E87: Fixing Mental Health Care: A Conversation with Dr. Robert C. Smith on Training, Integration, and Leadership

The cracks in our healthcare systems are more visible than ever—but how did we get here, and more importantly, how do we fix them?

Today, your hosts, psychotherapists Christina Crowe and Katie Richardson, sit down with Dr. Robert C. Smith to tackle the big questions shaping the future of mental health care.

Together, we explore:

• How mental health training differs between the U.S. and Canada—what’s working and what’s not,
• Evidence-based strategies for integrating mental health care into primary care,
• What needs to change in medical education to prepare future doctors for real-world mental health challenges,
• The role of physician leadership in creating psychologically safe healthcare environments.

From systemic reform to practical solutions, this conversation sheds light on the urgent need for change—and what we can do about it.

🎧 Tune in now for an insightful, solutions-driven discussion on the future of mental health care!

Resources for After the Show: 

• • Read Dr. Smith's book, Has Medicine Lost Its Mind?available March 4th. 
  • US friends, Take Action! Dr. Smith's Template Letter.

• Smith's Patient Centered Interviewing: An Evidence-Based Method, Fourth Edition 

• Ontario therapists: Get Involved This Election!

• Canada wide: ADHD Advocacy - what you can do to help. 

  Burnout in healthcare: what you can do to protect yourself, by Christina Crowe, RP

About our Guest: Dr. Robert C. Smith is a nationally recognized leader in evidence-based mental health care and doctor-patient communication. A University Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at Michigan State University, Dr. Smith developed the first patient-centered method to train medical professionals to build strong partnerships with their patients. Dr. Smith’s expertise and dedication to reforming mental health care make Has Medicine Lost Its Mind? essential reading for policymakers, health care professionals, and anyone concerned about the future of mental health in America. 

Find Dr. Smith: Website | X | LinkedIn

Find Katie (CRPO #11244):Website | Instagram

Find Christina (CRPO #3908):  Website | Find a Therapist | Get Assessed by an NP in Ontario | Instagram | Podcast page. 

A gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina nor Katie are your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted above or our Resources page on our website.

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