In this honest and compassionate episode of Living Your Best Life, Suzanne Wachtel, LCSW, opens up about her own personal experiences with panic attacks. She shares what they’ve felt like for her, how they’ve shown up in her life, and the tools she uses to manage them with self-awareness and care. By blending professional insight with personal vulnerability, Suzanne offers reassurance to listeners that panic attacks are manageable—and that no one is alone in navigating them.
Reflection Questions:
When you experience anxiety or panic, what physical or emotional signs do you notice first?
What coping tools or grounding practices have helped you manage anxious moments in the past?
How does hearing someone openly share their experience with panic change the way you view your own struggles?
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Website: https://www.suzannewachtel.com
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Bonus Episode
January 24th- 26th Suzanne is hosting her 6th Goddess Getaway at Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa in Jupiter Beach, Florida. A restorative wellness weekend for women that includes workshops, yoga, meditation, sound healing and connection in a glorious spa like beach setting. Join an intimate group of women to engage, renew and restore. Her guest host is Kristin Gavin ERYT.
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In this lighthearted holiday episode of Living Your Best Life, Suzanne Wachtel, LCSW, spreads warmth and cheer as she reflects on the season of Christmas, Hanukkah, and the New Year. With her signature mix of humor and heart, Suzanne explores how to embrace the joy, laughter, and imperfect beauty of the holidays without getting lost in stress or expectations. She shares simple ways to slow down, savor meaningful moments, and carry gratitude and hope into the year ahead. This uplifting episode is a reminder that the true magic of the season comes from connection, kindness, and finding little moments of peace and joy—no matter how busy life gets.
Happy Holidays and New Year to all of my listeners. Thank you for a wonderful year! I hope you will have a wonderful year ahead and will continue to follow this podcast so that we can continue to learn and grow toghether! -xoxo Suzanne
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In this refreshing episode of Living Your Best Life, Suzanne Wachtel, LCSW, invites listeners to take a pause and reconnect with themselves through the simple act of resetting and recharging. She explores how stepping away—whether it’s a weekend getaway, a walk by the ocean, or time spent in nature—can help clear mental clutter, soothe emotional fatigue, and restore a sense of balance. Suzanne reminds us that true renewal doesn’t always require a plane ticket or a big plan; sometimes, it’s about giving yourself permission to slow down, breathe deeply, and listen to what your soul needs. This episode is a gentle nudge to step outside, unplug, and return to yourself feeling centered and refreshed.
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Reflection:
When was the last time you allowed yourself to truly slow down and recharge—and what difference did it make in how you felt?
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In this uplifting episode of Living Your Best Life, Suzanne Wachtel, LCSW, explores the empowering mindset of abundance—the belief that joy, love, and opportunity are available to us, regardless of our current circumstances. Suzanne discusses how shifting from a scarcity mindset to one of gratitude and openness can transform how we experience life. It’s not about how much you have, but how deeply you appreciate and trust in the flow of what’s possible. Through reflection and practical insight, she reminds listeners that abundance begins within—and that feeling abundant often attracts more of what your heart truly desires.
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Reflection questions:
In what areas of your life do you already feel abundant, and how can you express more gratitude for those blessings?
What thoughts or beliefs keep you stuck in a scarcity mindset, and how might you begin to shift them?
How can you cultivate a daily sense of abundance—through gratitude, generosity, or simply noticing the good around you?
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In this powerful episode of Living Your Best Life, Suzanne Wachtel, LCSW, addresses the painful and complex issue of parental alienation—when one parent intentionally or unintentionally damages a child’s relationship with the other parent or when adult children abandon their relationship with both parents for semmingly no reason at all .
Suzanne explores the emotional and psychological impact this dynamic has on both children and parents, shedding light on the deep wounds it creates and the long-term effects it can leave behind. With compassion and professional insight, she offers guidance on recognizing the signs, navigating the heartbreak, and finding paths toward healing and healthy co-parenting. This is a must-listen episode for anyone touched by divorce, custody struggles, or fractured family relationships.
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Reflection Questions:
How has parental conflict or separation shaped your own understanding of family and emotional safety?
What steps can you take to protect your child—or yourself—from being caught in the middle of adult conflicts?
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In this episode of Living Your Best Life, Suzanne Wachtel LCSW explores how to protect your inner peace from the negativity, criticism, and emotional chaos of others. She offers practical strategies for setting boundaries, managing triggers, and staying grounded—reminding listeners that peace is a choice you can reclaim every day.
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Refection Questions:
What situations or people tend to disrupt your sense of peace, and why do you think they have that effect on you?
How can you create boundaries—both emotional and physical—that help you stay centered, no matter what’s happening around you?
What daily practices or mindsets help you reconnect with your calm when life feels chaotic or draining?
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In this insightful episode, host Suzanne Wachtel, LCSW, offers listeners a behind-the-scenes look at her therapy practice. With warmth and candor, Suzanne shares how she approaches her work as a psychotherapist, blending clinical expertise with genuine human connection.
She discusses the foundations of her practice, including the eclectic therapeutic modalities she draws from and how she tailors her methods to meet each client’s unique needs. Suzanne also talks about the importance of building a strong therapeutic alliance and how safety, trust, and collaboration are central to the healing process.
Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of what therapy can look like, the kinds of issues she helps clients navigate (from anxiety and depression to life transitions and relationship challenges), and how therapy can be a powerful tool for growth, insight, and long-term change.
Whether you're considering therapy for the first time or are simply curious about how an experienced clinician works, this episode offers thoughtful guidance, personal reflection, and a compassionate look at the therapeutic journey.
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Reflection Questions:
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In this episode of Living Your Best Life, Suzanne Wachtel, LCSW, shines a light on what it means to age with style—embracing life’s later chapters with confidence, grace, and authenticity. Suzanne explores how aging isn’t about trying to look or act younger, but about celebrating who we are today, honoring our wisdom, and expressing ourselves in ways that feel true and vibrant. From cultivating a positive mindset to finding joy in self-expression and personal care, this episode encourages listeners to redefine aging on their own terms and to see it as a season full of possibility and beauty.
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Reflection Questions
What does “aging with style” personally mean to you?
How can you celebrate your wisdom and life experience in ways that feel empowering?
What changes could you make—big or small—to express yourself more authentically as you age?
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In this fun lighthearted episode of Living Your Best Life with Suzanne Wachtel, LCSW, Suzanne talks about this most celebrated holiday with joy. The wearing of costumes and being someone else for a day and how that allows us to feel free of our everyday lives. Happy Halloween!
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In this eye-opening episode, Suzanne Wachtel, LCSW, unpacks one of the hardest truths in relationships: people don’t fundamentally change—especially not because we want them to. Suzanne explores the psychological patterns behind why we hold onto the hope that someone will become who we need them to be, and what it really means to accept someone as they are. With compassionate insight and practical tools, she helps listeners recognize red flags, let go of fantasy thinking, and make empowered choices rooted in self-respect and emotional clarity.
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Reflection Questions:
Have you ever stayed in a relationship hoping someone would change? What did it cost you emotionally?
What signs do you tend to overlook in the early stages of a relationship, and why?
How can you better honor your own needs instead of trying to "fix" or wait for someone to meet them?
Want to know more about Suzanne?
Website: https://www.suzannewachtel.com
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In this episode, Suzanne Wachtel, LCSW, dives into the evolving landscape of dating in 2025—where swiping fatigue, AI-generated profiles, and algorithm-driven matches are redefining how we connect. Suzanne explores how modern dating impacts mental health, emotional availability, and self-worth, while offering grounded, therapeutic insight into how to stay authentic, set boundaries, and date with intention. Whether you're newly single, chronically swiping, or cautiously optimistic, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to find meaningful connection in today’s fast-paced digital dating world.
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Reflection Questions:
How has your approach to dating changed over the past few years, and what do you want to do differently moving forward?
In what ways do you stay true to yourself when navigating digital dating platforms?
What emotional needs are most important to you in a relationship right now, and how do you communicate them?
Want to know more about Suzanne?
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In this nourishing episode, Suzanne Wachtel, LCSW, explores the often-overlooked role of rituals in grounding us, creating structure, and offering emotional resilience in an unpredictable world. Whether it’s a morning coffee routine, a Sunday walk, or lighting a candle before journaling—Suzanne shares how small, intentional acts can help us reconnect with ourselves, reduce anxiety, and bring deeper meaning to our daily lives. Tune in to discover how cultivating personal rituals can become a powerful form of self-care and emotional regulation.
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Reflection Questions:
What daily or weekly rituals do you currently practice, and how do they support your emotional or mental well-being?
Are there moments in your day that feel chaotic or disconnected? How might a simple ritual help bring more calm or intention to those times?
What kind of ritual could you create to mark transitions—like starting your day, ending work, or unwinding before bed?
Want to know more about Suzanne?
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In this episode of Living Your Best Life, Suzanne Wachtel, LCSW, explores the transformative power of kindness—both toward others and ourselves. Suzanne discusses how simple acts of compassion can ripple outward, improving relationships, boosting emotional well-being, and even reducing stress. She also shares insights on the importance of self-kindness, reminding us that treating ourselves with gentleness and understanding lays the foundation for deeper connections with others. Listeners will walk away with practical ways to weave kindness into their daily lives and discover how small gestures can create meaningful change.
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Reflection Questions
When was the last time you experienced kindness from someone else, and how did it impact your day?
In what ways can you practice more self-kindness in your daily life?
How might small acts of kindness toward others shift the energy in your relationships or community?
Want to know more about Suzanne?
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In this insightful episode of Living Your Best Life, Suzanne Wachtel, LCSW, explores the fascinating world of magical thinking—the belief that our thoughts, rituals, or intentions can directly shape reality. From lucky charms to “manifesting” dreams, magical thinking can offer comfort, hope, and a sense of control, especially in uncertain times. But when does it inspire positive action, and when can it keep us stuck or disconnected from reality? Suzanne unpacks the psychology behind magical thinking, shares stories of its impact (both uplifting and challenging), and offers strategies for balancing optimism with grounded decision-making. Whether you’re a believer, a skeptic, or somewhere in between, this episode invites you to explore the magic and the mindfulness in how you see the world.
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Reflection Questions:
Want to know more about Suzanne?
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In this thought-provoking episode of Living Your Best Life, Suzanne Wachtel, LCSW, takes an honest look at alcohol—its role in our social lives, its potential benefits, and the hidden costs we often overlook. From celebratory toasts to weekend gatherings, alcohol is woven into many social rituals, but where is the line between casual enjoyment and problematic use? Suzanne unpacks how alcohol impacts mental health, relationships, and self-image, and offers practical questions you can ask yourself to better understand your own relationship with drinking. Whether you’re sober-curious, considering cutting back, or simply want to be more mindful, this episode provides compassionate insight and tools to help you make empowered choices.
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Reflection Questions:
How does alcohol typically show up in your social life, and how do you feel about that role?
Have you ever questioned whether your drinking habits align with your health, values, or goals?
What alternative ways could you connect socially that don’t involve alcohol?
Want to know more about Suzanne?
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In this eye-opening episode of Living Your Best Life, Suzanne Wachtel, LCSW, takes a deep dive into Imposter Syndrome—that nagging feeling that you're not truly good enough, despite evidence of your success. Suzanne unpacks the roots of this common experience, especially among high-achievers, and explores how self-doubt and perfectionism can keep us from owning our worth. With warmth and honesty, she offers tools to challenge negative self-talk, build confidence from within, and finally step into your life with the assurance that you do belong—just as you are.
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Here are 3 Relections Questions:
When was the last time you doubted your accomplishments or felt like a “fraud”? What triggered those feelings?
What personal achievements are you most proud of, and how can you start truly owning them?
Want to know more about Suzanne?
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In this episode of Living Your Best Life, host Suzanne Wachtel, LCSW, explores the power of personal values and how they shape the way we live, love, and make decisions. Suzanne breaks down what values really are, how they guide our choices—often without us even realizing—and why getting clear on what matters most can lead to greater peace, purpose, and fulfillment. Whether you’re at a crossroads or simply craving more alignment in your life, this conversation will help you reconnect with your inner compass and live more intentionally.
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Reflection Questions for this episdode:
What are three core values that are most important to you right now, and how do they show up in your daily life?
Can you recall a recent decision where you acted in alignment—or misalignment—with your values? How did it feel afterward?
Are there any areas of your life where you feel stuck or conflicted? How might clarifying your values help guide you forward?
Want to know more about Suzanne?
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In this heartwarming episode of Living Your Best Life, host Suzanne Wachtel, LCSW, sits down for a lighthearted, honest chat with her granddaughter Tyler to explore what it’s really like to be a teenager today. Together, they laugh about fashion trends, social media quirks, and the ups and downs of high school life. Tyler shares her perspective on friendship, pressures, and what she wishes adults understood better about her generation. It’s a sweet, generational conversation that reminds listeners how valuable it is to really listen to the young people we love.
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1️⃣ What did you learn about today’s teenagers that surprised you or made you reflect on your own teenage years?
2️⃣ How can you create more open, judgment-free conversations with the teens in your life?
3️⃣ What’s one thing you wish you could tell your younger self — or a teenager you care about — to help them feel understood and supported?
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In this episode of Living Your Best Life with Suzanne Wachtel discusses the art of living alone. Suzanne differentiates between solitude (a positive, restorative state) and loneliness (a painful one). She explains how societal expectations often wrongly equate being solo with being unhappy or socially unsuccessful. She encourages listeners to view alone-time as a luxury—an opportunity for reflection, creativity, and growth. Choosing to be alone isn’t loneliness—it’s intentional self-care.
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1️⃣ What’s one thing you genuinely enjoy doing alone that makes you feel connected to yourself?
2️⃣ When was the last time you felt truly comfortable in your own company, and what made that moment feel good?
3️⃣ What small step could you take this week to make your solo time feel more nourishing and intentional?
Want to know more about Suzanne?
Website: https://www.suzannewachtel.com
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