Lift Free And Diet Hard with Andrew Coates #402 Jaclyn Phillips - The Unseen Mental Health Battle
Sep 25, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Jaclyn (Jackie O) Phillips, Head Coach of Team Strong Girls and mental health advocate, shares her journey through anxiety and the transformative power of fitness. She candidly explores the pressure to maintain a happy facade, the loneliness often felt behind closed doors, and how movement became her lifeline. Jaclyn also delves into the balance between vulnerability and professional boundaries, critiques misleading fitness messaging, and underscores the importance of authenticity in the fitness community.
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First Public Admission Broke Barriers
- Jaclyn started publicly discussing her mental health around 2018–2019 after noticing clients felt isolated by their struggles.
- Sharing her return to SSRIs and therapy lowered barriers and prompted many people to reach out with gratitude.
Therapy Since Childhood
- Jaclyn began therapy in grade three after intrusive thoughts about wanting to "visit God in heaven" due to anxiety.
- Early therapy and parental support shaped her lifelong management of mental health.
Tell Clients When You’re Off
- Tell clients when you're having an off day so they don't internalize your low energy as their fault.
- Be present and reassure them you remain focused despite reduced energy levels.