During my work as a play therapist, I have seen a number of children and adolescents present with not only mental health challenges, but physical symptoms as well. The most common of these symptoms is gastrointestinal problems, such as vomiting and stomach pain.
Oftentimes these physical symptoms are seen as separate from the mental health challenges, however research is showing they are very much connected.
In hopes to bridge the gap, Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride created the GAPS protocol, which stands for “The Gut and Psychology Syndrome.” The GAPS protocol is rooted in the principle that “the child’s digestive system holds the key to the child’s mental development.”
Various mental health disorders that she finds to be connected to the gut include Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, dyspraxia, dyslexia, and other developmental and intellectual disabilities.
The GAPS protocol maps out an integrative approach to best support your child through detoxification, nutrition, and psychology.
For more information on the GAPS protocol, you can visit the GAPS website.
Written by: Amberly Hamilton