The Mind and Body Clinic

What if we looked beyond the diagnosis?

At MBC, being neurodiversity-affirming means we aren’t trying to “fix” autism or ADHD.

But that doesn’t mean every struggle a neurodivergent person experiences has to be there to stay!

Research has found associations between neurodivergence and differences in absorption of certain vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and nutritional status.

That matters.

Because when the body doesn’t have enough of something it needs, symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, poor sleep, irritability, low energy, or difficulty regulating may become even harder.

So instead of asking:

“How do we get rid of the ADHD or autism?”

We’d rather ask:

“Are there treatable or modifiable factors making an already neurodivergent nervous system work harder than it needs to?”

…and are there ways we can fuel these different and creative minds better?

Depending on someone’s symptoms, diet, medications, medical history, and overall health, we may encourage them to talk with their medical provider about whether additional testing is appropriate.

That conversation might include:

Vitamins
• Vitamin D
• B12
• Folate and other B vitamins

Minerals
• Iron + ferritin
• Zinc
• Copper
• Magnesium
• Other minerals based on individual history and symptoms

Essential fatty acids
• Omega-3 status, including EPA + DHA

Genetics
• MTHFR
• COMT

These aren’t tests that diagnose autism or ADHD.

But research does show associations between neurodivergence and some nutritional differences and deficiencies. When deficiencies or other medical concerns are identified, appropriately addressing them may help reduce symptoms that are exacerbating an already taxed nervous system.

Maybe attention becomes a little easier.

Maybe sleep improves.

Maybe there’s less fatigue or brain fog.

Maybe someone’s threshold for becoming overwhelmed isn’t quite as low.

The goal isn’t to make someone less autistic or erase their ADHD.

The goal is to make sure we aren’t asking a neurodivergent brain to function with one hand tied behind its back.

At MBC, we don’t diagnose or medically treat nutritional deficiencies or genetic variants. That’s where collaboration with knowledgeable medical providers becomes important.

Our role is to notice patterns, ask questions, and look at the whole person—because mental health doesn’t happen separately from physical health.

**The brain is part of the body. **

💚 Why cash-pay? Because we believe your mental health care should be centered around you—not an insurance policy.

Cash-pay allows for personalized, flexible, whole-person care that focuses on your goals and needs. 🌿

Swipe to learn more about why we chose this model for Mind & Body Clinic.

📩 Have questions? We’re happy to help!

Have you noticed feeling a little more tired, irritable, anxious, foggy, or emotionally overwhelmed lately?

This time of year brings several environmental and physical changes at once. Ragweed and dust counts are high, seasonal viruses begin circulating more widely, and hurricane season can contribute to larger weather patterns and noticeable shifts in barometric pressure—even here in Missouri. As we move further into fall and winter, we will also begin getting less sunlight.

These changes may affect us in different ways:

• Allergens can activate immune and mast-cell responses, increasing inflammation and making some people feel more tired, foggy, anxious, or dysregulated.
• Viral infections can cause inflammation that may linger beyond the initial illness and affect energy, concentration, mood, and nervous-system regulation.
• Shifts in barometric pressure may contribute to migraines, headaches, sinus pressure, pain, fatigue, and changes in how the nervous system feels.
• As daylight decreases, less sunlight may begin to influence sleep, energy, mood, and our natural circadian rhythm.

We cannot control the weather, pollen counts, circulating illnesses, or changing daylight—but we can pay attention to what our bodies need.

A few things that may help:

• Get outside for natural light, especially earlier in the day
• Keep a consistent sleep and wake schedule
• Check daily pollen and air-quality levels
• Use a HEPA air purifier and keep windows closed on high-allergen days
• Shower or change clothes after spending time outside
• Stay hydrated and eat regularly
• Track symptoms alongside weather, allergy, and illness patterns
• Build in more rest, movement, or sensory regulation when your body is working harder
• Reach out to a medical or mental-health provider when symptoms feel persistent or difficult to manage

Sometimes understanding the environmental and inflammatory pieces helps us respond to ourselves with more compassion.

You are not imagining the change—and you are not failing because you need additional support during certain seasons. Your mind, body, immune system, nervous system, and environment are all connected.

With back-to-school routines in full swing, many parents and children are struggling. Mornings may feel rushed, emotions may be bigger, sensory needs may be heightened, and getting out the door can feel hard for everyone.

This does not mean you are doing something wrong—or that your child is simply being difficult. Sometimes their nervous system is overwhelmed and needs support before it can meet the demands of the day.

Swipe for four gentle ways to support regulation at home.
If you have tried all the strategies and things still feel hard, you do not have to figure it out alone. Our newest blog takes a deeper look at neurofeedback and children’s therapy, including how each may support your child’s regulation, sensory needs, emotions, and everyday life.

Read the full blog at 417mindandbody.com or through the link in our bio. 🤍

🇺🇸 September 11: The Day the World Changed

For many of us, September 11, 2001, didn’t end when the towers fell.

It changed what came after.

For Third Culture Kids (TCKs), military brats, and military families, the aftermath could mean a childhood suddenly divided into before and after.

For some TCKs, it meant being evacuated from the country they called home.
It meant leaving friends behind without knowing when—or if—you would return.
It meant coming home to a country that somehow felt different.
It meant metal detectors and bomb checks at the entrance of the places that once felt ordinary.
It meant learning, perhaps much earlier than other children, that home can change overnight.

And for military families, September 11 marked the beginning of a new reality.

Deployments became more frequent.
Dads, moms, sons, and daughters left home for missions that carried a very different weight.
Some came home.
Some didn’t.
And some came home physically present, but changed by what they experienced.

For the children left behind, there could be a quiet kind of grief too.

The empty chair.
The missed birthday.
The parent on the other end of a phone call.
The uncertainty.
The fear when the news came on.
The relief when they finally came home.
And sometimes, the realization that home wasn’t quite the same anymore.

These experiences can shape the way TCKs and military kids understand safety, belonging, home, separation, grief, and identity long after childhood has ended.

So today, we remember those who lost their lives on September 11.

But we also remember the families and children whose lives were permanently reshaped by what followed.

If you were a TCK, military brat, or part of a military family during that time, you may carry memories that are difficult to explain to people who weren’t there.

Your story matters.
Your grief matters.
Your resilience matters.
And the child you were deserves compassion for everything they had to carry.

🕊️ We remember September 11—and all the lives changed in its aftermath.

The Mind and Body Clinic
Compassionate care for the mind, body, and spirit.

Such a great opportunity for our Aurora people!

Kala is the best!

HEY HIGH SCHOOLERS… I MADE THIS FOR YOU. 👋
I’m so excited to finally share something new I’ve been working on…

✨ MORE THAN ✨
Real conversations for real life.

Group 1 | WHO AM I?
A 4-week group about identity, worth & the pressure to perform.

Because you are MORE THAN your grades.
MORE THAN your sport.
MORE THAN your accomplishments.
MORE THAN your appearance.
MORE THAN what other people think of you.

Over these four weeks, we’ll talk about:
Who am I beyond what I do?
What do they think of me?
What am I feeling?
What if I mess up?

Real conversations about comparison, belonging, emotions, anxiety, perfectionism, mistakes, and figuring out who you are underneath all the pressure.

You don’t have to have it all figured out.
You just have to show up.

And if you’re a parent reading this and thinking, “My teen could really use a space like this,” I’d love for you to reach out. ❤️

📅 Fridays • October 2–23 • 12:00–1:30 PM
📍 15b West Locust, Aurora
💰 $20 for all 4 weeks or $5 per session
Parental consent required

Contact info:
📞 417-308-8517
📩 [email protected]