Today we’d like to introduce you to Colin MacDonald.
Hi Colin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story began at 16 in the wilderness of Utah. Lost. Making fire from scratch and learning basic skills with a band of strangers who quickly became brothers. This experience wasn’t by choice. My parents sent me away to live off the land for several months because they ran out of options. They were seeking answers and were desperate. Shortly after, I was unknowingly whisked away to a therapeutic boarding school in North Idaho for 18 months.
What started as being labeled a “troubled teen” became something much deeper. I was forced to face parts of myself I had been running from, and in that process, I was broken down to build myself back up.
Years later, after building a career in sales, I realized I had a skill set that could actually serve the very industry I once felt trapped in. Coming back to it wasn’t something I ever expected, but it felt purposeful. I had lived the experience from the inside, and now I had the tools to help reshape it from the outside.
What once felt like abandonment became preparation. Today, I co-lead a company in that same space, driven by the belief that the troubled teen system can evolve, and that the people going through it deserve something better.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m a firm believer that the road less traveled is what builds strong character. My path to where I am today has been winding, but I’m grateful for the challenges that ultimately strengthened my faith.
Before the age of 16, I had already been to eight psychiatric wards, in and out of rehab, and experienced several mental breakdowns, including a suicide attempt. At the time, it felt like everything was unraveling. When my parents sent me to wilderness therapy and then therapeutic boarding school, I truly believed my life was in ruins. I remember thinking to myself, “Am I really that bad of a kid? How has my life gotten to this point?”
But those experiences became a catalyst. I began rebuilding myself from the inside out. From there, I went on to earn my degree from Eastern Washington University (Go Eags!), which felt like a milestone I once couldn’t have imagined reaching.
That momentum carried me into corporate America, where I had the opportunity to work for my all-time favorite sports team, the Seattle Mariners. It was a full-circle moment and proof that even after the hardest chapters, there’s still room to build something meaningful and entirely your own.
Today, I bring all of those experiences into my work at Not Therapy Coaching. I’ve lived the environments we now help others navigate, and that perspective shapes everything we do. Our goal is to meet people where they are and help guide them toward clarity, resilience, and a deeper sense of purpose.
We’ve been impressed with Not Therapy Coaching, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Not Therapy was established with a clear vision: to create a new paradigm for teens and young adults navigating addiction, mental health challenges, and the complexities of growing up in today’s world. Our mission is to help the next generation not just get by, but truly heal and build lives they’re proud of.
Founded by former “troubled teens” who have lived through the very systems we now work alongside, Not Therapy offers something different. In the past two years, we’ve supported over 100 families—and we’re just getting started.
We’re known for meeting teens and young adults where they actually are. Whether it’s substance use, anxiety, identity struggles, executive functioning, or family conflict, we approach each situation with real-world experience, not just theory. That’s what sets us apart. We don’t lead from a place of authority. We lead from understanding. We’ve been in those rooms, had those conversations, and faced those same internal battles.
At our core, we specialize in bridging the gap between traditional treatment and real life. When the therapy burnout sets in. We help clients before they go to treatment, the transition back to the real world, or in failure to launch situations. We also support the families in rebuilding trust, communication, and connection.
What I’m most proud of, brand-wise, is that Not Therapy stands for something honest. We’re not trying to fit people into a system, we’re helping them find their own way beyond it. Everything we offer is authentic, rooted in lived experience and a genuine belief that change is possible.
We want people to know that this is more than a service, it’s a relationship. It’s supportive guidance and a community that reminds people they’re not alone in what they’re facing.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Mentorship is everything. It’s the foundation of Not Therapy—we’re built on a peer mentorship model because we’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is to learn from someone who’s walked a similar path.
My best advice for finding a mentor is to start close to home. Where is it you want to go? Who do you know who has already walked that path?
Pay attention to the people around you who are already investing in their growth like friends who are in coaching or part of strong communities, and simply ask for introductions.
More broadly, networking really comes down to putting yourself out there. Don’t overthink it and be willing to start conversations and follow your curiosity. Some of the most impactful relationships in my life started from simple, genuine interactions.
What’s worked best for me has been joining men’s groups and community spaces centered around growth and accountability. Those environments are designed to challenge you, support you, and connect you with people who are on a similar trajectory.
At the end of the day, mentorship isn’t about finding someone “above” you, it’s about finding people who are committed to growth, just like you are.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nottherapycoaching.com
- Instagram: @nottherapycoaching
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61555202385595/about/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinmac93/ (Personal) https://www.linkedin.com/company/not-therapy-coaching/ (Business)
