Instructor: Zendi Moldenhauer, PhD, NPP, PNP, RN-BC, IFMCP
Anxiety, ADHD, irritability, emotional dysregulation, and treatment-resistant psychiatric symptoms don’t always begin in the brain. For many children, the missing piece may be hiding in the gut.
Join Dr. Zendi Moldenhauer as she explores the science of the gut-brain axis and reveals how common gastrointestinal conditions—including constipation, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, dysbiosis, SIBO, mast cell activation, and other gut disorders—can mimic, amplify, or sustain psychiatric symptoms in children and adolescents.
Through clinical cases and practical guidance, you’ll learn how to recognize gastrointestinal red flags, incorporate focused screening into your practice, determine when laboratory evaluation or referral is appropriate, and better identify overlooked biological contributors to complex pediatric mental health presentations.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this webinar participants will be able to:
- Describe the major pathways of communication within the gut-brain axis
- Recognize behavioral and psychiatric presentations that should prompt consideration of gastrointestinal contributors
- Differentiate common functional gastrointestinal disorders from organic gastrointestinal disease
- Identify gastrointestinal conditions that may mimic, amplify, or sustain psychiatric symptoms in children and adolescents
- Conduct a focused gastrointestinal screening assessment within psychiatric practice
- Understand appropriate laboratory evaluation and referral considerations
- Apply evidence-informed conventional and functional medicine approaches to supporting gut-brain health
- Integrate a systems-based perspective into the evaluation of complex pediatric mental health presentations
Join us to discover why so many clinicians are turning to Functional Psychiatry—and how you can begin your journey toward a more precision-focused, whole-person mental healthcare model.
Zendi Moldenhauer, PhD, NPP, PNP, RN-BC, IFMCP
Dr. Zendi Moldenhauer, PhD, NPP, PNP, RN-BC, IFMCP, is the Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Arbor Health Functional Medicine and Psychiatry in Rochester, NY. A nationally recognized leader in pediatric functional psychiatry, Dr. Zendi brings over 25 years of clinical experience and a deep commitment to transforming how we understand and treat complex neuroimmune and mental health conditions.
She holds a PhD in Nursing from the University of Rochester with a specialization in Adolescent Mental Health, and is board-certified as both a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. In addition, she is board-certified in Functional Medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) and has pursued advanced training in Holistic Nutrition (IIN), Integrative Psychiatry (IMMH), Neuroimmune Disorders in Children (MAPS), and Tick-borne Infections and Lyme Disease (ILADS).
Dr. Zendi is best known for her pioneering work in PANS/PANDAS, where she takes a root-cause approach to uncovering the biological and environmental triggers, such as Lyme disease, mold, and gut-brain imbalances, that drive chronic neuroinflammation. Her integrative and compassionate model of care has helped countless children and families find clarity, healing, and hope.
A passionate educator and speaker, Dr. Zendi is on a mission to empower both parents and practitioners with the knowledge and tools to recognize and treat the biological drivers of mental health conditions. Her work blends the science of brain health with the art of whole-person healing; building bridges where traditional psychiatry too often falls short.
Let’s redefine mental wellness together.
Sign-up now for the latest in functional news and research, course launches, exclusive offers and more. Plus, get a 20% off coupon for any course when you subscribe now!
By submitting your information, you agree to receive future email communications from us. We promise to keep your information private, and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.
