Food, Mood, and Mental Health: The Missing Links in Treating Kids and Teens
- Speaker:
- Terri Samuels, LMHC, NCC
- Duration:
- 2 Hours 09 Minutes
- Format:
- Audio and Video
- Copyright:
-
Apr 08, 2025
- Product Code:
- POS150239
- Media Type:
- Digital Seminar
Description
Poor nutrition doesn’t just impact physical health—it disrupts mood, behavior, and brain function, creating a ripple effect that shapes a child’s relationships, school performance, and emotional well-being.
Join Terri Samuels, Nationally Certified Mental Health Counselor, to discover how assessing nutrition deficits and stimulating the Vagas nerve can transform mental health outcomes for children and adolescents.
In this session you’ll learn to:
- Evaluate how certain foods play a role in a child’s microbiome and analyze how it affects their mood
- Understand how hormones in adolescents play a key role in mental health and gut health
- Facilitate conversation with school personnel in creating a healthier lunchroom environment
- Guide parents and caregivers in creating personalized plans for better mental wellbeing in their children
You’ll leave feeling energized to apply these practical strategies and make a lasting impact on your young clients’ mental health!
Credit
Handouts/Brochure
| File type | File name | Number of pages | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASHA Instructions - Self Study (111.9 KB) | Available after Purchase | ||
| Manual - Food, Mood, and Mental Health (2.8 MB) | 23 Pages | Available after Purchase |
Speaker
Terri Samuels, LMHC, NCC Related seminars and products
Terri Samuels, nationally and internationally certified licensed mental health counselor, educator, and speaker specializing in counseling children, adolescents, and adults.
Terri’s career began in Boca Raton, Florida working with all types of clients with an interest in pediatrics, then completing an internship in Swaziland, South Africa with children and adolescents who suffered trauma because of their mental incapabilities. Terri continued to work in South Africa for two years counseling and educating schools on how to successfully impact children’s wellbeing. Terri returned to South Florida and began working in outpatient therapy focusing on severe clientele, teaching AP psychology to high school students until 2019 when she opened her own private practice. Terri is a certified youth mental health specialist and certified integrative mental health professional. Terri focuses on holistic treatment and utilizes several modalities in personalizing treatment to ones needs including individual counseling, behavioral interventions, social skills training, family therapy, parent/caregiver education, and group therapy. Terri has provided consultative services to a variety of school personnel, child and family lawyers, and medical professionals. Terri has presented on research relating to the importance of nutrition in children and adolescence for NAMI.
Terri constantly continues her education to broaden her knowledge and has had training on timely topics such as depression, nutrition, narcissistic abuse, anxiety, bipolar disorder, child-behavioral issues, adolescent struggles, childhood trauma, grief, and relationships. Terri understands that clients find themselves suffering in various ways and is able to provide the necessary comfort, support and encouragement to those in their time of need.
Terri holds an MS in mental health counseling from Nova Southeastern University and a BA in psychology from Florida Atlantic University.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Terri Samuels maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with The Center for Treatment of Anxiety and Mood Disorders. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Terri Samuels has no relevant non-financial relationships.
Additional Info
Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)Access never expires for this product.
For a more detailed outline that includes times or durations of time, if needed, please contact cepesi@pesi.com.
Objectives
- Distinguish how children and adolescents gut affect their brain and vice versa, as well as the consequence of a damaged digestive system.
- Determine how stress plays a role in children and adolescence and learn how to support and guide parents and caregivers throughout treatment.
- Evaluate how certain foods play a role in a child’s microbiome and analyze how it affects their mood.
Outline
Your Gut Knows What’s Up!
Understanding the Second Brain in Kids
- Connection between our “two brains” and how the Vagus Nerve plays a key role
- Digestive tract sends critical signals to our brain influencing emotions & behavior
- Guts control over mood, attention, and self-regulation
- How a damaged Vagus nerve disrupts digestion and impacts well-being
- Stimulate the Vagus nerve to support digestion, regulate emotions, and calm nervous system
- Risks and Limitations
Let’s Talk about Stress, Baby!
How Stress Impacts Kids Brains and Bodies
- Fight/flight/freeze response and its unique impact on kids
- The role of adolescent hormones in both mental health and gut health
- Impact of caffeine on stress levels
- Evidence-based stressbusters for anxiety
- Mindfulness and the power of rest for balance and emotional regulation
Food for Your ‘Tude’!
How Nutrition Shapes Kids Mental Health
- Direct link between diet and mood
Behavioral issues stemming from hunger vs emotional distress
- Foods that help decrease symptoms of anxiety, depression, and ADHD
- Connection between inflammation and psychiatric symptoms
- Impact of the Standard American Diet
- Incorporating nutrition and dietary habits into intake paperwork and therapy sessions
- Navigating social media’s unrealistic food standards—the “Pinterest perfect plate”
Target Audience
- Psychologists
- Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors
- Marriage & Family Therapists
- Social Workers
- Case Managers
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Dieticians
Reviews
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