Episode Summary:
In this episode of The Mindful Living podcast, host Sana sits down with John Gesumaria, founder of Diffrently, to explore how his innovative company is transforming the mental health landscape. Combining his lived experiences with professional expertise in social work, John discusses his journey and the mission of Diffrently to provide an alternative, holistic, and community-driven support system for mental health. Diffrently focuses on leveraging social workers to help individuals manage everyday struggles, challenging the traditional therapy model. The conversation covers key topics like the flaws in the current mental health system, the role of social workers, and innovative practices such as ketamine-assisted therapy.

About the Guest:
John Gesumaria is the founder of Diffrently, a company dedicated to reimagining mental health support by offering a holistic alternative to traditional therapy. His personal experiences with learning disabilities and mental health challenges led him to a career in social work. With Diffrently, John aims to improve access to support by connecting people with social workers and providing practical solutions to daily stress and mental health struggles. His approach merges professional therapy with lived experience to offer more relatable and accessible care.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Inspiration Behind Diffrently:
   John's personal experiences growing up with learning disabilities and mental health struggles led him to create Diffrently, a company focused on providing an accessible and holistic alternative to traditional therapy, drawing from lived experience.

2. A Holistic Approach to Mental Health:
   Diffrently is designed to complement therapy by offering community-driven support for everyday challenges. John highlights the flaws of traditional therapy and the need for a diverse support system that incorporates social workers.

3. Innovative Social Work Model:
   John envisions a model where social workers can be matched with individuals for real-time support, similar to Uber. This approach seeks to make mental health care more accessible and reduce stress-related issues like anxiety and depression.

4. Ketamine-Assisted Therapy:
   John shares his experience with ketamine-assisted therapy, an emerging method for treating trauma. He emphasizes the importance of providing a safe space for clients to explore and heal from traumatic experiences.

5. Advocacy and Mental Health Openness:
   John encourages openness about mental health struggles, sharing his personal relief in disclosing his own challenges. He advises others to gradually test the waters and find supportive spaces for mental health conversations.

6. The Role of Social Workers in Mental Health:
   Social workers are an underutilized resource in mental health. John stresses their importance in providing practical and empathetic support, drawing from both their training and personal experiences.

Listeners are encouraged to learn more about Diffrently  on diffrently.net and connect with John for resources and support