Why Life After Treatment Feels So Hard (and What to Do About It) | Colin MacDonald

Episode 114: If you—or someone you love—has gone through therapy, rehab, or wilderness treatment organizations and still feel completely lost, this episode is for you. Life after treatment can feel brutally confusing: you’re back home, at risk of falling into old patterns, and everyone expects you to be “better,” but inside you still feel stuck, ashamed, or behind.

In this conversation, I sit down with Colin MacDonald, co-founder of NOT Therapy, to unpack why life after treatment is so hard and what you can actually do about it—whether you’re the young adult trying to rebuild or the parent trying to help without making things worse.

As a teenager, Colin cycled through psych wards, wilderness therapy in the Utah desert, and a therapeutic boarding school he once ran away from on foot. Later, he built a successful career in sports and tech—then walked away to create the support he wishes he had as a young adult: real-world structure, daily mentorship, and a community of people who actually get it.

We discuss how NOT Therapy helps 16–29-year-olds move from feeling stuck to in-motion—often staying out of higher levels of care, finding work or school paths that fit, and rebuilding trust at home. If you’re a parent terrified your kid is “wasting their potential,” a 20-something living at home and feeling behind, or someone who’s been through treatment and still feels lost, you’ll walk away with concrete next steps—not just inspiring quotes.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The 3 biggest gaps in traditional treatment & therapy—and why so many young people crash when they come home
• A simple 30-day post-treatment blueprint for coming home without going backwards
• The difference between being emotionally fluent (“I know what I feel”) and emotionally functional (“I know what to do with my feelings”)
• The mindset shifts and conversations that help parents move from the director of their child's life to a guide

CONNECT WITH COLIN:

Instagram - @coach_colinmac

Not Therapy - @not.therapy.coaching

Website - https://www.nottherapy.me/

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introductions

01:54 Colin's Journey: A Life Rebuilt

05:04 The Impact of Wilderness Therapy

07:44 I Worked for the Mariners

10:23 Creating Not Therapy: A New Approach

13:27 The Importance of Mentorship

15:59 Emotional Fluency: Navigating Feelings

18:49 Real-Life Application: Beyond Therapy

24:05 Building Accountability and Community

33:53 Empowerment Through Choice

34:59 What Do Successful Clients Look Like?

36:41 How to Transition from Treatment Center to Home

43:10 Parenting in the Modern Age

54:10 Finding Your Purpose Again

01:02:33 Advice for Someone Who Feels Lost and Stuck

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