The Mental Health Janitors

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when you stop performing, stop carrying everything alone, and finally give yourself permission to be honest about what you’re feeling?

In this episode of The Mental Health Janitors, Sgt. Q sits down with fellow Marine, coach, and founder of Contagious Healer, Minhdoan Ngo, for an honest conversation about vulnerability, trauma, emotional availability, brotherhood, and what it really takes to become a healthier version of yourself.

Minhdoan shares how losing his father at a young age led both him and his brother to join the Marine Corps af...

Send us Fan Mail

Who are you when your job, title, or past accomplishments no longer define you?

In this episode of The Mental Health Janitors, Sgt. Q sits down with author, speaker, coach, and TEDx speaker David Chametzky for an honest conversation about identity, resilience, mental health, and the power of investing in yourself.

Drawing from his own journey through therapy, personal struggles, and years of helping others, David shares why lasting transformation begins with clarity. Together, he and Sgt. Q explore how discovering your identity can change the direction of your...

Send us Fan Mail

How do you clean up the mess in your head when your job, training, and past accomplishments are suddenly put to the ultimate test?

In this episode of The Mental Health Janitors, Sgt. Q sits down with 24-year law enforcement veteran, author, and speaker Tom Lee for an honest conversation about trauma, resilience, and the profound power of faith in the aftermath of a life-or-death situation.

Drawing from his own harrowing experience, Tom shares the true story of a 2019 mental health welfare check that escalated into a fight for...

Send us Fan Mail

In this special episode of The Mental Health Janitors Podcast, Sgt Q sits down with eighth-grade student leaders from Mill Creek Middle School’s Class of 2030 for an honest conversation about mental health, leadership, and what it means to make a difference right now.

These young leaders share the initiatives they care about, including clean water, teacher appreciation, mental health awareness, human trafficking awareness, and creating a stronger school community. But the conversation quickly goes deeper as the students open up about friendships, family communication, stress, grief, emotional expression, and what th...

Send us Fan Mail

What if music could do more than change your mood?

In this episode of The Mental Health Janitors, Sgt. Q sits down with mental health professional, speaker, and music-based wellness educator Casey Muze for a powerful conversation about the connection between music, neuroscience, trauma recovery, and emotional well-being.

Casey shares how his background in music, substance-use counseling, trauma support, and cognitive development led him to explore a different approach to mental health, one that brings together rhythm, body awareness, breathwork, and practical daily habits.

Sgt. Q and...

Send us Fan Mail

Are You Creating Battles That Were Never There?

What happens when a simple misunderstanding turns into a full-blown emotional battle?

In this episode of The Mental Health Janitors, Sgt. Q and Doc Jess get real about emotional regulation, emotional maturity, anger management, assumptions, parenting, therapy, and the stories our brains create when we don't have all the information.

The conversation starts with a real-life veteran community conflict where a simple Facebook interaction spirals into accusations, defensiveness, and escalating emotions. Sgt. Q steps in with a powerful reminder:<...

Send us Fan Mail

What do you do when the person who has always been the "strong one" suddenly needs you, and the moment the crisis passes, you completely fall apart? 

In this powerful episode of *The Mental Health Janitors*, host Sgt. Q sits down with author and mental health advocate Pamela J. Wells for an honest conversation about severe depression, the hidden toll of caregiver burnout, and the profound power of simply being present. 

Pam shares her deeply personal journey that began with her husband’s unexpected quintuple bypass surgery. While she rose...

Send us Fan Mail

When Does Helping Your Child Become Hurting Them?

What happens when a family getaway turns into an unexpected injury, a hospital visit, and a powerful lesson about accepting help?

In this episode of The Mental Health Janitors, Sgt. Q and Doc Jess get real about community, resilience, parenting, independence, and emotional boundaries.

The conversation takes a surprising turn with an “Am I the A-hole?” story about a mother who steps into her college-aged son’s job interview. Was she protecting him… or holding him back?

They unp...

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when the person tasked with taking care of everyone else completely forgets to take care of themselves?

In this powerful episode of The Mental Health Janitors, host Sgt. Q sits down with Tammy Ward, a 24-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), for a raw and honest conversation about first responder trauma, the dangerous myth of "sucking it up," and the neurobiological power of speaking your truth.

In 2014, Tammy faced a devastating shooting incident in her hometown that claimed the lives of three officers. As...

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when your life is suddenly upended, and you are forced to become the primary caregiver for an aging parent with no preparation or roadmap? 

In this deeply empathetic episode of The Mental Health Janitors, host Sgt. Q sits down with caregiver advocate and coach Lydia Dyhin to discuss the overwhelming, often invisible reality of unexpected caregiving. Lydia shares her personal story of abruptly relocating her entire family to care for her mother after a sudden vascular dementia diagnosis. What began as an act of love quickly turned into a r...

Send us Fan Mail

WHEN SOMEONE BREAKS YOUR TRUST, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE HURT?

A broken promise can stay with you long after the moment is over.

In this episode of The Mental Health Janitors, Sgt. Q and Doc Jess explore how betrayal, childhood trauma, broken trust, and unresolved hurt can shape the way we see people, relationships, and even ourselves.

The conversation begins with a deeply personal story about a broken promise that became part of a childhood trauma. Then, a Reddit story about a father and son...

Send us Fan Mail

Are You Looking for an Apology… or Are You Holding Onto Hurt?

Sometimes the hardest conflicts aren’t about what was said. They’re about what happens inside us after we feel hurt.

In this episode of The Mental Health Janitors, Sgt. Q and Doc Jess explore why we often expect people to understand our pain without ever explaining what happened.

The conversation starts with Hot Jimothy Summer, a viral raccoon that brought people together through acceptance and community, before leading into a deeper discussion about...

Send us Fan Mail

What do a concert security breach, a broken family heirloom, and your relationships have in common? More than you might think.

In this episode of The Mental Health Janitors, Sgt. Q and Doc Jess begin with the viral Jay Z concert incident, where hundreds of people entered the venue without tickets, causing a massive delay and leaving fans frustrated. But beneath the headlines was a much bigger conversation about assumptions, accountability, leadership, and why understanding the full story matters before placing blame.

The discussion then shifts to a viral...

Send us Fan Mail

What do entitled children, family conflict, and marriage have in common? More than you might think.

In this episode of The Mental Health Janitors, Sgt. Q and Doc Jess begin with a viral video that sparks a powerful conversation about entitlement, mob mentality, parenting, and the importance of teaching consequences. But the discussion quickly takes a deeper turn with a viral Reddit story about a husband forced to choose between his family and his wife.

Together, they explore how childhood environments shape adult relationships, why unresolved resentment can divide...

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever built a whole scenario in your mind about how something was supposed to go, only to feel crushed when reality looked completely different?

In this episode of The Mental Health Janitors, Sgt. Q and Mrs. Q explore one of the biggest hidden causes of conflict in relationships. Unspoken expectations.

Using a relatable Reddit story about a wife returning home after caring for an ill parent, they unpack why so many couples unknowingly expect their partners to read their minds, how assumptions create resentment, and why communication...

Send us Fan Mail

What does it really mean to show up for someone you love?

In this episode of The Mental Health Janitors, Sgt. Q and Doc Jess unpack a viral Reddit story that sparks a much bigger conversation about healthy relationships, accountability, childhood trauma, and emotional maturity.

When one partner chooses a night out over showing up during a medical emergency, it raises difficult questions. Is this simply a mistake, or does it reveal something deeper about priorities, trust, and commitment? And when someone hurts the people they love, can childhood...

Send us Fan Mail

Would you step in if helping someone you love created even more conflict? 

In this episode of Mental Health Janitors, Sgt Q and Doc Jess unpack a viral Reddit story that sparks a much bigger conversation about parenting, family boundaries, responsibility, and emotional maturity.

When a father repairs his adult daughter's unsafe car after her boyfriend fails to follow through, one simple act of love raises difficult questions. When should parents step in? Where do healthy boundaries begin? And how do pride and ego influence the way we respond?

Send us Fan Mail

Why is it so hard to admit we're wrong? 

In this episode of Mental Health Janitors, Sgt Q and Doc Jess unpack a viral Reddit story that sparks a much bigger conversation about pride, accountability, parenting, and emotional growth.

What happens when we're confronted with undeniable proof that we made a mistake? Why do so many people become defensive instead of taking ownership? And what lessons do our children learn when they never see us apologize?

From family dynamics and relationship conflict to trauma responses and emotional i...

Send us Fan Mail

Most relationships don’t fall apart because of big dramatic events. They fall apart in small moments where ego shows up, priorities get misaligned, and one person stops considering the experience of the other.

In this powerful episode of Mental Health Janitors, Sgt Q and Dr Jess break down a viral Reddit story that starts with a simple date night, Bruno Mars tickets, a planned dinner, and a special evening together, but quickly spirals into conflict over something as small as a steak.

What unfolds is a deeper conversation ab...

Send us Fan Mail

🎁 Free Resource from Doc Jess

If this conversation resonates with you and you want practical tools to strengthen your marriage by focusing on personal growth first, Doc Jess is offering a free marriage assessment and relationship resource to help you identify areas for growth and build a stronger foundation.

👉 Get started here:
https://firstonesfree.com/

If you feel stuck in the same arguments, frustrated with your spouse, or wondering why your relationship keeps running into the same challenges, this episode is for you.<...

Send us Fan Mail

🎁 Free Resource from Estyn

If this episode resonated with you and you want to understand where you are in your life right now, Estyn shares a simple tool to help you evaluate different areas of your life and see where you need to focus next.

👉 Get started here:
 https://firstonesfree.com/

If you feel stuck in who you are, struggle with confidence, or feel like you have lost your sense of identity, this episode is for you.

Send us Fan Mail

Most marriages don't suffer because of communication problems. They suffer because of unresolved wounds, unchecked emotions, unrealistic expectations, and baggage that never got dealt with.

In this powerful episode of Mental Health Janitors, Sgt Q and Doc Jess tackle the hard truths about marriage, emotional healing, faith, trauma, and personal responsibility. They break down why lasting change doesn't happen when you focus on fixing your spouse—it happens when you confront what needs to change within yourself.

From PTSD and emotional triggers to li...

Send us Fan Mail

🎁 Free Resource from Estyn

If this episode resonated with you and you want to understand where you are in your life right now, Estyn shares a simple tool to help you evaluate different areas of your life and see where you need to focus next.

👉 Get started here:
 https://firstonesfree.com/

If you feel stuck in who you are, struggle with confidence, or feel like you have lost your sense of identity, this episode is for you.

In this episode of The Mental Health Janitor...

Send us Fan Mail

Some pain does not disappear with time.

Sometimes it stays buried until a moment, a song, or a memory brings everything back to the surface.

In this emotional episode of Mental Health Janitors, Aaron “Sgt Q” Quinonez and Doc Jess talk about PTSD, survivor’s guilt, faith, trauma healing, and the hidden emotional weight many combat veterans carry for years. What began as a simple conversation about a video on social media turned into a powerful reflection on sacrifice, grief, and the freedom that healing can bring.

It exp...

Send us Fan Mail

Memorial Day can carry a very different meaning for veterans living with trauma, grief, and survivor’s guilt.

For many, the battles did not end after coming home.

In this episode of Mental Health Janitors, Aaron “Sgt Q” Quinonez and Doc Jess talk about PTSD, VA disability struggles, survivor’s guilt, and the emotional weight many veterans silently carry for years. They unpack the VA’s proposed medication-based disability changes, share personal experiences with broken systems and trauma recovery, and explain why healing often starts with community, purpose, and honest con...

Send us Fan Mail

Small moments can quietly shape how we understand the world.

A headline shared too fast, a comment taken out of context, or a strong emotional reaction can quickly turn into certainty before the full story is understood. When that happens, people stop listening to learn and start listening to defend what they already believe.

In this episode of Mental Health Janitors, Aaron “Sgt Q” Quinonez and Doc Jess break down how low information thinking shows up in everyday life and why people often react before they reflect. They explore how...

Send us Fan Mail

The mission ends. The impact doesn’t.

What your body goes through during military service: constant strain, heavy loads, lack of recovery adds up over time. And when you carry those same habits into civilian life, the effects only compound.

In this episode of Mental Health Janitors, Sergeant Q and Doc Jess get real about the long-term toll of service. From physical injuries to survival based routines, they break down why so many people struggle with recovery after years of pushing past their limits.

Send us Fan Mail

If you feel stuck in life, constantly doubting yourself, or replaying the same negative thoughts over and over, this episode is for you.

In this episode of The Mental Health Janitors, Aaron “Sgt Q” Quinonez sits down with Paul, a men’s mental health coach, to break down how your identity, self worth, and life direction are often shaped by voices that were never yours to begin with.

You will learn how people unknowingly live by beliefs formed by family, society, and past experiences, and why those patterns lead to sel...

Send us Fan Mail

Moments of reaction can quietly shape the direction of your life.

One triggered moment can escalate into anger, defensiveness, and words you did not plan to say. In those moments, your brain shifts into survival mode, and it becomes harder to think clearly, pause, or respond with intention. What starts as an emotional spark can quickly turn into conflict, regret, or disconnection.

In this episode of Mental Health Janitors, Sergeant Q and Billy the Barber unpack what it really means to move from emotional reactivity to self control. They...

Send us Fan Mail

Small patterns in your thinking can quietly shape the way you see everything.

A single experience can turn into a fixed belief, and over time that belief can limit your options, your reactions, and your relationships. What starts as one moment becomes a pattern where everything feels all or nothing, right or wrong, success or failure.

In this episode of Mental Health Janitors, Aaron “Sgt Q” Quinonez and Doc Jess break down dichotomous thinking, also known as black and white thinking, and how it shows up in everyday life. From...

Send us Fan Mail

Mental health does not fall apart all at once. It breaks down quietly through habits, silence, and the things we avoid. What you do each day either supports your life or slowly works against it.

In this episode of The Mental Health Janitors, Sgt. Q sits down with Marc and Kelsey to talk about what really helps people move forward. They go beyond awareness and focus on real change through structure, support, and learning how to face what is going on inside instead of hiding from it.

Marc shares...

Send us Fan Mail

Small habits can quietly shape the direction of a relationship.

 Even a small miscommunication can build into distance, frustration, and eventually disconnection. Reactions take over, defensiveness rises, and conversations turn into arguments instead of solutions.

In this episode of Mental Health Janitors, Aaron "Sgt Q" Quinonez and Doc Jess break down the real reasons relationships fall apart. They challenge the idea that communication is the only issue and go deeper into the patterns beneath the surface as connection begins to fade. From the early stage o...

Send us Fan Mail

Group energy can change people fast.

What starts as fun or simple agreement can quickly turn into something you didn’t plan. Emotions get high, thinking slows down, and you end up reacting instead of choosing what to do.

In this episode of Mental Health Janitors, Aaron "Sgt Q" Quinonez and Doc Jess talk about mob mentality, emotional reactivity, and how people get pulled into extreme behavior in group settings and online spaces. They break down how these situations build, why they feel so intense, and how quickly things ca...

Send us Fan Mail

Before you sit with your family this Easter, watch this.

Family gatherings, holidays, and difficult relationships can bring a lot of stress and anxiety, especially when past experiences didn’t go well. Many times, we walk into these situations already expecting conflict, and without realizing it, our brain starts looking for problems before anything even happens.

In this episode of Mental Health Janitors, Sgt Q and Doc Jess talk about negative bias, toxic family patterns, and the importance of boundaries. They explain the difference between trying to control other pe...

Send us Fan Mail

The hardest part of caregiving is the stress you don’t see.

Most people are holding it together on the outside while quietly carrying pressure on the inside. Raising kids, supporting family members, working, and managing life all at once can slowly drain your mental and emotional energy without you even noticing.

In this episode of The Mental Health Janitors, host Aaron “Sgt Q” Quinonez sits down with nurse and caregiver advocate Shawanda Lashae Carson to talk about the hidden emotional weight caregivers carry every day.

Shawanda shares...

Send us Fan Mail

Before you sit with your family this Easter, watch this.

Family gatherings, holidays, and difficult relationships can bring a lot of stress and anxiety, especially when past experiences didn’t go well. Many times, we walk into these situations already expecting conflict, and without realizing it, our brain starts looking for problems before anything even happens.

In this episode of Mental Health Janitors, Sgt Q and Doc Jess talk about negative bias, toxic family patterns, and the importance of boundaries. They explain the difference between trying to control other pe...

Send us Fan Mail

Most people are waiting for motivation to hit like a lightning bolt. That’s the mistake. Motivation is unreliable. Discipline is what actually changes your life.

In this episode of Mental Health Janitors, Sergeant Q and Mrs. Q unpack the real reason people stay stuck, whether it’s weight loss, business, or mental health. The pattern doesn’t change. Big goals feel good in the moment, but without small, repeatable actions, nothing holds.

If you keep making decisions based on how you feel, you’ll keep res...

Send us Fan Mail

Everyone has a voice now. With social media and cameras everywhere, it’s easy to speak out, but not always easy to slow down and think before reacting. When emotions rise, people act fast and deal with the consequences later.

In this episode of Mental Health Janitors, Sgt Q and Doc Jess talk about protest culture and a simple truth many people forget: you can say what you want, but your actions still have consequences. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from results.

They break down how strong em...

Send us Fan Mail

Feeling like there is never enough time can slowly wear down your mental health. When every day feels rushed and overwhelming, stress builds, focus drops, and it becomes harder to stay calm and clear minded.
In this episode of the Mental Health Janitors Podcast, Sergeant Q sits down with Scott Rust to talk about how changing the way we see time can change the way we experience stress. Scott shares a powerful story from when he was living in China during the early days of the COVID pandemic, when cities suddenly shut...

Send us Fan Mail

The world feels louder than ever. Wars, headlines, social media debates, and nonstop opinions can easily trigger stress, anger, and anxiety.

In this episode of Mental Health Janitors, Sgt Q and Doc Jess break down how the recent tensions with Iran, discussed through the lens of International Women’s Day, highlight a powerful psychological reality: we often see the world through the lens of what we already believe.

They explore cognitive dissonance, confirmation bias, and how trauma or past experiences can distort our perception of truth. When emotions run hi...