Guest: Sheehan Fisher, PhD
Associate Professor, Psychiatry & Behavorial Sciences, Northwestern University
Dr. Sheehan Fisher’s entire career has been focused on the mothers and fathers unique contributions to the family and child health, with a specialization in the emerging field of father mental health. As a clinical psychologist at Northwestern, he has a heart for helping dads understand the effects of psychosocial stress on their mood, parenting, and ultimately infant/child health outcomes. His expert advice and wisdom will be a gift to dads who listen.
In this episode, we chat about:
- Why father involvement during pregnancy matters—and how it impacts both baby and partner outcomes
- The powerful role of skin-to-skin contact for dads, especially in the NICU
- How common paternal postpartum depression (PPD) really is—and why it’s often overlooked
- Key risk factors and warning signs of paternal PPD
- Gaps in support for men, where to find help, and honest advice for dads navigating mental health struggles
About the guest
Sheehan Fisher is an Assistant Professor and clinical psychologist at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine. His research career focuses on understanding mothers and fathers unique contributions to the family and child health, with a specialization in the emerging field of father mental health. He received his undergrad degree in psychology from Rutgers, a master’s and doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Iowa, completed an internship and postdoctorate at Northwestern University, followed by joining the faculty for a research and clinical position. As a professor, he conducts research on mood disorders in mothers and fathers during the perinatal period to examine the effects of psychosocial stress on parent’s mood, parenting, and ultimately infant/child health outcomes. As an academic, he publishes articles and gives presentations on his perinatal research. And, as a clinician, he has two areas of specialty: perinatal mental health in mothers and fathers, and performance optimization for individuals in high-pressure professions. He is a father to a bold and spirited daughter, Reina Valentina.