About this episode
In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Stephanie Sanz. Stephanis is a Brooklyn-based therapist, coach, and founder of her own private practice. They talk about her life-altering experience with a panic attack on the New York City subway and how it shaped her professional and personal journey. Stephanie dives deep into her history of anxiety, overcoming a nontraditional and challenging upbringing, and the surprising ways her struggles have informed her mission to make mental health support accessible to all.About the Guest:Stephanie Sanz is a licensed therapist, coach, and founder of a Brooklyn-based private practice dedicated to supporting clients struggling with anxiety and stress. Drawing from her own experiences with panic and overwhelm—including a formative episode in her college years—Stephanie now specializes in helping others build stress resilience through therapy, neuroscience-informed coaching, and spiritual practice. She is especially passionate about making therapy affordable for college students and those without traditional access to care.Main Topics Covered:Stephanie’s formative panic attack on the NYC subway and its ripple effectsNavigating college, instability, and career indecision without family supportThe realities and stigma of panic attacks and anxiety disordersThe pressure of perfectionism, cultural narratives around success, and “nontraditional” adulting pathsHow Stephanie transformed her personal mental health journey into a professional callingBalancing therapy, neuroscience, spirituality, and accessible coachingThe challenge—and importance—of building support networks and making room for imperfectionQuote from the Episode:"I might be creating this panic situation, thinking that the result is going to be so dire, but it's not always going to be that way. The result is not always going to be the end of the world. And this is proof of that." — Stephanie SanzTimestamps:[00:00:06] Intro & where Stephanie calls home[00:01:45] On femininity, power, and motherhood[00:03:03] The panic attack: scene-setting & aftermath[00:10:17] How triggers, dread, and lack of control spiral anxiety[00:14:44] Career indecision and life crossroads[00:19:16] Overcoming family narratives and a nontraditional path[00:27:20] The lesson: support, not catastrophe[00:31:46] Pivoting professionally toward anxiety & stress support[00:38:33] Making therapy more accessible, blending spiritual and neuroscience-based tools[00:45:23] Brooklyn eats, dreams of bagels, local favorites[00:46:39] Wrap-up & gratitudeSpecial Offer from the Guest:Stephanie is offering a FREE ebook, “Four Things Your Therapist Wants to Tell You About Anxiety But Can’t,” available at stephaniesanz.com. She also has an on-demand course, Anxie
