We will examine the research and clinical underpinnings of a science of health and vitality, focusing on people with medical evidence for unexpected recovery from medical illnesses that are traditionally considered incurable. The role of psychology as it relates to a science of health and vitality will be discussed, as well as issues related to the democratization of medicine and psychology. At the end, we will explore the strengths and limitations of a biopsychosocial methodology using biomedical markers.
Change Your Genes, Change Your Life: Creating Optimal Health with the New Science of Epigenetics (1.5 CE hrs)**
Our DNA is not our destiny! In fact, with rare exception, our health is almost completely reliant upon lifestyle choices, including what we eat, how we handle stress, the strength of our relationships, and the toxicity of our environment. Through epigenetics, we now know that it is how our individual genes respond to these factors that creates a unique internal biochemistry that literally turns genes on or
off. Assessing and managing this biochemical environment has opened the door to “personalized medicine” and will become the standard reference for guiding specific lifestyle changes that will optimize our health and longevity.
