Mental Health Through Exercise

How to Incorporate Physical Activity

into Psychotherapeutic Treatment

Christina G. Hibbert

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Vol 4 Issue 5,May 2016

Blas/Bigstock.com

xercise is one of the best things we can do for our

physical wellbeing; this has long been known.
It has only been more recently, however, that
research has demonstrated exercise is just as
much, if not more, beneficial for our mental health. As
therapists and clinicians, we hopefully already know
about this link, but do we fully comprehend the remarkable ways exercise can change our body and mind? Do
we recognize the value of exercise and include it in our
clients treatment plans? Do we take it one step further
and actually teach clients how to start and keep exercising for their mental health?
For most of us, I venture to guess, the answer is No.
Yet exercise is quite literally one of the best things we
can do for our body, mind, and spirit, and the research to
back this up is prolific. While we may understand some
of the benefits of exercise, we likely do not grasp its full
potential. We may even recommend exercise to clients
but forego the extra step to show them how to make

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exercise work for them. As we learn more about the link

between exercise and mental health, and the tools to
start and stick with it long-term, this canand hopefully
willchange.

The Physical Health Benefits of Exercise

If we want to help clients incorporate exercise into
their health and wellness plan, it is important for us to
first understand the immense benefits exercise offers.
When it comes to physical health, exercise has long
been associated with weight loss and control. This is an
important part of exercise, of course, since a healthy
weight leads to a multitude of other health benefits, including the prevention and cure of other diseases (Blair
1995; Pate et al., 1995). But exercise is about so much
more than weight loss, and it is important to help clients
understand this. As we shift our focus from exercising
for weight loss to exercising for mental health, we find
many more reasons to keep exercisingmainly because
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25

we recognize how incredibly good exercise makes us

feel. This also helps us to shift the focus from exercising
to punish our body (because we dont like our body) to
exercising because we love our body, mind, and spirit
allowing us to create a habit of lifelong health and wellness.
In addition to weight loss and management, exercise
is also correlated with the following desirable physical
health gains:
Lower risk of heart attack and stroke, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis, and
high cholesterol: exercise also increases HDL,
or good cholesterolthe kind that is found
in plants, nuts, or fish such as salmon or tuna
which helps rid the body of bad cholesterol and
keeps blood flowing smoothly, making our hearts
stronger (Blair, 1995; Pate et al., 1995).
Lower overall cancer rates, especially colon and
breast cancer: exercising at least four hours per
week has been shown to lower the risk of breast
cancer by 37% (Thune, Brenn, Lund, & Gaard,
1997).
Improved immune system for overall better
health: better immune functioning means less illness, which benefits us physically and mentally
(Northrup, 2006).
Improved quality of sleep and greater energy:
exercise delivers oxygen to the brain, body, and
heart. This increases stamina to help us feel less
fatigued during the day and sleep better at night,
creating even greater energy (Driver & Taylor,
2000; Griffin & Trinder, 1978).
Increased muscle strength and mass, enhanced

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flexibility and movement, and stronger bones:

exercise keeps our bones sturdy and our joints
and muscles strong and limber (Hunter, McCarthy, & Bamman, 2004; Williams et al., 2007; Nelson et al., 2007).
Alleviated symptoms of premenstrual syndrome
(PMS): exercise can reduce cramping, bloating,
and even the mental and emotional symptoms of
PMS in women (Prior, Vigna, Sciarretta, Alojado,
& Schulzer, 1987).
In fact, regular exercise can increase life expectancy by an average of seven years (Belloc & Breslow,
1972). One study in the New England Journal of Medicine
showed that women who were not fit had twice the risk
of death than those who were (Gulati et al., 2005). So,
the bottom line: exercise is critical to a long, healthy life.

The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise

Exercise is also critical to a long and happy life. We can
experience significant gains in all aspects of our mental
health through exercise, including our emotional, intellectual, social, and even spiritual wellbeing.
The potential impact of regular exercise on our mental health is varied and profound. According to the re-

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search, exercise
increases levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in the brain (Biddle & Fox, 1989; Chouloff, 1994, 1997; Meeusen & de Meirleir, 1995);
increases endorphins, which are associated with
improved mood and energy (Durden-Smith,
1978; Riggs, 1981);
enhances mood: going for a walk when were feeling fatigued and irritable, or lifting weights when
feeling anxious, can reduce tension and increase
energy to help us feel happier (Thayer, 2001);
reduces and helps us manage stress, and leads to
deeper relaxation: exercise helps us calm down,
rest, and relax more effectively, increasing our
ability to withstand daily hassles and enabling us
to manage stress more effectively (Mayo Clinic,
2012);
lowers rates and symptoms of depression: regular exercise has antidepressant effects that are as
effective as psychotropic medications or psychotherapy for mild to moderate depression, making
it a worthwhile adjunct, or alternative, to traditional depression treatments; exercise can even

isfaction (Lannem, Srensen, Frslie, & Hjeltnes,

2009; Valliant & Asu, 1985);
improves quality of sexual intimacy: a healthy sex
life is associated with better physical and mental
health (Mayo Clinic, 2014), and exercise is associated with a healthier sex life;
improves social health and relationships: group or
partner exercise increases social activity and connection while decreasing feelings of loneliness
and isolation (Kulas 2015); exercising together as
a couple or a family can improve and strengthen
family relationships (Ransdell et al., 2003);
improves self-esteem and body image: exercise
makes us feel good about ourselvesnot just
about how we look but, even more so, about who
we really are (Leith 2009); and
increases spiritual connection: walking, running,
yoga, tai chi, and many other types of exercise are
linked with increased spiritual awareness, energy,
and connection (Musick, Traphagan, Koeing, &
Larsen, 2000); in fact, many people incorporate
exercise into their spiritual practice (including
me).

Maridav/Bigstock.com

Overall, exercise is one of the best ways to improve

mood and increase happiness and life satisfaction.
It doesnt just make you healthier
it is key to living the life you desire.
prevent major depression (Blumenthal et al.,
Leith, 2009; 2007; Smith et al., 2010);
reduces anxiety and worries: studies show exercise reduces, treats, and may even prevent anxiety and panic attacks (Otto & Smits, 2011; Smits
et al., 2008; Thayer, 2001);
improves mental clarity, efficiency, and cognitive
functioning: we think more clearly when we exercise; this leads to increased learning, judgment,
insight, and memory; some studies have even
shown that exercise is correlated with higher IQ
scores (Gutin, 1966; Young, 1979);
enhances intuition, creativity, assertiveness,
and enthusiasm for life: exercise increases alpha
waves associated with stronger intuition, which
can lead to greater creativity (Northrup, 2006);
exercise also builds confidence and happiness,
which in turn improves assertiveness and life satwww.neuropsychotherapist.com

Overall, exercise is one of the best ways to improve

mood and increase happiness and life satisfaction. It
doesnt just make you healthierit is key to living the
life you desire. And, as we will see next, the benefits of
exercise can reach even deeper: exercise can literally
prevent, treat, and cure mental illness.

Exercise to Prevent and Treat Mental Illness

In addition to the many benefits mentioned above,
exercise has also been proven to prevent and treat many
mental illnesses, including the following.
Major depression. Research shows that exercise is
equivalent or superior to antidepressants in the treatment of both clinical (Blumenthal et al., 2007) and nonclinical depression. Exercise has also been shown to
work as well as psychotherapy in treating mild to moderate depression. Regular exercise has been shown to
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cut depression prevalence in halffrom 1 in 6 adults to 1

in 12 (Goodwin, 2003).

Posttraumatic stress disorder. Research has shown

that those suffering from PTSD tend to be more sedentary and experience greater physical health concerns.
Generalized anxiety disorder. Exercise has been Exercise has been proven to decrease sedentary behavshown to decrease overall anxiety levels by reducing ior, improve body composition, improve quality of sleep,
muscle tension, lowering blood pressure and heart rate, and treat the spectrum of symptoms, including depresand producing a tranquilizing effect through increasing sion, that accompany PTSD (Rosenbaum et al., 2011).
alpha waves in the brain (Leith, 2009).
Social anxiety disorder. For those struggling with soPanic disorder. A comprehensive review of the re- cial anxiety disorder, aerobic exercise has been shown
search on anxiety disorders and exercise found that to reduce clinical anxiety symptoms while simultanemost studies focused on panic disorder. They found that, ously increasing a sense of wellbeing. These benefits do
though some patients with panic disorder phobically not only appear during the intervention phase but last
avoid exercise, many do not, and that acute and long- up to three months later (Jazaieri, Goldin, Werner, Ziv,
term exercise is not only safe for those suffering from & Gross, 2012).
panic disorder, but it also significantly reduces anxiety
symptoms (OConnor, Raglin, & Martinsen, 2000).
Bipolar disorders. Considering the pervasive, intense nature of bipolar disorder and its treatment, one
Obsessivecompulsive disorder. In a study of those would think exercise would be more commonly recdiagnosed with OCD, participants reported less nega- ommended. Research shows that structured exercise
tive mood and anxiety symptoms following exercise; can improve emotional, thought-related, and physical
and, over time, those who stuck with their exercise rou- symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder. It can help
tine reported less frequent episodes of obsessions and calm the mind during manic or hypomanic phases, imcompulsions (Abrantes et al., 2009).
proving thought clarity, judgment, and insight. Also,
the mood-enhancing and anti-inflammatory effects of

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Vol 4 Issue 5,May 2016

exercise seem particularly helpful in alleviating depres- can improve eating disorders. The positive effects exsive symptoms in those suffering from bipolar disorder ercise can have on self-esteem and depression can also
(Alsuwaidan, Kucyi, Law, & McIntyre, 2009).
reduce the risk of (and help treat) eating disorders (Cook
et al., 2011).
Schizophrenia. Research shows exercise improves
mental clarity and helps those suffering from schizoPersonality disorders. For those who learn to manphrenia feel less overwhelmed by their symptoms. Ex- age and stick with an exercise routine, exercise is asercise can alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms in sociated with improved insight, judgment, and mental
those with schizophrenia and also works to calm symp- clarity, all of which alleviate the more intense symptoms
toms like auditory hallucinations (Faulkner & Biddle, of personality disorders. Exercise can also treat under1999; Gorczynski & Faulkner, 2010). Exercise has also lying conditions such as anxiety or depression that can
been shown to improve physical health and wellbeing in worsen personality disorders. Finally, exercise has the
schizophrenic individuals (Bernard & Ninot, 2012).
potential to positively impact and even improve personality traitsfor example, sociability, internal motiDrug, alcohol, and process addictions. Exercise is a vation, assertiveness, neuroticism, placidity, emotional
valuable addition to addiction treatment programs for stability, and self-confidence (University of Minnesota
many reasons (Faulkner & Biddle, 1999). First, it has Duluth, n.d.).

For those who learn to manage and stick with an

exercise routine, exercise is associated with improved
insight, judgment, and mental clarity,
all of which alleviate the more intense symptoms of
personality disorders.

luckybusiness/Bigstock.com

been shown to improve sleep and mental clarity, which

leads to better decision-making. Second, as we know,
exercise can reduce depression and anxiety, which are
common underlying factors that lead people to selfmedicate with substances/processes. Third, the moodenhancing effects of exercise may also mimic the effects
of addictive substances in a healthy way, leading to a
decreased need for the substance/process and a lower
risk of relapse (Alcoholrehab.com, n.d; Taylor, Sallis, &
Needle, 1985)1.
Eating disorders. Although exercise has been mostly
ignored as a treatment for eating disorders in the past
(due to its relationship with the disease itself), recent research shows that, while exercise can lead to improvements in physical appearance and body image, it is not
the physical benefits of exercise that make the difference with eating disordered individuals, rather it is the
mental health benefits (Cook, Hausenblas, Tuccitto, &
Giacobbi, 2011). Exercise improves relaxation, lowers
tension and worry, and improves moodall of which
1
Note that exercise addictionor over-exercising
to feel good about oneself or as a self-punishing mechanismis a serious issue that requires intervention and
should be treated similar to other addictions.
www.neuropsychotherapist.com

Cognitive decline, Alzheimers, and dementia. Exercise earlier in life has been shown to prevent cognitive
decline later in life, improving mental clarity and functioning and keeping the body and mind healthier and
more vibrant (Larson et al., 2006). Aerobic exercise has
also been shown to increase oxygen flow to the brain
and thereby decrease brain cell loss in the elderly. Additional benefits may be gained from engaging in physical
activities that also involve focus, planning, or thinking
(Alzheimers Association, 2016).
Grief. Endorphins help with the depression and sadness of grief: getting outside in the sunlight and seeing
people remind us of the good in the world around us.
Exercise also increases self-confidence, to help us feel
more in control of life again (Moving Through Grief,
2012).
The list is seemingly endless: exercise is powerful in
the prevention and treatment of a multitude of mental
illnesses. This is great news for those who do not seem
to respond to traditional treatments; it is also great news
for those who do respond since exercise complements,
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and in many cases improves, the efficacy of these treatments (Leith, 2009), making exercise an outstanding alternative or addition to traditional treatment methods
in either case.
Exercise also overcomes many of the barriers to traditional mental health treatments, for example:
the stigma of traditional treatments: exercise has
no negative stigma;
the side effects of medications: exercise has only
positive side effects when done correctly, under a
doctors care; and
the cost involved in mental illness treatment:
other than perhaps a pair of good shoes, exercise
can be completely free.

The Neuroscience: How Exercise Works to

Improve Mental Health
There are several different theories on how exercise improves mental health, and no single hypothesis
seems to explain it all. Understanding a few of the main
ideas of how exercise works, however, can help us better understand how exercise may work to improve our
mental health too.
The endorphin hypothesis. Endorphins or the feel
good chemicals released in the brain when we exer-

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cise actually mimic the chemical structure of morphine

and have the ability to ease pain, regulate emotion, and
produce a sense of euphoria often referred to as the
runners high. It is believed that this sense of euphoria
is responsible for improving mental health by reducing
depression, anxiety, and other negative mood states.
This is perhaps the most popular theory, though the
research behind it is not particularly compelling (Leith,
2009).
The monoamine hypothesis. This theory posits that
exercise improves mental health through changes in
monoamines (e.g., serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine) in the brain. When these neurotransmitters become too low, emotional symptoms and mental distress
or illness ensues. Many studies have produced evidence
to support the idea that exercise increases levels of
neurotransmitters in the brain, making this hypothesis
compelling (Leith, 2009; Meeusen & de Meirleir, 1995).
Not only has research shown the positive effects of
exercise on monoamines, but exercise has been called
brain food for its positive effects on other brain mechanisms. For example, research has shown that exercise
is associated with an increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the primary protein involved in
neurogenesis, which is implicated in the pathophysiology of psychiatric illnesses (Cotman & Berchtold, 2002).
Neurotrophins such as BDNF support brain plasticity,

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and clinical studies have demonstrated that exercise

increases neurotrophin levelsimproving cognition
and executive processing, and even enhancing phonemic skills in school children who struggle with reading
(Ploughman, 2008). These benefits appear to be most
effective at moderate levels of intensity, since high-intensity exercise can increase stress hormones that may
interfere with the positive side effects of exercise. These
findings are intriguing and point to the benefits of exercise on brain plasticity and enhanced development,
especially for children, whose brains are in the formative years, and for people with disabilities (Ploughman,
2008). In fact, a combination of exercise and antidepressant treatment has been shown to converge at the cellular level (Russo-Neustadt, Beard, Huang, & Cotman,
2000), having a synergistic-type effect that accounts for
the greater cognitive functioning associated with exercise (Szuhany, Bugatti, & Otto, 2015).
The anti-inflammatory theory. Anti-inflammatories
are associated with greater heart health, lower depression, and improved agingand exercise is a natural anti-inflammatory. Simply engaging in active leisure time
activities has been shown to have anti-inflammatory
effects. Those who exercise regularly were reported in
one study to have lower inflammation markers even 10

years later (Hamer et al., 2012).

Other theories on how exercise improves mental
health include: the self-efficacy theorywhen we believe we can achieve something and do it, we feel better
about ourselves, and this improves our mental health;
the thermogenic hypothesiswhen we increase our
body temperature through exercise, it results in the
deeper slow wave sleep that makes us feel relaxed and
renewed; and the distraction hypothesiswhen we are
distracted from stress, or get time out through exercise, we feel mentally refreshed and improved (Leith,
2009).
Whatever the reasons, the evidence is solidexercise works. But it is up to us to take advantage of it.

Six Ways to Incorporate Exercise Into

Psychotherapeutic Treatment
With research like this in your back pocket, it should
be easy to make a case for exercise as part of a clients
treatment plan. However, we all know it is one thing to
recommend exercise and a whole other thing for clients
to actually do it. How can we help clients create an exercise program they can, and will, stick with? The follow-

EpicStockMedia/Bigstock.com

As we shift our expectations of what exercise is, we find we can exercise

by gardening, doing housework, playing with our kids, or dancing, and a
host of other ways. Exercise can be redefined and reimagined.

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ing six suggestions, taken from 8 Keys to Mental Health

Through Exercise (Hibbert, 2016), can get you started.2
1. Teach the principles of motivation. There are a multitude of theories on motivation, but one of the most
helpful I have found for exercise is expectancy theory.
The expectancy theory of motivation is based on the
idea that people choose to act in a certain way because
of what they expect the result of their behavior to be. It
proposes that our motivation to behave is determined
by the desirability of the outcome that we expect that
behavior to produce (Oliver, 1974). We can help clients
identify and evaluate their expectations about exercise
in order to help them increase motivation. What do they
expect exercise to be like? What do they expect the rewards to be? How about the negatives? Identifying expectations allows us to then challenge them, finding the
difference between what we expect and the reality of
the situation. This, in turn, allows us to alter either our
expectations or the realityin other words, make exercise motivation more do-able.
One expectation we should all challenge is that exercise just means running, or doing a fitness class, or
lifting weights for an hour. Rather, exercise for mental
health is about being activeabout moving. As we shift
2 Before beginning an exercise program, its important to get a healthcare providers clearance and guidance.

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our expectations of what exercise is, we find we can exercise by gardening, doing housework, playing with our
kids, or dancing, and a host of other ways. Exercise can
be redefined and reimagined. As long as it gets us moving, exercise can be fun, which can boost our motivation
and help us persist.
It is also helpful for clients to understand their intrinsic and extrinsic motivators for exercise. Extrinsic motivatorsor doing something for an external reward,
such as being able to eat more, gaining the approval
of friends or a loved one, or exercising in a class to earn
high marksare helpful for getting us started. However,
intrinsic motivatorsexercising because it makes us feel
healthy and strong or because we want to live a long life
and model mental health and wellness for our children
is linked with longer term dedication. Studies show we
are most likely to start and keep exercising when we are
motivated by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and we
can aid clients in uncovering and building these motivators to increase adherence to overall exercise for mental
health (Ryan & Deci, 2000).
2. Help clients identify unhealthy beliefs about exercise
and change them. This includes family beliefs as well as
personal beliefs. Some of us may have been raised in a
family that believed exercise was pointless or, on the flip

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side, in a family where we were forced to exercise intensely. These experiences shape how we view exercise
and activity today, and it is important to identify, challenge, and alter those thoughts and beliefs that stand in
our way.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a great tool for
teaching clients to hear, challenge, and alter unhealthy
and untruthful thoughts. First, help them listen for and
then write down automatic thoughts. Hearing and writing down thoughts, such as: I cant do this . . . Its too
hard or I feel panicky every time I exercise can help
identify what is really going on. Perhaps they need a dif-

through all areas of life.

4. Identify and make a plan to overcome roadblocks to
exercise. It helps to be mentally strong if we want to become physically strong. That is why I have focused on
building motivation, learning how to tackle unhelpful
thoughts, and setting goals before actually discussing
starting exercise. This is an important point, and one
that most of us often miss: being mentally prepared to
exercise is just as important as doing the physical work
of exercise. In fact, without mental awareness, skill
building, and fortitude, our chances of exercise success
are slim.

monkeybusinessimages/Bigstock.com

We need to work with clients to detect potential

roadblocks ahead of time, and as they arise suggest
options to overcome their personal roadblocks and
help them establish a plan.
ferent form of activity, or maybe a less intense version
of what they are doing, to learn how to make exercise
fun or to start with small steps so it does not feel impossible. Help clients find the more truthful, helpful alternative to the unhealthy thoughts, and then implement
these new beliefs and thoughts into daily practice. More
helpful, truthful thoughts, such as: I dont feel like exercising, but I know how great Ill feel when Im done or I
can just walk to the mailbox and back, and thats good
enough for today can help tremendously.
3. Teach SMART goal-setting skills. Once clients have
identified blocks to motivation and thinking, it is time
to set goals. Most people are never taught how to set
realistic, attainable goals, howeverwhich is where we,
as psychotherapists, come in. We can teach clients goalsetting strategies and skills, and this can make a world
of difference in their ability to implement an exercise
program. The commonly known mnemonic SMART
stands for: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, ResultsFocused, and Time-Bound. SMART goal setting allows
us to focus on what we really want from the goals we
set, make sure they are realistic, and build in monitoring
tools to keep us on track. This has the added benefit of
enabling us to recognize when a goal is not working, so
we can reevaluate and set new, more achievable, goals.
Use SMART goal setting to help clients establish goals
for exercise and mental health; then, help them monitor their progress, tweaking one or more components
of the goal as needed. As you teach goal-setting strategies, you will be giving clients skills that will benefit
them not only through exercise, and mental health, but
www.neuropsychotherapist.com

One of the most important ways we can do this is to

look for the obstacles that will come our way as we begin
exercising, and make a plan to overcome them. Some of
the most common roadblocks when it comes to exercise
include: I dont have time to exercise, Im too busy, I
dont feel motivated, or Im too tired. Others may be
a fear of failing at exercise, or feeling embarrassed to go
to the gym, or even something as simple as bad weather. Whatever the reason we give ourselves for not exercising, the truth is, it is really an excuseand we can
overcome the excuses with a little ingenuity and work.
We need to work with clients to detect potential
roadblocks ahead of time, and as they arise suggest options to overcome their personal roadblocks and help
them establish a plan. This may include teaching them
to: schedule exercise, seek to exercise earlier in the day
so there are less reasons to not exercise, find an exercise buddy or accountability partner, and remember the
healthy beliefs they have discovered and how they feel
when they are done. The goal is to help clients be prepared for the roadblocks (because they will come) and
to provide them with the solutions and plans they need
to overcome them.
5. Use the FITT principle to create an exercise program.
FITT stands for: Frequency (How often will I exercise?); Intensity (How hard?); Type (What will I do?);
and Time (How long?). Helping clients understand this
principle allows them to create an exercise program that
will work for their unique situation and needs. In general, it is recommended to exercise three to five days a
week, at a moderate intensity (though low or high can
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be fine, too, depending on ones health and personal

goals). Twenty minutes or more is the generally recommended time for exercise, but research shows even two
10-minute segments of exercise yield similar results.
There are three general types of exercise: cardiovascular activity (any activity that gets your heart rate up for
a sustained period of time); muscle conditioning (activities that build muscle mass); and flexibility (stretching,
yoga, Pilates). The best exercise programs incorporate
all three, but the most important point is to find what
works for you and do that. We must not compare how
often we exercise, or how long, how hard, or what we
do, with others. When it comes to establishing an exercise program, it is an individual process.
6. Help clients create a long-term vision of health and
wellness. It is one thing to think, I will stay dedicated to
exercise, long-term or I can do anything . . . my future
has great potential and quite another to actually see,
strive for, and eventually realize that potential. Creating
an exercise for mental health vision is the place to start.
We can help clients visualize what they really want in
their future. Does this vision include physical and mental
health, strong relationships, and happiness? If so, then
exercise is key. Once clients have seen the vision they
desire, help them write it down, and then get to work

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taking one action today to lead toward that vision. Once

they have got that first action down, help them choose
another, and so on. Living with vision, seeing what we
desire and then moving toward it, step by step, enables
us to utilize the resources we currently have and build
upon them to eventually realize the vision we once only
dreamed of. Exercise can help us get there, and vision
can help us exercisefor life.
Portions of this article were excerpted from 8 Keys
to Mental Health Through Exercise (Hibbert, 2016). Other strategies and additional research can be found at
http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/

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Dr. Christina Hibbert is the bestselling author of 8 Keys to Mental Health

Through Exercise, Who Am I Without You?, and the Independent Publishers
Book Award-winning memoir This Is How We Grow. Dr. Hibbert is a clinical
psychologist specializing in womens mental health, grief and loss, motherhood, parenting, perinatal mental health, self-esteem, and personal growth,
and is the host of the weekly radio show Motherhood on WebTalkRadio.net or
iTunes.
Dr. Hibbert is a frequent keynote speaker, 30Second Mom contributor,
founder of the Arizona Postpartum Wellness Coalition, and producer of the
internationally-sold DVD Postpartum Couples, now available free online.
Mostly, though, Christi is a wife and full-time mother of six children, ages
19 to 8. When shes not trying to keep up with her family, Christi enjoys traveling, songwriting and singing, naps, reading and learning, doing almost anything outside on a beautiful day in a hammock, and dark chocolate.

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The Neuropsychotherapist

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