Mental Health + Aging with Dr. Regina Koepp
Welcome to The Mental Health and Aging Podcast—your go-to resource for evidence-based strategies, mental health tools, and expert insights to support the psychological, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of older adults.
Hosted by clinical geropsychologist and founder of the Center for Mental Health & Aging, Dr. Regina Koepp, this podcast is designed for therapists, psychologists, social workers, aging life care professionals, geriatric care managers, and healthcare providers who want to confidently address the mental health needs of older adults.
Most mental health and healthcare professionals were trained to focus on the physical changes of aging—but that’s only part of the picture.
This podcast explores the not-so-physical aspects of aging:
- How purpose and meaning evolve later in life
- The emotional and psychological impact of retirement and life transitions
- Spiritual growth that often accompanies physical decline
- Mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, grief, loneliness, and trauma
- And what actually works in therapy with older adults
🎙️ Each episode delivers:
✔️ Practical tools and mindset shifts you can use right away
✔️ Real-life stories of healing, growth, and transformation
✔️ Behind-the-scenes lessons from building a national movement for mental health and aging
✔️ Guidance from leaders in geropsychology, health psychology, palliative care, and beyond
Whether you're seeking continuing education, clinical confidence, or a deeper understanding of how to help older adults thrive, this podcast is for you.
Because aging is more than decline. It’s development.
And there’s no expiration date on healing, transformation, or growth
Subscribe/Follow now and become the clinician older adults deserve.
Episodes
132 episodes
#132 - Stop Projecting: What Midlife Gets Wrong About Older Adulthood
A few days ago, I was interviewed for NPR’s Here & Now, and the host asked me about my “aging journey.” I felt a little flustered—not because it was a bad question, but because I’m 50. And when people ask me about aging, my mind goes straig...
#131- How to Support Someone with Dementia and PTSD
When someone is living with both dementia and PTSD, their needs are complex—but support is still possible, and it can make a world of difference.In this episode, I share what I’ve learned as a geropsychologist working with veterans and o...
#130 - Link Between Trauma and Dementia: Can Unresolved Trauma Increase Dementia Risk?
Can Unresolved Trauma Increase Dementia Risk?Trauma doesn’t just leave emotional scars—it can change the brain. And when post-traumatic stress goes untreated, the risk for dementia later in life rises.In this episode of my mental ...
#129 - Sleep Problems & Dementia Risk: What Every Provider Must Know
Last week, a therapist told me about her client, an 82-year-old woman who hadn’t had more than 6 hours of sleep in years. “It’s just part of getting older,” the woman sighed. But here’s the truth—fatigue isn’t a normal part of aging, and chroni...
#128- Alcohol + Dementia: Does moderate drinking increase dementia risk?
If you’ve ever been told that “a little wine is good for you,” you might want to hear what the latest science says—especially when it comes to the aging brain.In this episode, I share compelling new research showing that even moderate al...
#127 - Anxiety + Dementia: Anxiety Treatment is Essential to Reducing Dementia Risk
Anxiety increases dementia risk by 24% (about the same rate as diabetes) —but treatment for anxiety corrects this. Learn why early detection and treatment in older adults is critical to brain health.In this episode, I unpack the groundbr...
#126- Depression + Dementia: How Depression Treatment Prevents Dementia- According to Science
The Hidden Link Between Depression and DementiaEvery time I sit with a client and help them move through depression, I know I’m not just helping them feel better in the moment—I may also be protecting their brain years down the road. Tha...
#125 - Therapy That Works for 30-Year-Olds Doesn’t Always Work at 75 | Why Therapy Needs to Change With Age
If your 75-year-old client stops coming to therapy, it might not be them. It might be your approach.In this episode, I explore why therapy must evolve, just like people, with age. I share five powerful ways to evolve your practice to bet...
#124- Chronic Pain and Depression: Breaking the Cycle with Mental Health Care
Chronic pain increases the risk for depression and suicide. The connection between chronic pain and depression is stronger—and more dangerous—than most professionals realize. In this powerful episode, Dr. Regina Koe...
#123- Chronic Pain & Aging: 4 Themes Therapists Must Know
Chronic pain isn’t just physical—it's personal, emotional, and deeply misunderstood. And when it comes to older adults, the pain often hides in plain sight. In this episode, I sit down with pain psychology expert, Dr. Jennifer Steiner, to explo...
#122 - My Aging Parent Won't Stop Giving Money to A Scammer. What Can I Do?
What do you do when your aging parent is being scammed—and keeps sending money even after you’ve begged them to stop? It’s heartbreaking. It’s infuriating. And it can leave you feeling powerless.If this is happening in your family, you’r...
#121 - Is Late Life Depression Treatable?
Depression is not a normal part of aging—yet it's silently stealing joy, independence, and even life from millions of older adults. Most go undiagnosed and untreated. Why? Because we mistake their suffering for “just getting older.” But here’s ...
#120 - How I Built the Center for Mental Health & Aging
Ever wonder what it really takes to build a national movement for mental health and aging? In this inspiring behind-the-scenes episode, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing the heart, hustle, and healing that built the Center for M...
#119- Loneliness in Older People: Must Have Tools to Address Loneliness & Isolation
Loneliness is as harmful as smoking—and 43% of older adults experience loneliness. Social Isolation increases the risk of dementia 31%. The cure? Connection and Belonging. Are older adults really lonelier than young people?...
#118-How Does Financial Exploitation Affect Older Adults' Mental Health?
Have you ever wondered what really happens after someone is scammed out of $25,000? Not only the steps to take after you've been scammed, but the psychological toll? A couple weeks ago, I received an email from a listener...
#117- My Personal Experience With Vicarious Trauma: Recognizing and Healing Secondary Traumatic Stress
The first sign I was experiencing vicarious trauma hit me like a ton of bricks. Learn how to recognize, prevent, and heal from the emotional impact of therapy.I am so glad that you're here and joining me for part two of Tra...
#116- PTSD and Trauma Informed Care Among Older Adults
Up to 90% of older adults have experienced trauma, yet their needs are often overlooked. Learn the essentials of trauma-informed care and how to foster healing and resilience.Trauma-informed care is essential for supporting older adults ...
#115- Must Know Barriers Keeping Older Adults from Mental Health Care
Did you know that 20-22% of older adults have a mental health condition like depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder—yet most go undetected and untreated? This isn’t because these conditions aren’t treatable, but because systemic barrier...
#114-Finding Joy in Life’s Hardest Moments with Steven Petrow
What if joy isn’t something we find, but something we create—especially in life’s hardest moments? In this episode of The Psychology of Aging Podcast, award-winning journalist and bestselling author Steven Petrow<...
#113-Types of Ageism in Mental Health Care: Hidden Biases Harm Clients
Have you ever thought, “Older adults are just set in their ways” or “Therapy isn’t effective for older clients”? If so, this episode is for you. Today, we tackle the hidden biases that even seasoned mental health professionals...
#112- 5 Groundbreaking Insights on Mental Health and Aging from 2024
If you’re committed to meeting the mental health needs of older adults, this episode is for you. In 2024, we saw some incredible advancements in mental health research for older adults—insights that can shape how you practice and care for this ...
#111- Supporting Older Adults After Disasters: A Guide to Psychological Recovery
Imagine being 85 or 95 years old, surviving a natural disaster like wildfires, hurricanes, or earthquakes, and facing the immense challenge of grieving your losses while navigating emotional and psychological recovery. Older adults...
#110- What NY Times Got Wrong About ADHD and Older Adults
There was a misleading headline from The New York Times recently that claimed ADHD diagnoses are surging among "older Americans." In this episode, I set the record straight by clarifying who qualifies as an "older adult" (65+), highlig...
#109- LPCs and LMFTs Now Eligible for Medicare: What to Know
Medicare now includes LPCs and LMFTs! Discover the new opportunities this presents for mental health professionals working with older adults. In this Psychology of Aging episode, we dive deep into the recent changes in Medicare policies...
#108- The Healing Power of Nature: Science-Backed Benefits for Aging Well
Have you ever felt rejuvenated after a day spent outdoors, perhaps gardening or simply enjoying a walk in the woods? Recently, nature has been my much needed therapy, and it’s transformed my approach to health and aging. <...