How Did Therapy Help Kip CEO Erin Frey Manage Founder Stress and Anxiety?

TL;DR

Therapy helped Kip CEO Erin Frey reduce the stress and anxiety that were impairing her work, decisions, confidence, and relationship with her co-founder. She began by setting a goal with a therapist, then attended sessions once a week or every other week to examine thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. She experienced immediate relief and later regained clearer, more constructive thinking. Read on for the specific techniques and benefits she describes.

Transcript

hi I'm Erin I'm the co-founder and CEO of Kipp Oh Y Combinator startups that helps you get amazing therapy I started going to therapy when I realized that stress and anxiety were affecting my ability to do good work I was waking up anxious every morning thinking through the list of things that I would not get done that day I realized I was thinking... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧠 Therapist start-up founder: The CEO of a therapy start-up realized that her stress and anxiety were hindering her ability to be her best self at work. She took her own advice and sought therapy, experiencing immediate relief and improved thinking.
• 💼 Importance of therapy for founders: The CEO emphasizes the importance of therapy for founders, as stress, anxiety, and depression are predictable patterns in their lives. By seeking help early on, they can navigate the pressures and uncertainties of entrepreneurship more effectively.
• 🏥 Therapy as brain training: Therapy is described as a scientifically proven process that changes the way the brain works for the better. It involves learning about thought patterns, emotions, and behaviors, and acquiring tools and skills to navigate them effectively.
• 🔑 Overcoming fear of failure: Founders can learn with their therapists how to manage the fear of failure by challenging negative thoughts and examining evidence. By reframing their mindset, they can approach challenges as exciting problems to solve rather than insurmountable obstacles.
• 🛡️ Creating a safe space: Therapy provides a safe space for founders to discuss problems they may not feel comfortable sharing with others. Having a therapist to confide in and seek guidance from can alleviate stress and provide relief.
• 🚀 Improved thinking and problem-solving: Through therapy, the CEO noticed a significant improvement in her ability to think clearly and tackle problems. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, she began viewing challenges as opportunities for growth and success. ⏰ Time for self-care: The CEO recognizes that as a founder, it is crucial to invest in one's mental health. Stress, anxiety, and depression can negatively impact a founder's performance, and seeking therapy early on can help address these issues and improve overall well-being.
• 🌐 Normalizing therapy: The CEO hopes that one day therapy will be seen as essential as regular medical check-ups. Just as people visit dentists and doctors for physical health, investing in mental health through therapy should become a common practice for individuals, especially founders who rely on their brain as their most important asset.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did therapy help Kip CEO Erin Frey manage founder stress and anxiety?

Therapy immediately gave her relief by providing a safe place to discuss problems she could not explain to her co-founder, family, or friends. As her stress and anxiety decreased, she began thinking more clearly and viewing problems as exciting challenges she could solve rather than overwhelming obstacles.

Q: Why did Erin Frey decide to start therapy?

She realized that stress and anxiety were preventing her from bringing her best self to work. She was waking up anxious, thinking less clearly, making worse and slower decisions, becoming agitated, fighting more with her co-founder, and losing confidence.

Q: How does therapy work according to Erin Frey?

She describes therapy as a scientifically proven process that changes how the brain works for the better. A client and therapist first identify a goal, then explore thought patterns, emotions, and daily behaviors while building tools and skills for living the life the client wants.

Q: What happens during the first therapy session?

The client meets the therapist and identifies a goal to work on, although arriving with only a general feeling that something is wrong is also acceptable. Erin initially wanted to fix her confidence, but her therapist recognized that overwhelming stress and anxiety were stopping her confident self from emerging.

Q: How often did Erin Frey say someone might attend therapy?

After the first session, she said a person might continue seeing a therapist once a week or once every other week. During those sessions, the person learns how their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors work and which behaviors help or hurt them.

Q: How can therapy help founders handle fear of failure?

A therapist can teach founders to stop and examine negative thoughts before those thoughts produce harmful emotions. Erin suggests asking whether evidence supports the feared outcome and considering the actual worst-case scenario, such as losing one investor and then approaching another.

Q: What immediate relief did therapy provide Erin Frey?

First, she felt relieved that someone was available when things became difficult and that she had a safe space for sensitive problems. Second, knowing she had started a process that could help her improve made her feel better even before the broader benefits developed.

Q: When does Erin Frey recommend seeing a therapist?

She says someone should absolutely see a therapist when stress, anxiety, depression, or a bad mood is not going away. She also wishes she had begun months earlier, possibly when she started Kip, and says she thinks everyone should have a therapist.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The CEO started therapy when stress and anxiety began affecting their ability to work effectively.

• Therapy helps founders manage the ups and downs, stress, and uncertainty of running a startup.

• Through therapy, founders learn to navigate their emotions, challenge negative thoughts, and improve their overall well-being.