When You Focus On Physical Wellness Your Mental Health Improves with Keri Cooper

Our mental health drives so many aspects of our lives and can either limit or lighten us. Thankfully, the more we understand it, the better we can tend to it, and the more likely we are to thrive. Holistic therapist Keri Cooper joins the podcast today to share how focusing on the physical foundations of wellness significantly impacts our mental health. This week, episode 207 of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast is about how when you focus on physical wellness, your mental health improves!

Keri Cooper, LCSW, is the owner of Keri Cooper Holistic Therapy in northern New Jersey. In her private practice, she counsels teens and works to give them the tools they need to navigate life. Keri takes a holistic approach to therapy, looking at the whole person, not just their symptoms. Keri is the author of Mental Health Uncensored: 10 Foundations Every Parent Needs To Know, a book designed to give parents steps on how to improve their child’s mental health. Her second book is a workbook for teens, Mental Health Uncensored: 10 Foundations Every Teen Needs To Know. She is a graduate of the University Of Pennsylvania and when Keri isn't busy working with teens, she is busy with her own four children and her flock of chickens. 

In this episode of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast, Keri shares the link between our physical and mental health and gives you actionable steps to take right now to use the 5 physical foundations we cover in this episode to improve your overall wellbeing. 

Keri and I cover the following topics:

• Hydration: Often overlooked, it’s important for detoxification, focus, and whole-body health.
• Sleep: Getting enough sleep is essential for optimal functioning and emotional regulation.
• Nutrition: Nourishing your body and maintaining a healthy gut is necessary to produce the chemicals needed to thrive.
• Movement: Regular exercise that raises your heart rate (even for a short duration) is key to improving your health and getting into a good headspace. 
• Meditation: Mindfulness practices that keep you in the moment help reduce anxiety and depression. 

These foundational practices may seem obvious yet many of us ignore the fundamentals when we need them most. The key to improving your mental health isn’t expensive or complex; it all comes down to the basics. 

CONNECT WITH KERI COOPER:

Website

Instagram

Mental Health Uncensored: 10 Foundations Every Parent Needs to Know

Mental Health Uncensored Teen Workbook: 10 Foundations Every Teen Needs to Know

CONNECT WITH LISA ZAWROTNY:

Facebook

Instagram

Resources

Work with Lisa! 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

(Find links to books/gear on the Positively Productive Favorites Page.)

Check out the blog post for this episode to see all related podcast episodes. 

Dance Song Playlist V3

Chapters

• 0:00 When You Focus On Physical Wellness Your Mental Health Improves with Keri Cooper
• 5:47 The link between mental and physical health.
• 11:23 Setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care is essential to avoid burnout and model healthy habits for the next generation.
• 18:21 Sleep is important for mental health as lack of sleep can lead to overwhelming feelings and poor problem-solving skills.
• 23:31 The significance of gut health in relation to chemical production and mental health.
• 28:02 Focus on whole, nutritious foods that are easy to incorporate into daily meals.
• 32:02 Even small amounts of movement can make a positive difference in overall health and well-being.
• 37:26 Meditation is a practice used to focus on the present moment, letting go of thoughts and anxiety.