Here’s what you’ll learn during your 3 days at the Hilton Garden Inn - Denver Union Station Hotel:

The Complex Relationship between Mental and Physical Health

Physiological Factors of Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar and ADHD

Transcending mind-body separation: Understanding the complex relationships
The factors that cause “chemical imbalance”
Beyond pharmaceutical management
Balancing circadian rhythm
Applying breathing exercises for mental health
Enhance sleep and address insomnia

How Foods Affect Moods

Carbohydrates – A new way to think about cravings
Effects protein may have on depression and anxiety
Fats for mental health (depression, ADHD, bipolar)
The connection between food, depression, diabetes and obesity
Physiological causes of fatigue, depression and anxiety
Vitamins: B-Vitamins, 5-MTHF, Vitamin D
Minerals: Magnesium, calcium

Nutrition, Diet and Culinary Medicine

Food as “brain-mind-medicine”
Fats: Essential fatty acids, toxic fats, fish oil
Protein: the building blocks of happiness
Nutrients to improve mental health and cognitive function
Vitamins, minerals, glandulars, and special nutrients for the non-nutritionist
Regulate hormonal imbalance
Balance blood sugar to balance mood
Cultural and genetic variations
Enhance digestion for mental health
Thyroid function and mental health

The Truth About Popular Supplements and Herbal Medicine

Seven major herbs for PTSD, anxiety, depression, sleep and cognitive health
Endocannabinoid deficit theory
Cannabis and psychedelic medicine
THC versus CBD
Evidence for medical cannabis for mental health
PTSD and chronic pain
Adaptogens: Ginseng, licorice, ashwagandha
Melatonin
Interactions with pharmaceuticals

Assessments and Evidence-Based Research

Recognizing When “Mental Illness” is Something Else

Hormonal imbalance
Anxiety vs. hypoglycemia
Inflammation
Digestion
Depressed, fatigued or malnourished
Side effects of medications

Symptoms of Nutritional Deficiencies and Co-Morbid Conditions

Strategies to reduce inflammation
The major factor in depression, anxiety, bipolar and ADHD
Anxiety and digestion
The Second Brain: Microbiome, probiotics and GABA, and anxiety
Sleep, adrenal health, and rhythms
Alcohol abuse
Genetics, depression and brain
PTSD and autoimmune, addictions and cognition
ADHD, ASD and food sensitivities
Integrative approach recovery from addictions

Simple Screening Tools to Identify Nutritional Deficiencies Contributing to:

Anxiety and PTSD
Depression
ADHD
Fatigue
Anger
Bipolar disorder
Lack of mental clarity
Other mental health concerns

Assessments Using Integrative Approaches

Conduct a basic nutritional food/mood assessment
Conduct an adrenal stress and biological rhythm assessment
The Cultural Formulation Interview
Basic lab tests for optimal mental health

Clinical Applications – Non-Pharmaceutical Treatment Strategies

Comprehensive Non-Pharmaceutical Treatment Plans and Protocols for:

Depression & Seasonal Affect Disorder
Anxiety, PTSD and complex trauma
Bipolar
ADHD
Body dysmorphia
OCD
Bulimia
Insomnia
Addictions
Obesity
Psychosomatic symptoms
Pre-menstrual syndrome and menopausal symptoms

Practical Tools to Accelerate Treatment Results, Improve Energy, and Gain Mental Clarity

Food: The Good, the Bad and the Fake
Sleep: The 4 habits critical to refreshing sleep
Exercise: Elevate serotonin and regulate stress hormones
Stress: A holistic approach
Feed your brain

Unique Issues Across the Lifespan

Children: Supporting sleep, focus, mood and attention
Alternatives to psychotropics for ADHD
Preventing cognitive decline
Nutrition and integrative methods to support people with dementia and their caregivers

Build an Integrative Health Team

When and where to refer clients
How to find the right provider
Questions to ask before referring
Develop a niche practice as a certified specialist
Professional organizations and more training
Controversies and hot topics

Apply Techniques Within Your Scope of Practice

Ethics, law and competency
Nutritional therapies
Culinary medicine
Behavioral medicine
Nutritional supplementation
Herbal medicine
Integrative detoxification for addiction

Objectives

Evaluate mood and behavior in clients using micro-and macronutrients.
Justify how macronutrients and micronutrients affect mood and behavior in clients.
Determine how gluten and casein sensitivity may influence the presentation of depression, psychosis and ASD in clients.
Apply integrated and nutritional medicine safely and ethically within your professional discipline’s scope of practice.
Correlate assessments to differentiate between a clinical presentation of mental illnesses vs. nutritional and/or hormonal imbalances.
Construct treatment plans through six unique nutritional methods for clients with mood lability.
Determine key nutrients that support the function of both the brain and the gut, the “second brain”.
Implement evidence-based protocols for nutritional approaches for six DSM-5 categories
Evaluate how client eating patterns may influence their mental health by using a food-mood assessment tool
Develop a Cultural Formulation tool using the DSM-5 to inform your treatment planning process
Apply at least one stage-specific nutritional methods to assist clients in all stages of life.
Distinguish practical tools to assist clients in understanding comprehensive non-pharmaceutical treatment strategies and protocols and how they can use those to help manage their mental health.
Evaluate nutrition-based alternatives to psychotropics for ADHD.
Utilize at least one strategy to enhance digestion to decrease anxiety.
Inspect the presented research on how essential fatty acids can help clients diagnosed with mood disorders alleviate symptoms (as is within your scope of practice)
Design a plan to increase serotonin through nutrition and exercise.
Evaluate the impact of blood sugar and genetic variation on mental health disorders.
Analyze the efficacy of comprehensive elimination diets in order to alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety and fatigue.
Create an integrative health team to improve clinical outcomes.