Nutrition is big business, and the public is growing increasingly interested in how food affects health. At the same time, mental health has become a huge focus for scientists and the general population alike.  It is no surprise, then, that interest in the impact of food on mental health, or "nutritional psychiatry," which is a new field of study, is also gathering momentum. 

Our brains need nutrients to function. The article in Scientific American “Think Twice:  How the Gut’s “Second Brain” Influences Mood” discusses the emerging and surprising view of how the enteric nervous system in our bellies goes far beyond just processing the food we eat.   

Recently published in the journal European Neuropsychopharmacology, Lead author Prof. Suzanne Dickson, from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, explains the overarching theme of the team's findings: the food we eat directly influences other factors that can impact mood and cognition, such as gut bacteria, hormones, neuropeptides, and neurotransmitters.  "We have found that there is increasing evidence of a link between a poor diet and the worsening of mood disorders, including anxiety and depression.

OBJECTIVES of the Training:

1. Learn how nutrition and food effects health
2. Learn how gut bacteria, hormones, neuropeptides, and neurotransmitters directly influence factors that can impact mood and cognition
3. Identify the evidence linking a poor diet and the worsening of mood disorders, including anxiety and depression

Presenter bio: Louis F. Boynton, II, PhD, LPC, CPCS, NCC has worked as a mentor as a life coach, college advisor, college professor. Currently Dr Boynton has a  private practice in Newnan Georgia that focuses on health and wellbeing. He currently works as a relationship counselor, individual counselor, and group counselor.

Dr. Boynton is trained as a professional chef, mindfulness techniques, crisis management, non-violent conflict resolution, counseling psychology, health psychology, and positive psychology. His research has been presented nationally and internationally on: psychotherapy, disaster mental health, conflict resolution, diagnosis, heath/ethics/psychotherapy, and flourishing. The psychology of flourishing is a new perspective of psychology that focuses on health and wellbeing. Before his and during his counseling training, he worked in New York as a Chef.  When he moved to Georgia he worked as a Chef de Tornade and Banquet chef as well as an individual catering. As a host and producer of the Health, Happiness, and Harmony radio show he has focused on topics related to healthy eating and presented on Food Therapy. His work focuses on psychoeducation related to developing healthy life habits.

Date: Friday, October 22, 2021

Time: 12:00 Noon - 2:30 PM

12:00 Noon registration

Workshop is 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM (includes food, handouts and recipes)

Location: Online and In-Person at the  LPCA Training Room, 6801 Governors Lake Parkway, Peachtree Corners, GA 30071

CE Hours: 2.0 Core

This is an LPCA and NBCC Approved Workshop

Registration Fee:   $49.00 for Non-Members
                               $29 for members

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