YMCA Healthy Living Magazine, powered by n4 food and health Autumn 2018 | Page 4

DR JIM KANTIDAKIS
Dr Jim Kantidakis is a gut-directed Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Hypnotherapist, and one of the first experts
in Australia to use psychological/hypnotherapy treatment for individuals diagnosed with gastrointestinal
problems. Jim has extensive expertise in the area, with over 10 years of experience. He was also the first
psychologist to provide psychological and hypnotherapy treatment to children in paediatric gastroenterology in
Australia. Jim and his team at The Gut Centre provide evidence based psychological interventions, including
hypnotherapy treatment, with the highest level of patient care. Learn more at www.thegutcentre.com
THE BRAIN-GUT
CONNECTION
Dr Jim Kantidakis is Australia’s leading gut-directed psychologist and hypnotherapist. Here, he explores
the mind-gut connection and the impact your emotions have on it.
n interesting fact about the gut (digestive system)
and the brain, is that it is said to develop in the same
area of tissue in the embryo. As the embryo grows,
the brain migrates to the top end, while the majority of the
gut goes to the other end. Because they develop from the
same area of tissue, they share similar communication
molecules (also called ‘neurotransmitters’), such as dopamine,
GABA and serotonin. One of the roles of these neurotransmitters
is to create communication between the brain and the gut. For
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YMCA HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE AUTUMN 2018
example, dopamine is suggested to
control the brain’s pleasure and reward
centres, while serotonin has been
suggested to influence appetite,
digestion,
positive
mood,
social
behaviour, memory and sleep.
An additional fascinating feature of the
gut is that it contains just as many
nerves cells as the spinal cord does. In