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04 Mindful Motherhood: A Look at Perinatal Mental Health
Season 1 · Episode 4

04 Mindful Motherhood: A Look at Perinatal Mental Health

n this deeply insightful episode, host Diane Ortega welcomes back Dr. Cara English, CEO of Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies. Together, they explore the critical and often overlooked topic of women’s mental health, including maternal mental health, perinatal care, and the role of midwives and healthcare providers in supporting holistic wellness.

Midwife Life: Midwifing you through health, motherhood, and the sacred mess of life’s transformations with Diane Ortega

November 18, 202445m 56s

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Show Notes

This week host Diane Ortega welcomes back Dr. Cara English, CEO of Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies. Together, they explore the critical and often overlooked topic of women’s mental health, including maternal mental health, perinatal care, and the role of midwives and healthcare providers in supporting holistic wellness.


Key Topics Covered:

  • The State of Women’s Mental Health: Why women are 2-3 times more likely than men to experience a mental health condition and the societal, hormonal, and cultural factors behind this disparity.
  • Effective Screening Tools: Discussion on tools like the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and MDQ, and why a comprehensive approach is crucial to identifying depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder in women.
  • Cultural Competence in Mental Health Care: The importance of matching women with providers who understand their unique experiences, with a focus on BIPOC and culturally congruent care initiatives in Arizona.
  • Addressing Trauma and PTSD in Women: How trauma, including birth trauma and sexual trauma, impacts women’s health, and why somatic and body-based therapies, like EMDR, are game-changers for recovery.
  • Self-Care Beyond the Surface: Practical self-care approaches like the “Snowball Tips” and how they can be applied to improve mental well-being and prevent burnout.


Join the Conversation: 

If you found this episode valuable, consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with your friends and community. Your voice helps us reach more women, create a stronger support system, and spread the knowledge we all deserve. Remember: You’re not alone in your journey—together, we can foster a community of empowered, informed women.


Resources Mentioned:


Recommended Reads:

  • Nobody Told Me About That: Surviving and Thriving the Early Weeks of Parenting by Ginger Breedlove
  • The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality by Kimberly Johnson
  • Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers by Karen Kleiman
  • Seven Sisters for Seven Days: The Mothers’ Manual for Community Based Postpartum Care by Michelle Peterson 
  • The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother by Heng Ou


Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies


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