In this episode of the Sick & Good Podcast, we sit down with Mary Mathew, MA, LMFT licensed psychotherapist and founder of Beyond Cancer LA, a private practice dedicated to supporting cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. Mary shares insights from her recent presentation at the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation Conference, highlighting the emotional challenges that often accompany a cancer diagnosis. Together, we explore common themes such as grief, adjustment, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, as well as the role of internal versus external coping skills. Mary also explains what it means to look through a “cancer lens,” sharing narratives from her practice, and discusses the co-morbid mental health conditions she frequently encounters. This thoughtful conversation sheds light on the vital connection between mental health and the cancer journey, offering hope and strategies for resilience.

Mental Health Beyond Cancer with Mary Mathew, LMFT

Dustin Mesick, RDN and Colin Goodwin, PsyD are cancer survivors inspired by their personal experiences and incorporated this into their individual career paths in nutritional services and clinical psychology, respectively. The original concept to offer a support group that focused on body and mind was shifted with the emergence of the pandemic and evolved into the virtual platform of a podcast. In choosing the name of the podcast, Sick & Good Podcast was chosen as a double entendre, incorporating the last names of the co-hosts and promoting the possibility of a dialectical nature in physical illness (sick) and overall wellness (good). The mission statement for the Sick & Good Podcast states the purpose is to have conversations with medical and other healthcare professionals related to the cancer field on broad topics ranging from diagnosis to treatment and the recovery process with the hope to provide education and levity to cancer patients, survivors and other interested listeners.