S2E5: Fiona Mann - Clinical Psychology in the NICU

Clinical psychology plays a vital role in helping families navigate the ups and downs of the NICU journey. For many dads, those first moments can be overwhelming — seeing their baby hooked up to machines, monitors, and tubes often looks nothing like the picture they had in mind.

Today, we’re joined by Clinical Psychologist Fiona Mann, who reminds dads just how important their presence and involvement really is along the NICU journey. 

Fiona takes us inside the NICU experience from a father’s mental health perspective — unpacking what those critical first 48 hours can feel like, when and how to ask for support, and the very normal fears that surface both beside the incubator and once families head home.

She also reveals how she works alongside medical teams, why dads often fly under the radar, and the simple, powerful ways fathers can bond with their babies, speak up about how they like information shared, and accept help without feeling like an extra burden.