The Mental Health Evolution cover art

The Mental Health Evolution

The Mental Health Evolution

By: Rachel Harrison
Listen for free

Summary

 The Mental Health Entrepreneur podcast is back—with a slightly new name and an expanded focus. We're excited to introduce The Mental Health Evolution, where we'll continue the journey of exploring what's changing in the mental health field, and we're so glad to have you with us as a listener. Explore the rapidly changing world of mental health with The Mental Health Evolution, hosted by Rachel Harrison. Each episode brings honest conversations with clinicians, tech founders, investors, insurance companies, and other key voices shaping the industry. We dive into what's working, what's not, and what's next—from innovative startups and ethical considerations in tech-driven therapy to policy changes, access to care, and the human connections that remain at the heart of mental health services. Whether you're a professional in the field, someone seeking care, or simply curious about the evolution of mental health, this podcast provides insights, perspectives, and practical information to help you navigate a complex and fast-moving landscape. Join us to stay informed, challenge assumptions, and be part of the conversation shaping the future of mental health.2024 Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Leadership Management & Leadership Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Ep 38: Advocacy, Autonomy and the Future of Psychotherapy with Linda Michaels of PsiAN

    Ep 38: Advocacy, Autonomy and the Future of Psychotherapy with Linda Michaels of PsiAN
    May 14 2026
    Rachel speaks with Dr. Linda Michaels, PsyD, MBA, a psychologist in private practice in Chicago and co-founder of the Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN). Founded in 2017, PsiAN was built to provide a unified voice for psychotherapists across all disciplines and theoretical orientations, advocating for access to quality care and pushing back against the forces reshaping the field. Dr. Michaels brings a rare combination of clinical training and a prior career in business, marketing, and organizational consulting, and that background is evident in how she analyzes the systems bearing down on the profession. The conversation opens with the origins of PsiAN, the research they have conducted with both the public and therapists, and why the organization has made it a priority to cut across the silos that limit collective professional power. The second half of the conversation takes a direct look at practice management companies and what therapists need to know before working with them. Dr. Michaels walks through PsiAN's research with nearly 700 therapists, revealing that despite promises of higher earnings, half reported making the same or less. She details the near-total insurance company ownership of these platforms, the data privacy concerns including a class action suit against Headway for sharing patient data with Google, and the growing use of therapy session transcripts to train proprietary AI language models. Dr. Michaels closes with a clear message for therapists: every business decision is ultimately a clinical one, and the profession's greatest asset in the face of corporate consolidation is knowledge, standards, and solidarity. RESOURCES MENTIONED Articles Referenced: They Thought They Were Doing Good, But It Made People Worse: Why Mental Health Apps Are Under Scrutiny — The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/feb/04/they-thought-they-were-doing-good-but-it-made-people-worse-why-mental-health-apps-are-under-scrutiny Chatbots and AI Therapy Are Filling Gaps in Mental Health Care, but Regulation is Lagging — Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/04/19/chatbot-therapy-mental-health-regulations/ Practice Management Companies: What Therapists Need to Know — PsiAN: https://www.psian.org/practice-management-companies Connect with Dr. Linda Michaels and PsiAN: Website: https://www.psian.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psianofficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/psian/ Connect with The Mental Health Evolution: Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast Instagram: /thementalhealthevolution LinkedIn: /the-mental-health-evolution Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison
    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • Ep 37: Trusted Tools for Peer Workers with Naveen Raman

    Ep 37: Trusted Tools for Peer Workers with Naveen Raman
    May 7 2026
    In this episode, Rachel Harrison speaks with Naveen Raman, a PhD student at Carnegie Mellon University whose research focuses on sequential decision making and the integration of human feedback into AI systems. Naveen is a developer behind PeerCoPilot, an AI powered assistant being tested in real behavioral health settings to support peer support workers in their day to day sessions. The conversation explores how PeerCoPilot works, from its curated database of vetted local resources to its built in tools for benefits navigation, web search, and structured wellness planning, and why the decision to avoid drawing from the open internet was central to its design. The second half of the conversation digs into the safeguards built into PeerCoPilot, including what Naveen describes as a Swiss cheese model of defense where no single layer of protection carries the full responsibility for catching errors. Rachel and Naveen explore the question of whether tools like this could eventually be used directly by service users, the practical and ethical complexities that come with that, and the broader vision for expanding PeerCoPilot to other peer organizations, county level resource hubs, and systems like 211. Naveen closes with a clear message for anyone thinking about AI in the mental health space: powerful tools still need to be carefully tailored to their specific context to truly serve the people within them. RESOURCES MENTIONED Articles Referenced: AI Use in Mental Health Help Seeking and Support — PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12595529/ Human in the Loop, AI in Healthcare Systems — Frontiers in Psychiatry: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1505024/full PeerCoPilot: AI Assistant for Behavioral Health Navigation — Carnegie Mellon University: https://www.cs.cmu.edu/news/2026/peer-copilot Connect with Naveen Raman: Website: http://naveenraman.com Connect with The Mental Health Evolution: Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast Instagram: /thementalhealthevolution/ LinkedIn: /the-mental-health-evolution Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • Ep 36: The Reality of Parity Enforcement

    Ep 36: The Reality of Parity Enforcement
    Apr 30 2026
    EPISODE SUMMARY

    In this solo episode, Rachel Harrison explores the reality of mental health parity enforcement through the lens of a recent case involving Aetna. She breaks down what mental health parity is intended to achieve under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act and why, despite being in place for nearly two decades, the gap between policy and practice remains significant. Using the Pennsylvania fine against Aetna as a case study, Rachel walks through the specific violations uncovered, including claim delays, improper denials, and lack of transparency, and explains how these issues directly impact patients, providers, and access to care.

    The episode then broadens to examine the larger enforcement landscape, highlighting similar actions across states and the growing importance of state-level oversight as federal enforcement becomes less certain. Rachel also reflects on broader policy conversations happening at the state level, including efforts in places like Maryland to improve transparency and accountability in insurance reimbursement practices. The conversation raises important questions about accountability, the effectiveness of financial penalties, and what meaningful enforcement should look like moving forward. It ultimately offers a grounded, forward-looking perspective for clinicians, practice owners, and mental health leaders navigating insurance systems today.

    RESOURCES MENTIONED Articles Referenced:

    Shapiro Administration Protects Consumers, Fines Aetna for Violations of Mental Health Parity Laws — Pennsylvania Insurance Department:
    https://www.pa.gov/agencies/insurance/newsroom/shapiro-admin-protects-consumers-fines-aetna-violation-mental-health-parity-laws

    Pennsylvania Insurance Regulators Fine Aetna for Violations of Mental Health Parity Regulations — Philadelphia Inquirer:
    https://www.inquirer.com/health/aetna-fine-pennsylania-mental-health-parity-20260303.html

    Health Insurers Pay Penalty for Mental Health Parity Compliance Failures — HIPAA Journal:
    https://www.hipaajournal.com/health-insurers-penalty-mental-health-parity-compliance/

    Departments Announce Non-Enforcement of 2024 Mental Health Parity Rule — APA Services:
    https://www.apaservices.org/practice/news/nonenforcement-2024-mental-health-parity-rule

    Related Episode:

    Mental Health Parity Advocacy and Policy with Deborah Steinberg
    https://pod.link/1724750091/episode/OWQ5YmYzMzMtZmQ5ZS00ZjUyLWFkMDEtZmFiZDdlNmVmNzZh

    CONNECT WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH EVOLUTION

    Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thementalhealthevolution/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-mental-health-evolution
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMentalHealthEvolution

    Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison
    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c
No reviews yet