From Screening to Showing Up: A Better Model for Women's Mental Health Care

In this episode, Emily sits down with Kristin McGregor, PhD — clinical psychologist and National Clinical Director of Integrated Behavioral Health at LifeStance Health — to unpack what integrated care really looks like when it centers women and families. From fertility to postpartum to menopause, they explore what happens when we stop treating mental health as separate and start embedding it where it belongs.

You’ll hear:

• Why behavioral health must be embedded in OB/GYN and pediatric settings
• How screening can fail patients if systems aren’t ready to act on the results
• Real-world stories about missed flags, maternal mental health, and provider gaps
• What Kristin means by “meeting people where they are, especially when they’re not doing great”
• How stigma still shows up in healthcare systems (and how to dismantle it)
• What integrated models like LifeStance are doing to intervene earlier and faster
• The challenge of supporting moms who are expected to lead the conversation while struggling
• Strategies for providers to talk about behavioral health without losing trust

This episode is for OB/GYNs, pediatricians, care teams, maternal health leaders and advocates who want to create care pathways that actually serve birthing people, especially when they’re most vulnerable. It’s also for anyone building systems that treat mental health as health, not a referral out.

Show Resources:

• Learn more about LifeStance Health
• Connect with Kristin on LinkedIn.
• Postpartum Support International
• RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
• MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health
• Follow Mother of Fact for more episodes, tools, and updates.

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