Breaking Isolation in Healthcare: Krista Lion’s Vision for Connected Care and Resilient Clinicians
With more than two decades of experience in behavioral health, Krista Lion began her career in substance use treatment as a counselor and clinical supervisor across inpatient, outpatient, and halfway house settings before transitioning into primary care in 2017, where she was introduced to integrated care and supported physicians in implementing medication-assisted treatment. Today, she serves as Program Director for an ambulatory child service line overseeing outpatient mental health, intensive outpatient (IOP), partial hospitalization (PHP), and school- and community-based services, while also operating her private practice, Hummingbird Counseling Services, LLC, outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Krista holds a B.A. in Psychology and an M.Ed. in Community Health from Kent State University, an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Geneva College, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Behavioral Health degree at Cummings Graduate Institute; she is a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. In this interview, Krista shares insights on advancing integrated care as a systems change agent, supporting clinician well-being through lifestyle medicine principles, and transforming how the behavioral health workforce is prepared and sustained.
How has the DBH program influenced your approach to behavioral health?
One of the biggest ways the program has influenced me is by strengthening my ability to look beyond mental health symptoms alone and consider how medical conditions, lifestyle factors, and social determinants of health contribute to a person’s well-being. Coming from a long history of working in substance use treatment, I often felt like I was working in a silo doing deeply meaningful work but without access to a truly integrated care model that could fully support patient outcomes. Through focused training in population health, collaborative care models, and value-based approaches, I have learned how to work toward sustainable solutions that bridge the gap between physical and behavioral health. I see myself as a therapist and a systems change agent, working to ensure that integrated care is no longer the exception, but the standard.
What are your future career goals, and how do you envision the DBH program contributing to your success?
My professional and academic interest lies in addressing clinician well-being, particularly through the lens of lifestyle medicine principles (nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, substance use reduction, and social connection). You cannot pour from an empty cup. This well-known adage is often heard throughout counseling education and supervision sessions, yet many mental health providers find themselves depleted, even early in their careers. Attention must be placed on the health and sustainability of the mental health workforce. In a recent survey I read, mental health counselors accounted for 135,662 of the behavioral health workforce. This does not include psychologists, social workers, and other behavioral health providers. If six out of ten Americans have at least one chronic condition, that would equate to 81,000 counselors who have at least one chronic condition. Integrating LM principles into counselor education and supervision can offer a framework for fostering professional well-being and resiliency skills.
Can you share an experience that shaped your understanding of integrated behavioral healthcare?
A turning point in my DBH journey happened when I was working in primary care. Before that, most of my experience was in SUD treatment, where this often operates separately from medical care. In primary care, I saw a very different approach. They were beginning to embed behavioral health therapists into the PCP team. Mental health conversations were happening right in the exam room, and patients were getting support for both physical and emotional health at the same time. Then, one day, while listening to a podcast by the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (CFHA), I heard them talking about Doctors of Behavioral Health. I had never heard of the degree before, but it caught my attention. I started my DBH research and the more I learned about the DBH role, especially through CGI, the more I felt like this was the path I was meant to take. That moment of discovery confirmed that becoming a DBH would give me the tools to make a bigger impact in integrated care.
What fuels your passion for advancing integrated behavioral health, and how do you stay motivated?
What drives me in advancing behavioral health, especially within integrated care, is the belief that no one should have to navigate mental or physical health challenges in isolation. I’ve witnessed firsthand how siloed systems create gaps in care, leaving individuals feeling overlooked and underserved. Integrated care represents the kind of whole-person approach that not only honors the complexity of people’s lives but also offers them the dignity of coordinated, compassionate support.
What innovative approaches or strategies do you believe have the potential to revolutionize the behavioral health landscape?
Embedding behavioral health services into settings like primary care offices will help remove barriers like stigma and accessibility. When mental health providers work side-by-side with medical teams, care becomes more holistic and timely. Patients are more likely to follow through with recommendations, and providers can collaborate in real time to address both physical and emotional health. Also, workforce development must be part of the innovation conversation. Behavioral health professionals need training that not only covers evidence-based practices but also teaches them how to care for themselves while caring for others. Building curricula that include topics like lifestyle medicine, integrated care models, and burnout prevention can better prepare future clinicians to thrive in a demanding field.
What are your future career goals, and how do you envision the DBH program contributing to your success?
One of my future career goals is transforming how we prepare, support, and sustain the mental health workforce. I want to design and implement a graduate-level curriculum that embeds Lifestyle Medicine principles. This curriculum will emphasize evidence-based strategies for self-regulation, resilience, and whole-person wellness, positioning these as core competencies for sustainable practice. The Doctor of Behavioral Health program equips me with the tools to bridge clinical practice, education, and systems-level change. I see this program not only deepening my expertise in the intersection of physical and behavioral health but also strengthening my ability to design scalable, outcomes-driven solutions that support both provider and patient well-being.
What advice would you give to prospective students or professionals considering the DBH program?
This program is designed to bridge gaps between mental health, physical health, and business strategies, so having an open mind and a collaborative spirit is essential. Be prepared to challenge yourself, not just academically, but also in how you see systems of care and your role within them. It’s important to stay curious and flexible. The field of behavioral health is evolving rapidly, and the DBH equips you to innovate and lead in these changes. Balancing work, school, and personal life will be challenging at times, so give yourself grace and stay organized. Finally, be patient with yourself. I initially wanted some idea/topic early on for my CP. After talking with faculty, they kept reminding me, it would come. It sure did!
Guided by a deep commitment to whole-person care and systems-level change, Krista Lion continues to shape a career focused on transforming how behavioral health is delivered, taught, and sustained. Her vision centers on advancing integrated care, strengthening the well-being of the mental health workforce, and creating more coordinated, compassionate systems of support. The Doctor of Behavioral Health program has played a pivotal role in advancing these goals, equipping her with the clinical, academic, and leadership tools needed to bridge practice and policy, influence education and workforce development, and drive meaningful, outcomes-focused change across the behavioral health landscape.
