Advanced Clinical Focus: Mental Health and Neurology

Registration opens
January 16th, 2024

In this course, we will examine how to identify a person’s neurological imbalances, and how to restore the health of the nervous system.

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One of the most neglected areas when it comes to health, is the vitality of the brain and nervous system. But when we lose the faculties of the mind, we lose the faculties of life.

The brain weighs 2% of the bodies weight, but takes up 20% of the bodies resources. If the nervous system doesn’t get what it needs, the whole body suffers.

For over 60 years, the monoamine theory of mental illness has ruled in the medical community. We now know that mental health goes way beyond specific neurotransmitters (i.e. serotonin, dopamine, melatonin, norepinephrine), and involves an evaluation of many systems. This is the key to restoring and maintaining mental health.

Areas Of Focus

Mental health and neurological conditions can have multifaceted causes and manifestations, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact underlying factors affecting each individual. Each person may present unique symptoms, making it challenging to develop tailored treatment plans.


In addition, your clients may have coexisting conditions leading to overlapping symptoms and complex interactions. Finding the root cause and creating an effective protocol requires comprehensive assessment and tailored treatment approaches.


In this course, we will examine how to identify a person’s neurological imbalances, and how to restore the health of the nervous system for conditions such as:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Sleep disorders
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Thyroid disorders
  • Leaky gut syndrome
  • Attention deficit (and hyperactivity) disorder (ADD/ADHD)
  • Concussions
  • Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Comprehensive exploration of the nervous system to develop a deep understanding of its structure and function.
  • Advanced techniques for identifying and recognizing neurological imbalances through pattern recognition, enabling tailored protocol development.
  • In-depth examination of the upstream factors impacting neurological health, unraveling the complex web of influences that contribute to mental health and neurological well-being.
  • Proven strategies and methodologies to restore balance to the nervous system.
  • Integration of targeted diets, specialized foods, nutraceuticals, and transformative mind-body therapies to optimize mental and neurological health outcomes.
  • Empowerment in maintaining lifelong mental and neurological well-being through evidence-based practices and proactive self-care measures.

introducing

The Mental Health and Neurology Course

Class 1:
Foundations of Mental Health and Neurology
  • Exploring the 2 pillars of mental health: a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted factors contributing to neurological well-being.
  • Anatomy and physiology of the nervous system: a deep dive into the intricate structure and function of the nervous system.
  • Investigating the upstream factors that underlie and influence mental health and neurological conditions.
  • Nurturing neuronal health: discovering the essential requirements for optimal neuron function and overall neurological well-being.
Class 2:
Brain Food and Neurotransmitter Metabolism
  • Exploring brain food and the study of eating for neuron health and cognitive function.
  • In-depth study of key neurotransmitters and understanding the intricacies of neurotransmitter metabolism.
Class 3:
Addressing Depression and Neuroinflammation
  • The Inflammatory Connection to Depression: Exploring the link between inflammation and depressive disorders.
  • Understanding the role of neuroinflammation and the blood-brain barrier in mental health.
  • The influence of blood sugar regulation on emotional and cognitive states.
  • Exploring targeted therapeutic approaches including diets, foods, lifestyle modifications, and nutraceuticals to support individuals with depression.
Class 4:
Managing Anxiety, Neurodegenerative Disorders, and More
  • In-depth exploration of the neurological aspects and potential interventions for anxiety, anorexia nervosa, insomnia, and attention-deficit disorders.
  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of the neurological characteristics and impact of autism spectrum disorders.
  • Examine the role and influence of gluten on the nervous system and its implications for mental well-being.
  • Neurodegenerative Disorders: Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease: Exploring the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
  • Effectively crafting therapeutic strategies such as diets, foods, lifestyle, and nutraceuticals to implement targeted protocols to support individuals with various mental and neurological conditions.

Course Outline

(subject to change)




“Josh is by far one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. His knowledge and desire to truly teach his students is second to none. He has an amazing way of breaking down complex information so that it is palatable to everyone. Josh is helpful, patient and pretty funny too. I’ll definitely be taking more classes with him in the future.”

Barbara Baumann

Nutritionist

“I have had the pleasure of being a student of Josh’s. He is a dedicated and extremely knowledgable teacher. He is very good at breaking down difficult concepts and presenting them through pictures and diagrams in a way that is easy to understand and remember. He has a wonderful calming energy that really helps to instill confidence in his students and a great sense of humour that makes the learning process fun.”

Cindy MacMillan

Certified Nutritional Practitioner

Key

Course Takeaways


Nervous System Mastery

Develop an in-depth understanding of the nervous system, unraveling its complexities and functions that form the foundation of mental and neurological health.


Pattern Recognition for Neurological Imbalances

Hone your skills in identifying subtle and complex neurological imbalances through pattern recognition. You'll gain the expertise to discern intricate signs that often go unnoticed.


Upstream Effects

Dive into the intricate web of factors influencing neurological health. Understand how upstream elements such as lifestyle, environment, and stress impact the nervous system, allowing for more precise interventions.


Restoration of Neurological Balance

Equip yourself with proven techniques and strategies to restore balance to the nervous system. You'll discover therapeutic approaches that address the root causes of neurological issues.


Targeted Interventions

Explore a holistic array of targeted interventions, including specialized diets, specific foods, precision nutraceuticals, and mind-body therapies tailored to support neurological health.


Lifelong Mental and Neurological Health

Learn how to guide your clients not just towards short-term relief but also towards lasting mental and neurological health. Equip them with tools and strategies that promote well-being throughout their lives.

This program is for you if you are a…

  • Nutritionist or health coach
  • Culinary Nutrition Expert
  • Dietitian
  • Naturopathic doctor
  • Medical doctor
  • Nurse or nurse practitioner
  • Chiropractor or physiotherapist
  • Personal trainer or fitness specialist
  • Wanting to learn more about nutritional therapeutics

No matter what your background, you will walk away with a solid understanding of how to identify and address neurological imbalances, and be able to implement targeted therapies for yourself, your family, clients and/or patients.

Now an approved CEC provider for:

the Canadian Association for Integrative Nutrition (CAIN)

the

Health

Coach Alliance (HCA)

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF NATURAL NUTRITIONAL PRACTITIONERS (CANNP)

International Organization of Nutritional Consultants

Registration Includes

Four 1.5-2 hour classes (online recordings)

Four 1 hour live stream Q&A sessions & live mentoring

Transcripts and audio files for all classes

Complete Slides

Course Handouts

Certificate of Completion

PLUS 

Diverse learning to suit your style

Weekly Live Group Mentoring Sessions

Whether you attend the sessions live or catch up on the replay, these interactive mentoring calls offer you a unique opportunity to receive personalized guidance, expert mentoring, and unwavering support throughout your learning journey.

Full Transcripts of all Pre-Recorded Classes

Transcripts are a valuable resource to enhance the learning experience. With transcripts you can efficiently navigate through the course material, build a comprehensive practitioner resource library, and deepen your understanding of the subject matter.

Full Audio-Files of all Pre-Recorded Classes

By providing audio files in our online program, we offer our students a dynamic learning experience that engages multiple senses, facilitates deeper comprehension, and enables convenient on-the-go access to our content.


Josh Gitalis Ba(H), CNP, IFMCP

Clinical Nutritionist and Functional Medicine Practitioner

Meet Your Instructor

josh gitalis

With over 15 years of experience as a clinical nutritionist and functional medicine practitioner, I have dedicated my career to uncovering the origins of disease and developing transformative healing protocols. I firmly believe that the key to unlocking your potential as a practitioner lies in the combination of hands-on experience coupled with continued education.

As an educator, I am passionate about working with health practitioners and clinicians, equipping them with the knowledge and tools they need to understand the root causes of illness and discover effective upstream solutions for  acieving their health goals. 

My approach to protocol design goes beyond telling my client what to do, I prioritize explaining the "why" behind each recommendation and how it uniquely impacts the body.  This is what fosters a therapeutic relationship and invites my clients to re-claim responsibility for their own health outcomes.  

Through my Functional Nutrition Certification Program and courses, I empower practitioners to delve deeper, bridging the gap between research and clinical practice to achieve exceptional results with their clients.

schedule

2024 Program Dates

“I signed up for this course expecting a basic refresher on supplementation, but the content of this course far exceeded my expectations! I walked away feeling very knowledgeable about a multitude of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients and superfoods, including the mechanism of how and why they work in the body to keep us healthy. Josh’s teaching style works really well for me – organized, well thought out and easy to understand. Josh did a really thorough job in answering every single question that came up, which was greatly appreciated. I would highly recommend this course and I plan on taking many more courses with Josh in the future!”

Sarah Bester

Attend Live or Go at your own pace  

February 8: 1st class available for viewing

February 14 at 12 pm EST: 1st Live Stream

February 15: 2nd class available for viewing

February 21 at 12 pm EST: 2nd Live Stream

February 22: 3rd class available for viewing

February 28 at 12 pm EST: 3rd Live Stream

February 29: 4th class available for viewing

March 6 at 12 pm EST: 4th Live Stream

LOOKING TO GET CERTIFIED?

Explore the full FunCtional Nutrition Certification program 

Frequently Asked Questions

What if can’t attend any of the live sessions, will I still be able to watch them?

Yes, the recordings of the live sessions will be posted 1-2 days after the session to be viewed at your leisure.

Can I send in questions if I am not able to attend the live question and answer session?

Yes, any questions submitted before the session, will be addressed. (Unless there are too many questions to cover).

How long will I have access to the materials?

2 years. If there are any updates to the information in that time, you will have access to that as well.

Can I get a certificate showing my successful completion of the course?

Yes. You must successfully complete a short open-book quiz with a passing mark of 80%. Your certificate will be mailed within 1a few months of receiving the completed quiz.

What is the time commitment for this course?

You can watch and read as much of the material as you like. There is no evaluation of your participation. The purpose of this course is to provide you with the best information on the topic. What you do with it is up to you. You get out as much as you put in.

I have listened to many lectures on detoxification, what makes this course different?

This course is a comprehensive study of neurology and mental health from a functional medicine perspective. Taking a client’s biochemical individuality into account is essential for optimal health. This course arms the clinician with the tools necessary to safely implement protocols that can restore neurological and mental health.

Still have a question? Don’t hesitate to contact us at info@joshgitalis.com

References:

  1. JAMA. 2009;301(23):2462-2471.