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 groundbreaking connection between anxiety and dementia. You’ll learn why anxiety is not a normal part of aging—and why your role as a therapist, social worker, psychologist, or aging life care expert is critical in reducing long-term cognitive decline.

You’ll walk away with four actionable steps you can take to make a meaningful difference in the lives of older clients—and possibly prevent dementia in the process.

This isn't just about reducing symptoms. It's about restoring dignity, peace of mind, and protecting brain health—now and for years to come.

Here’s what you’ll learn:
✅ How anxiety affects the aging brain and increases dementia risk
✅ Why anxiety is often missed or misdiagnosed in older adults
✅ How to screen, normalize, and treat anxiety in therapy
✅ The importance of collaborative care and early detection
✅ How you can adapt your practice to better serve older clients

👉 Get the full list of research and clinical tools I mention here: https://www.mentalhealthandaging.com/podcast/anxiety-dementia-what-therapists-must-know/

Have a topic idea? Send us a text.

👉 Want to Become an Aging Informed Therapist? Join us for our live CE course on 8/21/25 from 12-1:30pm EST. Click here to learn more.

PROFESSIONALS: Grab your free guide to working with older adults here


Attention Social Workers, Therapists, Counselors, Psychologists, Aging Life Care Experts... Click here to get Continuing Education Credits

The Hidden Link Between Depression and Dementia

Every 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. That’s not just a hope—it’s science.

In this episode, I’m diving into the powerful link between mental health treatment and dementia prevention. So many therapists don’t realize that untreated depression in midlife and later life increases the risk of dementia. But here’s the hopeful truth: when we treat depression, we don’t just reduce suffering—we may delay or even prevent cognitive decline.

If you’re a therapist, this episode is a call to action. You have more power than you think to shape not just your client’s emotional well-being, but their cognitive future. I’ll walk you through the research, the biology, and—most importantly—what you can do right now to support your older clients in living full, vibrant, and connected lives.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why depression is a modifiable risk factor for dementia
• What the latest research says about treating depression and reducing dementia risk
• How therapy for depression improves mood, memory, and independence
• Why older adults are just as likely to benefit from therapy as other age groups
• How antidepressant treatment in people with mild cognitive impairment can delay dementia
• What you can do for clients already living with dementia and depression
• Why your role as a therapist matters more than ever—and how to make a difference

Visit the show notes here

Have a topic idea? Send us a text.

👉 Want to Become an Aging Informed Therapist? Join us for our live CE course on 8/21/25 from 12-1:30pm EST. Click here to learn more.

PROFESSIONALS: Grab your free guide to working with older adults here


Attention Social Workers, Therapists, Counselors, Psychologists, Aging Life Care Experts... Click here to get Continuing Education Credits

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 better serve older adults. 

While many therapists are trained to work with adults in general, most graduate and continuing education programs focus on midlife or younger adulthood, often excluding older adulthood entirely. The result is a significant gap in care.

Therapy that resonates with younger adults can fall flat or even feel dismissive for older clients. When therapists don't adapt their approach, clients may feel unseen, misunderstood, or disengaged—not because they’re resistant, but because the therapy model doesn’t reflect their stage of life.

This episode will help you recognize what shifts with age, why it matters in clinical practice, and how to modify your work for more effective and compassionate outcomes.

What You’ll Learn

• Why traditional therapy methods may not land with older adults
• How perceived time left in life shifts therapeutic goals and priorities
• What therapists often misunderstand about aging and mental health
• How to center meaning, wisdom, and resilience in your sessions
• Five clinical adaptations you can start using right away

Want to learn more? Enroll in my upcoming 90min CE course on "Becoming an Aging-Informed Therapist" - Live July 22, 2025 

See the show notes here

Have a topic idea? Send us a text.

👉 Want to Become an Aging Informed Therapist? Join us for our live CE course on 8/21/25 from 12-1:30pm EST. Click here to learn more.

PROFESSIONALS: Grab your free guide to working with older adults here


Attention Social Workers, Therapists, Counselors, Psychologists, Aging Life Care Experts... Click here to get Continuing Education Credits

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 Koepp sits down with pain psychology expert, Dr. Jennifer Steiner, to uncover the complex and bidirectional relationship between chronic pain, depression, and suicide risk.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why people living with chronic pain are twice as likely to experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors
• The true drivers of suicide risk in chronic pain—not just pain intensity, but emotional, relational, and financial strain
• How the brain’s stress response amplifies both physical pain and emotional suffering
• What research says about which comes first—pain or depression—and why it’s not always clear-cut
• How chronic pain affects sleep, cognition, and identity, creating a vicious cycle of distress
• The essential role of therapists trained in chronic pain in breaking this cycle
• What to look for in a therapist who can truly support someone living with chronic pain

Whether you’re a therapist, psychologist, social worker, or aging life care expert—this episode will transform the way you think about pain. Because treating chronic pain isn’t just about reducing discomfort… it’s about restoring dignity, function, and hope.

Click here to see show notes 

AttentionTherapists: 

• Download your free guide on the Depression-Pain Cycle 
• Become a sought after specialist with our Pain Psychology Certificate Course (14.5 CE Credits), where's you'll learn ACT and CBT for Chronic Pain, as well as strategies to address bias in pain care.

Have a topic idea? Send us a text.

👉 Want to Become an Aging Informed Therapist? Join us for our live CE course on 8/21/25 from 12-1:30pm EST. Click here to learn more.

PROFESSIONALS: Grab your free guide to working with older adults here


Attention Social Workers, Therapists, Counselors, Psychologists, Aging Life Care Experts... Click here to get Continuing Education Credits

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 explore the invisible impact of chronic pain and what every therapist must understand to truly help older adults living with it.

You’ll walk away with a fresh perspective—and four critical psychological themes—that can transform the way you support older adults in your practice.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

The real size of the chronic pain epidemic—and why it’s often underestimated in older adults

Common pain conditions affecting people 65+

Dr. Steiner’s personal journey from growing up with chronic pain to becoming a national leader in pain psychology

How chronic pain influences mental health, identity, relationships, and work

The 4 psychological themes every therapist must recognize when treating chronic pain:

1. The Body as an Obstacle
2. Pain is Invisible—and Real
3. Disrupted Sense of Self
4. Unpredictability of the Condition

AttentionTherapists:

• Download your free guide on the Depression-Pain Cycle 
• Become a sought after specialist with our Pain Psychology Certificate Course (14.5 CE Credits), where's you'll learn ACT and CBT for Chronic Pain, as well as strategies to address bias in pain care.

Click here to go to Show Notes 

Have a topic idea? Send us a text.

👉 Want to Become an Aging Informed Therapist? Join us for our live CE course on 8/21/25 from 12-1:30pm EST. Click here to learn more.

PROFESSIONALS: Grab your free guide to working with older adults here


Attention Social Workers, Therapists, Counselors, Psychologists, Aging Life Care Experts... Click here to get Continuing Education Credits

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’re not alone—and there is hope.

In this episode, I unpack what’s really going on when an older adult falls victim to financial exploitation, why they often can’t stop—even when they know it’s a scam—and how to intervene without shaming or severing the relationship.

You'll learn:
 ✅ Why people get trapped in scams—even when the truth is obvious
 ✅ What “dignity of risk” and “duty of care” mean for families
 ✅ How to lead with compassion instead of control
 ✅ What to do when cognitive decline might be involved
 ✅ Concrete steps to prevent revictimization
 ✅ Where to turn for professional support

Whether you're a family member or a professional working with older adults, this episode is packed with tools to help you respond with clarity, compassion, and courage.

Professionals: Click here to get your free "Support for Older Adults After Financial Scams" Guide

Resources Mentioned:

• Older Adult Nest Egg: Assess financial vulnerability and get expert tools for reducing risk
• AARP Fraud Watch Network: Up-to-date scam alerts and prevention tips
• Give an Hour: Mental health support including for victims of exploitation
• Center for Mental Health & Aging: Find a therapist specializing in older adults
• Adult Protective Services: State-specific reporting and support

Click here to see the show notes 

Have a topic idea? Send us a text.

👉 Want to Become an Aging Informed Therapist? Join us for our live CE course on 8/21/25 from 12-1:30pm EST. Click here to learn more.

PROFESSIONALS: Grab your free guide to working with older adults here


Attention Social Workers, Therapists, Counselors, Psychologists, Aging Life Care Experts... Click here to get Continuing Education Credits

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 the truth: late-life depression is serious—and it’s highly treatable.

In today’s episode, you’ll learn how to spot the signs, challenge the myths, and take action that truly changes lives.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What late-onset depression is and how it differs from earlier-life depression
• How depression presents differently in older adults—beyond just sadness
• Key risk factors: chronic illness, loss, isolation, and more
• Why the myth that "older adults can’t change" is flat-out wrong
• Practical, research-informed steps you can take to help someone get care
• Why healing and transformation are possible—at every age

Here’s the Truth:

When older adults don’t receive mental health care:
✔️ Medical issues worsen
✔️ Medication use increases
✔️ Hospital visits spike
✔️ Caregiver and family stress grows
✔️ Quality of life plummets
✔️ Suicide risk rises

But when they do get care? Healing happens. Purpose returns. And lives transform.

Click here to get resources mentioned in this episode. 

Remember...

it’s only with your help that we can meet the mental health needs of older adults. So thank you for being here—and thank you for doing your part.

Subscribe and Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a colleague or friend. Together, we're building a movement for mental health and aging. Because there is no expiration date on healing, transformation, and growth.

Have a topic idea? Send us a text.

👉 Want to Become an Aging Informed Therapist? Join us for our live CE course on 8/21/25 from 12-1:30pm EST. Click here to learn more.

PROFESSIONALS: Grab your free guide to working with older adults here


Attention Social Workers, Therapists, Counselors, Psychologists, Aging Life Care Experts... Click here to get Continuing Education Credits

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 Mental Health & Aging.

You’ll hear where it all started—from working late nights with two small children at home to battling systemic bias in healthcare settings. I’ll walk you through the moments I nearly gave up, the surprising victories, and the “why” that keeps me going.

If you’re a mental health professional, aging services provider, or change-maker with a mission-driven heart, this episode is for you.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why I left a successful career at the VA to start the Center for Mental Health & Aging
• The barriers professionals face when working with older adults—and how we can solve them
• How our signature GeroChampions program evolved into a national training movement
• The step-by-step vision I mapped out (with a thermometer!) to earn CEU accreditation
• How we’ve trained thousands of professionals and launched over 30 courses
• Why there's no expiration date on healing, transformation, and love
• What post-traumatic growth has to teach us about aging well
• And why older adults deserve more than just care—they deserve dignity and mental health equity

GO TO SHOW NOTES HERE

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Download: Clinician's Guide to Mental Health & Aging
• Mental Health & Aging Certificate Program
• Culturally Inclusive, Trauma-Informed Care with Older Adults Certificate Program
• End of Life Ethics & Psychotherapy Course
• See all CEU Courses 
• National Provider Directory

Remember...

it’s only with your help that we can meet the mental health needs of older adults. So thank you for being here—and thank you for doing your part.

Subscribe and Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a colleague or friend. Together, we're building a movement for mental health and aging. Because there is no expiration date on healing, transformation, and growth. 

Have a topic idea? Send us a text.

👉 Want to Become an Aging Informed Therapist? Join us for our live CE course on 8/21/25 from 12-1:30pm EST. Click here to learn more.

PROFESSIONALS: Grab your free guide to working with older adults here


Attention Social Workers, Therapists, Counselors, Psychologists, Aging Life Care Experts... Click here to get Continuing Education Credits

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?
You might be surprised by the answer. In this episode of The Psychology of Aging, we uncover the complex truth about loneliness and isolation in older adults—and why their impact is far more dangerous than many realize.

You'll learn the critical difference between loneliness and social isolation, how they each affect caregivers and people living with dementia, and why the consequences can be as severe as smoking, drinking, or living with obesity.

But we won’t stop there.

You'll also discover the revolutionary power of “social prescribing”—a compassionate, connection-first approach to well-being that’s gaining momentum in healthcare. You'll hear about a small-town doctor writing prescriptions for coffee and community… and how you can do the same in your own clinical practice.

Whether you're a psychologist, therapist, social worker, or aging services professional, this episode will inspire you to screen, connect, and prescribe belonging.

What You'll Learn:

• Why older adults may feel less lonely than young adults—but suffer more from its effects
• The difference between loneliness and isolation (and why this matters for dementia care)
• Startling statistics: how loneliness increases risk for dementia, heart disease, stroke, and depression
• Why quality of social ties matters more than quantity
• The role of social prescribing: how to refer clients to connection—not just care
• Creative ideas for connection, including book clubs, walking groups, and even coffee shops
• Two screening tools for loneliness and isolation to use in your practice
• A powerful quote: “Social prescribing connects a person to what matters to them—not just what’s the matter with them.”

Click here for all of the resources mentioned in this episode

Have a topic idea? Send us a text.

👉 Want to Become an Aging Informed Therapist? Join us for our live CE course on 8/21/25 from 12-1:30pm EST. Click here to learn more.

PROFESSIONALS: Grab your free guide to working with older adults here


Attention Social Workers, Therapists, Counselors, Psychologists, Aging Life Care Experts... Click here to get Continuing Education Credits

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 asking for help—resources for older adults who’ve been financially exploited. That email sparked this episode, and I’m so glad it did.

Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes of what it’s really like for older adults after financial exploitation. I’ll share two powerful stories—one of an 84-year-old and another of a 46-year-old—and walk you through the unconscious age biases that shape how we react to fraud victims. We’ll also talk about the common scams, the emotional fallout, and most importantly—what you can do to support healing and prevent re-traumatization.

This episode is especially close to my heart. I was invited by the Vermont Financial Elder Abuse Specialist Team to lead a workshop on this very topic, and I’ve been wanting to share it with you ever since.

If you care about protecting and uplifting older adults—this is a must-listen.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why older adults aren’t the only ones falling for scams—and why we judge them more harshly
• How ageism quietly shows up in our reactions to fraud
• The top financial scams impacting people 60+ and how scammers manipulate trust
• The emotional timeline of recovery: from shock and shame to anger and exhaustion
• 4 major mental health effects of financial exploitation you need to watch for
• How to talk with older adults about fraud in ways that heal—not harm
• What trauma-informed support really looks like after financial betrayal
• Where to find peer support groups, prevention tools, and trusted therapists

Click here to get all the resources mentioned in this episode

A Guide for Mental Health and Aging Services Professionals to Supporting Older Adults Recovering from Financial Exploitation. Click here to download the guide

Have a topic idea? Send us a text.

👉 Want to Become an Aging Informed Therapist? Join us for our live CE course on 8/21/25 from 12-1:30pm EST. Click here to learn more.

PROFESSIONALS: Grab your free guide to working with older adults here


Attention Social Workers, Therapists, Counselors, Psychologists, Aging Life Care Experts... Click here to get Continuing Education Credits