As the statistics backed up what we saw in our offices, on social media, and in the news (more Americans are reporting feeling less life satisfaction and overall happiness each passing year), Jane and I started to get curious about the impact of larger factors – things like creativity, politics, technology, food, culture, work, and spirituality on mental health, relationships and wellbeing. For there, we started our new podcast, Are We Happy Yet? that launched earlier this month!

On this podcast, we are passionate about bringing nuanced, real, and humorous conversations about these topics to more people, for free. We are dedicated to expanding open, and relatable, dialogue around these topics so more people can access this information without buying another supplement, book, or course. With this podcast, our hope is that people will feel less alone, and become more connected to themselves and each other. To us, that’s what it means to change the world.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

In my field, training, knowledge and building a skillset is vital as it is in most fields. Other than the training and knowledge I’ve developed over the years, I have found that creativity and risk taking has been crucial for my success. I truly believe that if we do what has always been done, things will never change. I would love to help change the world, help people, and make a difference in my community and I have found in order to do that, I have to take risks in my business and my practice, as well as think outside the box to develop new ideas.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I love reading, and have so many books that have helped me develop as a person and professional. My favorite book that I’ve read lately that has helped me think, and lead differently, is How To Know A Person by David Brooks – it’s so good! He talks about our current crisis of connection, which is very relevant to the work I do in the mental health space, and how we can develop more impactful and powerful relational skills so we can see other people, and feel seen ourselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: alchemytherapyandwellness.com | arewehappyyetpodcast.com
• Instagram: @hannahbuzzo @alchemy.therapy @arewehappyyetpod
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@arewehappyyetpod
• Other: Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/are-we-happy-yet/id1766618336
  Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5rL0QTtE0vmJMh42Zz8P2r?si=45d86ab412564f37