Mom and Mind | Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression & Anxiety

I’m excited to welcome Dr. Daniel Singley back to the show. He joined me years ago when we were a brand-new podcast, and he’s been busy doing meaningful work in the world around paternal mental health. Join us to learn more about why the mental health of fathers cannot be overlooked in perinatal care. Dr. Daniel Singley is a San Diego-based, board-certified psychologist and director of The Center...

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...

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 lea...

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...

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...

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...

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 he...

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 benefici...

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 establ...

Today’s episode focuses on EMDR, what it is, and how it can help struggling moms shift their mindsets at the root of trauma. We are discussing EMDR intensives, including how to assess your readiness for this type of healing, and how it differs from typical talk therapy. Join us to learn more! Amity Olson, LCSW, has been providing individual and group therapy since 2008. Her clinical work focuses o...

Today’s guest shares the events leading up to her postpartum psychosis, what she experienced, and how she managed to recover. It is important to hear stories like this so people understand postpartum psychosis and know how to get help. We all need to recognize the symptoms and get the people we love the help they need. Join us for Jade’s powerful story.  Jade Lloyd is a survivor of postpartum psyc...

A traumatic birth can happen to anyone, and it’s much more common than we might think. Today’s show focuses on birth trauma, what it looks like, and how the healing journey can positively reshape someone’s parenting experience. There is help! Join us to learn more! Dr. Maya Weir is a clinical psychologist who specializes in birth trauma and the emotional transitions of early parenthood. Inspired b...

Today’s episode focuses on the impacts of ADHD and eating disorders on perinatal mental health. We aim to explore this topic and educate listeners on how these conditions intersect and overlap during life’s transitional periods.  Laudan Kermani Gish is a licensed psychotherapist in California, Texas, and Connecticut who also offers coaching to clients worldwide. She specializes in women’s health,...

There is much to consider about the intersection of perimenopause, ADHD, and postpartum. With more and more people choosing to have babies later in life, there is the likelihood that the start of perimenopause may coincide with the perinatal period. Those with ADHD have another variable thrown into the mix. We are tackling these topics with our expert guest today. Please join us! Kara Cruz is a Li...

Today’s focus is on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in treating perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). Our expert guest will help us understand this therapy technique, its processes, and the overarching goal of this method. Join us to learn more! Dr. Carissa Gustafson, PMH-C, is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in perinatal psychology. She supports clients from preconcepti...

Our discussion focuses on the ways fertility challenges impact mental health, navigating misinformation and pressure from “influencer experts” on social media, and how evidence-based fertility education can empower and support people mentally and emotionally during their reproductive journey.  Dr. Lucky Sekhon is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, infertility specialist, obstetrician-...

Before discussing today’s show, I’d like to provide some updates on what to expect from the podcast in 2026. First of all, there will be no more Behind the Sessions episodes. There could also be changes in the frequency of episodes at some point, but we’ll see how that goes. Life shifts and different needs arise that are pulling me in other directions. Everyone has times when shifts are needed to...

Today’s episode finishes the four-part series on perinatal mental health during the holidays. It is also the final Behind the Sessions episode because life’s circumstances are requiring me to shift, change, and prioritize other things as 2025 comes to a close. I will periodically add a solo episode in the future when I want to dive deeper into a relevant subject. There could even be a reduction in...

Our focus in today’s episode is parenting a child with a disability, including the point of diagnosis, how the diagnosis might change over time, how it impacts pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, and the ableism parents can face in reproductive care. Join us to learn more from today’s expert guest.  Riley Blanton is a therapist specializing in reproductive mental health care in Kansas. She is passio...

Today’s guest shares how she turned her difficulties into a passion for educating and supporting others. Her postpartum journey inspired her upcoming short film Postpartum. Join us to learn more! Brittani Noel is a biracial filmmaker, actor, and mom of two. Her creative works delve into the emotional and psychological complexities of identity, race, and motherhood. Her award-winning short, The Oth...

This is the 3rd in a four-part Behind the Sessions series about coping during the holidays with various perinatal mental health challenges. Today’s episode focuses on pregnancy loss. If you’re in a time of grief over the loss of a child, you are not alone. Many people are carrying deep feelings of grief and loss during a time when celebrating with sparkles of joy and peace feels painfully out of s...

En este episodio especial en español de Mom in Mind, la Dra. Kat recibe a Karla Cardoza, LMFT, PMFC, RYT200, y a Luisa Shamas de Postpartum Support International. Conversan sobre la importancia de ofrecer recursos de salud mental perinatal cultural y lingüísticamente adaptados para familias hispanohablantes. Karla y Luisa destacan el crecimiento de los grupos de apoyo en español de PSI, comparten...

Today’s guest shares her story of turning her pain into purpose as she discusses mothers’ mental health conditions and the power of storytelling. Join us to hear her inspirational story. Rudo Savage is a mental health advocate, mother of three, founder of Mindset Mother, and author of The Words of the Lost Soul and Becoming Whole in Pieces. Through her writing and mentoring, she empowers others to...

Our first episode in this series was about infertility; today’s focus is on pregnancy. Our final two installments will cover pregnancy loss and postpartum. I’m discussing how holiday expectations might not align with what's happening. The holidays can feel like a mixed bag of joy and anticipation, while a lot of stress and pressure get thrown into the mix. We can’t deny our emotional truth, becaus...

Today’s guest shares her family’s NICU story and her beautiful book, Waiting for Max. She explains how the anxiety of a NICU stays with you for a long time and why she’s dedicated to helping other families. Her book supports parents AND siblings who are waiting for their NICU baby to join the family at home. Join us! Emily Rosen is a mom, freelance creative director, copywriter, and children’s boo...