Jeffrey A. Johnston is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience in the mental health field. He is the founder and CEO of JAJ Consulting and Psychotherapy, a private practice that provides counseling and consulting services to individuals, couples, and families. He is also the co-founder and CEO of Brightn, a telemedicine platform that connects patients with mental health professionals for virtual visits. With Brightn, Jeffrey and his team aim to increase access to mental health care and make it more convenient for people to get the help they need. By leveraging technology, Brightn is able to provide high-quality, personalized care to patients from the comfort of their own homes. Jeffrey has extensive experience working with clients from diverse backgrounds and specializes in treating trauma, anxiety, and depression. He is also an experienced trainer and consultant, providing workshops and training sessions to organizations on topics such as mental health, diversity, and inclusion. In this powerful episode of Mental Health Today, host Ken Stearns welcomes Jeff Johnston, founder of the Living Undeterred Project. Jeff shares his deeply personal story of loss, including the deaths of his son Seth from fentanyl poisoning and his wife Prudence from alcoholism. Through these tragedies, Jeff found a renewed sense of purpose, dedicating his life to mental health advocacy. He discusses his journey of overcoming his own battles with addiction, launching the Living Undeterred Podcast, writing his book, and creating the Brightn mental wellness app. Tune in to hear how Jeff is transforming grief into a legacy of hope and mental wellness.
In this deeply personal episode, host Ken Stearns sits down with Jeff Johnston, a mental health advocate, author, and founder of the Living Undeterred Project. Jeff opens up about his journey from success to heartbreak, following the tragic loss of his son Seth to fentanyl poisoning and his wife Prudence to alcoholism. Both losses, as Jeff explains, were devastating yet preventable, and they set him on a path of mental health advocacy.
Jeff recounts his experiences with addiction, having battled alcoholism and compulsive gambling, and how he made a life-changing decision in 2017 to take the “better” road. This episode delves into how Jeff transformed his pain into purpose, launching The Undeterred Podcast and the Living Undeterred Project, which aims to promote healthy lifestyle choices for teens and young adults.
Jeff’s latest endeavor is Brightn, a mental wellness app aimed at empowering young adults in the areas of health, wealth, and purpose, named in honor of his granddaughter Brighton, who was born three weeks after Seth’s passing.
Jeff’s vulnerability and resilience shine through as he discusses the power of vulnerability, sharing one’s story, and finding strength in adversity. His message is one of hope, transformation, and a relentless drive to make a difference in the lives of others.
Key Topics:
- Turning personal tragedy into mental health advocacy.
- The launch of *Brightn*, the first Empowered Mental Wellness app for young adults.
- The importance of mental wellness, especially for young adults.
- Vulnerability as strength, particularly for men.
🎧 **Listen to the full episode here:** [Mental Health Today Podcast with Jeff Johnston](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mental-health-today/id1676642515?i=1000608153025)
For more of Jeffrey visit his linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-a-johnston/
If you'd like to get early access to Brightn visit: https://www.brightnyourlife.com/
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Mental Health Today With is a new branch of The Jar, funded by The Jar foundation. To be a guest on the show email us at thejarmedia@gmail.com Disclaimer: The views stated in this episode are our guest's opinions and do not necessarily represent the views, beliefs or opinions of Mental Health Today With. Our goal is raise awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health by sharing our platform with professionals in the space. That being said, our guests are not a representation of Mental Health Today or The Jar Foundation.