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Mental Health + Aging with Dr. Regina KoeppAuthor: Dr. Regina Koepp
Welcome to The Mental Health and Aging Podcastyour 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 agingbut thats only part of the picture. This podcast explores the not-so-physical aspects of aging:How purpose and meaning evolve later in lifeThe emotional and psychological impact of retirement and life transitionsSpiritual growth that often accompanies physical declineMental health challenges like depression, anxiety, grief, loneliness, and traumaAnd 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 beyondWhether 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. Its development.And theres no expiration date on healing, transformation, or growthSubscribe/Follow now and become the clinician older adults deserve. Language: en-us Genres: Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Science, Social Sciences Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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#132 - Stop Projecting: What Midlife Gets Wrong About Older Adulthood
Episode 132
Tuesday, 13 January, 2026
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 straight to older adulthood: 65, 75, 85, 95 and beyond. So my answer didn’t land the way I wanted it to. I left the interview thinking, I wish I’d said that differently. What I wish I’d said in the moment is this: when I talk about aging, I’m usually talking about older adulthood—the stretch of life that can span decades, roughly from 65 to 122. It’s not a single moment or an identity you suddenly “become.” It’s a long, dynamic developmental chapter, with real change, real challenge, and real growth over time. And honestly, at 50, I don’t feel like I’ve lived enough of older adulthood to speak from deep personal experience about what it’s like. What I do know—because for the past 25 years I’ve been a geropsychologist to more than 1,000 older adults and their families—is this: when we’re in midlife and we imagine our older selves, we have to watch for the way fear can sneak in and write the story for us—because that fear can sell our future selves short, and it can miss the resilience, adaptability, and grace that so often grow with age. The biggest thing I see middle-aged people get wrongIn midlife, we often project our fear and dread about aging onto older adulthood. We imagine later life through the lens of what scares us now—physical vulnerability, chronic illness, loss, dependence, mortality.But what we often miss is this: many older adults become remarkably skilled at adapting. They grow in resilience, self-compassion, and wisdom about what matters. That doesn’t erase real challenges, but it does change how we navigate those challenges. Here's an example: AARP did a large aging survey of more than 2000 people and found that fear of death generally decreases with age. In other words, what feels terrifying in midlife may not feel the same once you actually arrive in later life. Key TakeawaysAging happens across the lifespan; older adulthood is its own developmental period.Midlife fears can distort how we imagine later life.Older adults frequently develop stronger adaptation skills over time.Avoid overlooking older adults’ resilience by assuming your dread is their reality. My invitation for you this weekIf you’re in midlife, notice when you’re imagining older adulthood through your current fears. And if you’re a clinician, caregiver, or family member, practice holding this wider frame: Yes, aging can bring physical vulnerability. And it can also bring increased adaptability, clarity, and grace. Timestamps / Chapters00:00 — The NPR question that threw me off01:00 — Two meanings of “aging” (lifespan vs. older adulthood)02:10 — The midlife projection trap02:30 – A research example: fear of death tends to decrease with age03:10 – What we miss: adaptation, resilience, self-compassion04:10 – Why Regina cringes at the midlife “aging journey” question04:45 – This week’s tip: don’t project your stage onto theirs05:05 – Closing and what’s coming nextClick here for all Have a topic idea? Send us a text. 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
