Health Her Way | The Mind-Body Connection: How Mental Health Shapes Intimacy

How does your mental well-being shape your physical intimacy? The connection between our minds and bodies goes deeper than you might think.
In this episode, hosts Meredith Cunningham and Brooklyn Elbert welcome back Covenant Children’s Senior Mental Health Counselor, Kara Pepper, for a conversation about how mental health influences physical relationships and intimacy. From anxiety and depression to trauma and self-esteem, Kara shares insights into how emotional wellness can either strengthen or strain our closest connections and offers guidance and tools to foster healthier, more fulfilling intimate relationships.
One of those tools? A simple but powerful communication formula: “I feel, because, so I need.” Kara explains how this approach can help partners express emotions clearly and build a deeper understanding.

Kara Pepper Bio:
Kara Pepper is a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with a BA in Psychology from Texas Tech University (2019) and a Master of Marriage and Family Therapy from Abilene Christian University (2021). Specializing in supporting women and families with babies in the NICU, Kara works to provide essential emotional support and therapy regarding a variety of issues and concerns.
Kara prioritizes balance in her professional life by spending time with her spouse and their goldendoodle, Rudder, as well as through spending time with her church community and attending TTU sporting events. With a blend of professional expertise and heartfelt empathy, Kara is dedicated to fostering healthy relationships and making a positive impact in the lives of her clients.

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