Good Work with Barrett Brooks The Hidden Grief Behind High Achievement with Emily Anhalt
Nov 20, 2025
In this conversation, Dr. Emily Anhalt, a clinical psychologist and founder of COA, dives into the hidden grief often carried by high achievers. She reveals how growing up in Silicon Valley shaped her understanding of success and emotion, and she reframes ADHD as a strength rather than a stigma. Emily discusses why traditional therapy may not suffice for high performers and explores the intersection of unresolved grief and ambition. She emphasizes the importance of emotional fitness, therapy’s role in growth, and building supportive communities amidst the pressures of success.
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ADHD Experiment Led To Beanbag Breakthrough
- Emily Anhalt flushed her ADHD meds as a child and ran experiments to find what helped her focus.
- A teacher letting her sit in a beanbag showed that accommodating her body improved attention and learning.
Match Work To How Your Brain Works
- Adults who adapt their work environment to their brain tend to be more successful than those who force themselves into a mismatch.
- Emily used comfort, snacks, and movement-friendly setups to harness her attention productively.
Growing Up Inside Silicon Valley
- Emily grew up in Palo Alto with physician parents and godparents deeply embedded in tech culture.
- Watching her godfather sell a company to Bill Gates planted possibility thinking about creating new kinds of work.
