When I started in private practice working many years ago, I had many successful sessions where the individual received Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).  Through a workbook, the individual began to understand how thought and feelings were connected and could be changed, then BOOM – finished and out the door!  Those were the successful people, but some, would sit frozen on their chair, mute or refusing to implement any form of change.  It was because of these individuals that I began to explore information, research, to develop an understanding of why were some people not able to receive the information and make a change in their lives.

There were many “Rabbit Holes of Information” for those that are unfamiliar with the term, according to Google, is a metaphor for something that transports someone into a wonderfully or troubling surreal state or situation.  The phrase is thanks to the great author, Lewis Carol, regarding the book, “Alice in Wonderland,” who falls down the hole of the White Rabbit and takes her to Wonderland.  Well, my “Rabbit Hole” went on for years, but I think I have come out with a better understanding of how change can be assisted.

The concept of CBT is that there is a connection between the Mind and the Body — and you can change how you feel based on changing how you think.  When I started to tell this to wee participants they are open to it; most nod in total agreement, and cannot wait to begin.  I found that usually what happened with older individuals is that there was a difficulty in being open to the idea.  It is this connection that is ultimately in the key to change.

However, at times, I could not even get individuals open to taking a breath to release some tension.  The belief was so strong that nothing could possibly work.  This opened my idea to introducing some of the concepts with Art and the insight learning that followed; which open the acceptance curve even more for individual success.

Around the same time I began to develop an interest in understanding trauma.  As a retired police officer, I had seen my share of events and witnessed colleagues struggle with PTSD.  It was through the mixture of these two “Rabbit Holes” that “Mind Health” developed its own understanding of the connection between Mind and Body.  It is for this reason that I created a name that was a statement — Mind Health Connect.  The period should be in the name too, but I was not sure how the domain registration would work with it but I am hoping that is is leaving the readers curious.

In developing Mind Health, I fell into a treatment modality that was called Internal Family Systems (IFS) and now my eyes were fully opened once I added my knowledge of Functional Nutrition.  IFS is showing a research success in treating trauma, cancer and other illnesses.

The study of nutrition brought light on what the physical body needs to function efficiently.  It became easier to “look upstream” and develop treatment plans that were more helpful and successful for everyone who came through the door.  This journey has a personal connection of how genetics connect to mental health.  The genetic connection of interest for this practices is Methylene-Tetra-Hydo-Folate-Reductase MTHFR Mutation.

This is an enzyme that converts folate you eat into the active form (5-Methyltetrahydrofolate).  This has everything to do with Body and Mind connection.  It is estimated that over 50% of the world’s population is affected, so why is it not recognized in Canada.