Episodes

  • Perinatal Mental Health Healing: 10 Years of Support, Advocacy and Hope for Families (Ep. 480)

    Perinatal Mental Health Healing: 10 Years of Support, Advocacy and Hope for Families (Ep. 480)
    Jun 15 2026
    This is a special episode as we hit the 10-year mark of the podcast. It’s unbelievable, and it certainly doesn’t feel like ten years have passed! It’s a good point to stop and reflect on what we’ve done and how incredibly grateful I am to each person who has come on the show to share their stories and help us learn what perinatal mental health conditions look like and how we can offer more support. This information is what everyone needs before they even know they need it. I want to take this opportunity to reflect on how far the podcast has come and how far perinatal mental health education, advocacy, and understanding have advanced over the past ten years. This specialty has continued to grow within the context of how people find growth and healing. We’ve covered the basics and made people aware of the fundamentals of perinatal mental health, and the voices have only gotten louder in spreading vital information. Let’s take a look! Show Highlights: A look back at the very beginning of Mom & Mind The shift in language from “maternal mental health” to “perinatal mental health” and “PMADs” to “PMDs.” The need for basic information remains, letting people know what to look for. Diving into people’s lived experiences through their cultural, religious, ethnic, and marginalized lenses Our systems impact us, especially in how we become parents and parent our children. Deepening and widening the discussion to include everyone connected to the birth or loss of a child The myth of “the magical download” of parenthood People are more willing to talk about their shortcomings as new parents. Scary thoughts are what you might be feeling—not WHO you are. We understand SO much more about what people might be going through with perinatal mental health. Everyone deserves highly specialized care for these 100% treatable and very temporary conditions. The stigma of medication during pregnancy and postpartum, and how we’ve addressed it Your culture, identity, and lived experience are central to your healing. One final truth: “The transition to motherhood and parenthood is a profound psychological transition. Peer connection is essential.” Resources: Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visitcdph.ca.gov. Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, such as online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in providing services. You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms. Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/for information on the grief course. Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today! If you are a California resident seeking a therapist in perinatal mental health, please email me about openings for private pay clients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
  • Birth Trauma: Gaps in Care and Advocacy for Change (Ep. 479)

    Birth Trauma: Gaps in Care and Advocacy for Change (Ep. 479)
    Jun 1 2026
    If you’re one of the many mothers who has experienced birth trauma, you’ve likely battled shame, anger, confusion, among other emotions. Today’s guest discusses her story of birth trauma, including the effects of the experience and the gaps in care that contributed to the trauma. Her passion for advocacy is fired by the desire to prevent similar experiences from happening to others. Join us to learn more! As a writer, advocate, and mother dedicated to exploring the complexities of the human experience, Casey Keen focuses on themes of resilience, identity, and transformation. Whether through the lens of motherhood, mental health, or immersive storytelling, her writing spans both deeply personal narratives and richly imagined fiction. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in forensic medicine, Casey brings a unique perspective to the intersection of mental health, trauma, and systemic reform. She founded an online postpartum support community and is building a platform that provides education, coaching, and advocacy to new mothers. Casey lives in Pennsylvania with her family as she continues to write, create, and advocate with stories that inspire and empower. Show Highlights: Casey’s story of birth trauma when her son was born 3 years ago The PP screening at six weeks didn’t show any red flags–but something was wrong. Finding a perinatal therapist after six months and being diagnosed with PP anxiety and depression Casey’s anger at what happened to her and how mothers are not being cared for properly Finding ways to help by “casting a wide net”- Casey chose to write a book. A closer look at Casey’s postpartum preeclampsia experience (zero symptoms except for elevated blood pressure) Casey’s overwhelming feelings of failure as a new mom The realization that things would have been very different had she been better prepared and educated about postpartum challenges. The impact of Casey’s educational background (in psychology and forensic medicine) on her personal experience Gaps Casey is seeing in the way our healthcare system treats perinatal care, and the education (or lack of) that mothers are receiving The major problems with the timing of the “six-week checkup.” Casey’s overriding goal in writing her book, The Alchemy of Motherhood Casey’s experience with stigma, rage, and intrusive thoughts Casey’s vision for a better future for struggling moms Resources: Connect with Casey Keen: Website, Instagram, and Casey’s book, The Alchemy of Motherhood Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visitcdph.ca.gov. Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services. You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms. Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/for information on the grief course. Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today! If you are a California resident seeking a therapist in perinatal mental health, please email me about openings for private pay clients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
  • A Postpartum Psychosis Journey: From Healing to Advocacy (Ep. 478)

    A Postpartum Psychosis Journey: From Healing to Advocacy (Ep. 478)
    May 25 2026
    Today’s guest shares her personal story of postpartum psychosis with an underlying bipolar disorder. Her experience has inspired her passion for advocacy on behalf of other mothers who need support and the assurance that they can get through these issues and go on to lead normal lives. Join us to learn more! Luisa Shamas is an educator with more than a decade of experience in the perinatal mental health field. She provides bilingual (Spanish and English) support to families experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Luisa is the PSI Spanish Support Group Manager and provides training and ongoing assistance to volunteers interested in facilitating a support group. She is a PPP survivor who believes that peer support is essential for successful recovery and is a Certified Group Facilitator, Coach, and Lead Trainer for GPS en Español. Her lived experience with perinatal mood disorders provides her with an expertise that has fueled her advancement at both GPS and PSI. Luisa describes herself as a passionate advocate, educator, and mother who wants to help other mothers who struggle with perinatal mental health issues. She is of Argentinian heritage and currently lives with her husband and son in St. Petersburg, Florida. Show Highlights: Luisa’s story: marriage (into a family of doctors), a new baby, the loss of her father, postpartum intrusive thoughts, and her family noticing that “something’s not right.” Even having a healthy baby and seemingly everything she ever wanted couldn’t prevent thoughts that became a nightmare. Delusions, negative thoughts, and an obsession with the baby With postpartum psychosis, early detection is important! Finding a Spanish-speaking psychiatrist, but she was not a perinatal psychiatrist. Finding help with medications, but then being diagnosed with bipolar disorder Luisa’s passion to work with PSI to help other mothers Understanding that breastfeeding while on medication can work Luisa’s message to mothers who are struggling with bipolar disorder or PPP Cultural stigmas for Latin Americans to not admit when they are struggling The need for more perinatal mental health professionals Women need to educate themselves about mental health. Peer support groups through PSI help women know they are not alone. Resources: Connect with Luisa Shamas: Instagram Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov. Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services. You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms. Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/for information on the grief course. Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today! If you are a California resident seeking a therapist in perinatal mental health, please email me about openings for private pay clients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
  • Parents and Mental Health: The Negative Impact of Expectations (Ep. 477)

    Parents and Mental Health: The Negative Impact of Expectations (Ep. 477)
    May 18 2026
    Guilt, shame, and unreasonable expectations should not be the words that describe parenthood, but for many new parents, they are. This conversation focuses on the impact of social systems on perinatal mental health and what professionals should know about how to support people with perinatal mental health conditions. We still have a long way to go to fully understand how our social systems impact parents. Join us to learn more! Olivia Scobie is a queer social worker whose own chaotic transition into motherhood inspired her dedication to supporting new parents. She holds a Master of Social Work and a Master of Arts in Sociology with a focus on gender and family, and she is completing a Ph.D. in Health Policy and Equity, researching the reproductive trauma experience of LGBT+ birthers. Olivia works one-on-one with parents and is the co-founder of Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings, where she mentors and trains mental health and allied professionals to navigate the unique challenges of the perinatal period. She is the author of Impossible Parenting: Creating a New Culture of Mental Health for Parents, a bold call to rethink the impossible standards parents are expected to meet. Olivia specializes in perinatal mood, reproductive trauma, parental mental health, and provider burnout. She is committed to fostering equity, understanding, and support for parents and professionals alike. Show Highlights: Olivia’s journey into perinatal mental health Confusing expectations to maintain “parenthood status.” Understanding “maternal role collapse” and what it means to be a “good mom.” Mixed messages for moms about giving, depleting, sacrificing—but prioritizing self-care Systemic problems that contribute to the mixed messages for parents Maternal leave policies in Canada are different from those in the US How thoughts and feelings of guilt and shame show up for new parents External pressure of expectations, shame, and guilt can contribute to diagnosable perinatal mental health conditions. Understanding “maternal strain.” Recognizing when you’ve crossed from tired, exhausted motherhood into the space of needing professional help Significant pre-pregnancy risk factors that shouldn’t be overlooked in perinatal mental health Highlights of Olivia’s organization and their work in Canada The importance of validating and normalizing ALL feelings of parenthood Resources: Connect with Olivia Scobie Website Instagram, Facebook Impossible Parenting: Creating a New Culture of Mental Health for Parents Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov. Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services. You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms. Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/for information on the grief course. Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today! If you are a California resident seeking a therapist in perinatal mental health, please email me about openings for private pay clients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
  • Embodied Motherhood: Postpartum and Beyond (Ep. 476)

    Embodied Motherhood: Postpartum and Beyond (Ep. 476)
    May 11 2026
    Today’s episode takes a deep dive into learning to listen to your body and understanding how this knowledge can support you through motherhood. Trusting your body with a deep connectedness can help you heal your relationship with it. Join us to learn more! Charlotte Mindel is a London-based somatic therapist and the founder of The Embodied Mother, a high-touch program that helps mothers heal their relationship with themselves. Certified through the Focalizing Institute, Charlotte supports women to move beyond overwhelm, reactivity, and self-doubt so they can parent (and live!) from a place of steadiness, joy, and self-trust. Her approach combines nervous system education with body-based healing, offering practical tools to break cycles of stress and create a more connected, fulfilling motherhood. Show Highlights: Highlights of Charlotte’s work as a somatic therapist An example of setting an intention and connecting with a “felt” experience with the body Common reasons why clients seek out a somatic therapist (Visualize the “shrinking cup.”) Finding the missing piece: joy Motherhood forces us to explore a new set of values in life. Signs of being disconnected from your body Feeling anger and fear toward our body makes it difficult to connect and feel safe. The “bridge of repair” with our body (cultivating self-trust) Mothers’ needs change during different stages of motherhood. Tools and techniques that are helpful: orienting (bringing ourselves into the present) through touch, reparenting ourselves, and acknowledging our tiredness Being attuned to your experience increases your awareness of the self-care you need. Noticing moments of discomfort and standing up for yourself is key. Charlotte’s hopeful messages for listeners about somatic healing Resources: Connect with Charlotte Mindel Website and Instagram Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visitcdph.ca.gov. Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services. You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms. Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/for information on the grief course. Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today! If you are a California resident seeking a therapist in perinatal mental health, please email me about openings for private pay clients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • Supporting Military Families Through Pregnancy and Postpartum Mental Health (Ep. 475)

    Supporting Military Families Through Pregnancy and Postpartum Mental Health (Ep. 475)
    May 4 2026
    In May, which is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, I’ll be releasing weekly episodes. In June, we will celebrate 10 full years of the Mom & Mind Podcast–480 episodes of personal stories, expert interviews, paths to healing, and a multitude of ways to know you’re not alone in experiencing difficulties in fertility, loss, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Join us to hear today’s guest share her focus on perinatal mental health for military families. Patience Riley is a perinatal mental health specialist who bridges the gap between clinical expertise and somatic wellness. With 14 years of experience as a licensed professional counselor, Patience offers a multifaceted approach to healing by integrating her roles as a therapist, RETAIN Parental Leave Coach, and 200-HR Registered Yoga Teacher specializing in prenatal care. Patience’s career is defined by her work in high-impact settings, including psychiatric hospitals, crisis intervention, and military installations. As a military spouse, she brings a deeply personal understanding of the unique challenges facing service members and their families. Patience channels this dedication into her roles on the PSI Georgia Board and PSI Military Task Force, working to ensure every family, military and civilian alike, has access to the specialized support they deserve. In her private practice, Patience primarily supports clients during the perinatal period through individual therapy, yoga, and mental wellness workshops in her community. A popular keynote speaker, she serves in various leadership positions and has been featured in multiple media outlets. Outside of work, Patience is a creative, a foodie, and a “plant mom” who loves a good festival. She loves doing life with her college sweetheart and their two sons. Show Highlights: Patience’s work in private practice with perinatal mental health and yoga Mental health seems scary, but yoga is a gateway to deeper mind-and-body healing. The stigma of seeking mental health help extends to military spouses. “Mission ready” and “service first” mentalities keep service members from seeking help. A “no records/no notes” approach encourages military members to access the mental health services available to them. Common barriers to access to mental health services for service members and their families Parental leave policies for military members include birth, loss, and adoption. Patience’s story of motherhood with two sons: multiple moves, COVID, her husband’s deployment, no local support system/community, and anger/rage Feeling the need to filter everything, especially negative feelings about the military Patience’s key message to military families: “Support is out there, it is available, and you deserve it.” Resources: Connect with Patience Riley Website, Facebook, Instagram, Additional Resources Military OneSource Counseling, PSI Military Resources and Support Group, Telemynd Virtual Mental Health Care, MMHLA Fact Sheet, and Military Reach (accessible and practical research for military families) Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visitcdph.ca.gov. Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services. You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms. Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/for information on the grief course. Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today! If you are a California resident seeking a therapist in perinatal mental health, please email me about openings for private pay clients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • Bioenergetic Body-Centered Healing for Perinatal Mental Health (Ep. 474)

    Bioenergetic Body-Centered Healing for Perinatal Mental Health (Ep. 474)
    Apr 27 2026
    There is an increased awareness recently about bringing somatic-based tools into our therapy practices, mainly because so much of the perinatal experience is influenced by the changes taking place in our bodies. Today’s guest explains why a body approach to therapy can help perinatal clients, how perinatal experiences can alienate a woman from her body, and why this type of therapy can be beneficial for those in the perinatal period. Join us to learn more! Dr. Leslie Ann Costello is a psychologist and certified bioenergetic therapist. Originally a preschool teacher, she volunteered as a Lamaze instructor in the 1980s and subsequently studied developmental psychology, with a focus on infant mental health. Professional encounters with pregnancy and infant loss propelled her toward maternal mental health as a career focus. As a freshly minted Ph.D., she landed in a grant-funded prenatal clinic in Louisiana, soaking up experiences that shaped the trajectory of her thirty-year career as a professor, therapist, trainer, and supervisor. Leslie is a mom, step-mom, and grandmother who identifies as an American living in Canada. Her new book, Helping Mothers Helping Babies, is for perinatal therapists who want to bring somatic tools into their work with clients. Show Highlights: The cultural shift that focuses more on the mother and her somatic experience The “mother first” philosophy in perinatal mental health Respecting the language of body sensation OVER the language of emotion and story Using physical grounding exercises can help with emotional overwhelm. With somatic tools, slower is always better. Not having the language for your direct experience is normal. Dr. Costello’s message about the benefits of body-centered healing therapies Understanding somatic interventions The WHAT is more important than the WHY in understanding a body experience. Drawbacks of the current culture of aesthetic living and parenting Maternity leave: differences in the US and Canada Drawbacks in the US practice of maternity leave (It’s not socially responsible to ignore the 4th trimester.) Resources: Connect with Dr. Leslie Ann Costello: Instagram and Helping Mothers Helping Babies Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit CDPH. Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services. You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms. Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/for information on the grief course. Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today! If you are a California resident seeking a therapist in perinatal mental health, please email me about openings for private pay clients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • Perinatal Mental Health Risks: Using the HEAL MAMAS Tool (Ep. 473)

    Perinatal Mental Health Risks: Using the HEAL MAMAS Tool (Ep. 473)
    Apr 13 2026
    Today’s episode focuses on the HEAL MAMAS advocacy tool and the importance of understanding risk factors for perinatal mental health. Women and their providers need to know the risks for PMADs and the screening process. This tool can help! Join us to learn more! Sarah Baroud has been a clinical social worker for over 15 years, working in a variety of settings with children and families. She established her private practice in 2021 to focus on perinatal mental health, bringing together her professional expertise and personal postpartum struggles. Sarah works with individuals and couples through the family planning process, the postpartum period, and beyond. She serves on the board of the Massachusetts Chapter of Postpartum Support International and advocates for policies that improve maternal health outcomes. She recently testified in the Massachusetts State House in support of a postpartum psychosis bill that would prioritize treatment over criminalization. She is a wife and mom of two who lives near Boston, Massachusetts. Show Highlights: Understanding the HEAL MAMAS advocacy tool—and why it was created Sarah’s vision for how the tool can be used by birthing people, their loved ones, and providers The HEAL MAMAS tool: Sarah’s blend of her personal experience, what she was hearing from clients, and evidence-based information about risk and protective factors A basic understanding of “protective factors” Components of the acronym: HEAL: (Help, Emotions, Activities of Daily Living, and Learn) MAMAS: (Medical, Apathetic, Medication, Anxious, and Support Structures) The tool’s targeted approach to address and acknowledge what’s “really going on” with someone and bring empowerment Sarah’s approach with providers who need to use this tool in their practices The tool’s benefit to be used in tandem with the traditional screening process Sarah’s next big step for the tool: a partnership with Tufts University grad students The possibilities are endless as to where this tool can be posted and circulated to reach the perinatal population and their families. Sarah’s high hopes for the HEAL MAMAS tool in the future Resources: Connect with Sarah Baroud: Sarah’s Website, HEAL MAMAS.org, and Instagram Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visitcdph.ca.gov. Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services. You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms. Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/for information on the grief course. Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today! If you are a California resident seeking a therapist in perinatal mental health, please email me about openings for private pay clients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins