This course is designed for individuals and professionals who seek additional information and knowledge of foods, nutrients and supplements that can cause or cure four mental health disorders – depression, anxiety, Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).  In addition, you will learn the Motivational Interviewing (MI) skills to effectively aid in helping clients to make nutritional changes. The modules in this course are taken directly from Nickerson Institute’s Certified Integrative Mental Health Coach Training Program.

Most people have no idea of what they are actually eating and the true impact that it is having on their mental and physical health.  It is no secret that the quality of our food is severely lacking. In this course you will uncover some of the hidden truths of your food sources and how it impacts mental health.

The effect of nutrients on the brain and behavior are well-documented through research. Our brains use the majority of the nutrients we take in through diet. The levels of nutrients we require for proper brain function change throughout the lifespan. Infant brains use almost 90% of the child’s daily food intake partly because the child is growing and the brain is building and pruning synaptic connections. This drops to between 30-45% between ages 6 and 12. By adulthood, with our synaptic connectivity stabilized, the brain’s energy demands drop to 20-25%.

Specific nutrients have been identified as necessary to ensure healthy body and brain functions. Without proper nutrition, the brain is unable to control mood, cognitive abilities and movement. We will be discovering the key nutrients that can prevent or alleviate 4 mental health disorders – Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, and AD.

In addition, you will learn key listening and communication strategies, along with effective motivational interviewing skills to help engage and encourage clients to make necessary nutritional changes to optimize their mental health.