Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy techniques are a vital part of successful nutritional counseling. There are numerous techniques divided into three main categories: behavioral techniques, cognitive restructuring techniques, and psychoeducational techniques. Imagery and role-playing are forms of behavioral techniques. Both of these techniques are used to help clients imagine the possible outcomes of a difficult situation and their …

Psychodynamic Theory

The psychodynamic approach to psychology is rooted in the work of Sigmund Freud and emphasizes the importance of one's past experiences on the present self-concept and idea of the future self.  Sigmund Freud's psychodynamic theory was based largely on sexual dysfunction and the effects of suppressed childhood trauma on adult sexuality.  Although much of Freud's …

Operant Conditioning

Behaviorist learning theory focuses on human behavior without consideration of any internal mental processes.  Behaviorists like John Watson and B.F. Skinner expanded the work of Ivan Pavlov and classical conditioning to apply conditioning to active learning principles.  Operant conditioning is defined as learning through the consequences of one’s own actions and behaviors and uses the …

Lipolysis and Beta Oxidation

During long periods of starvation, after the liver and muscle glycogen stores have been depleted, the body must rely on lipolysis, the breakdown of triglycerides stored in adipose tissue, for energy production. Triglycerides are composed of a 3 carbon glycerol backbone with 3 chains of fatty acids attached, one to each carbon.  During lipolysis, hormone …

Oxidative Phosphorylation

The oxidative phosphorylation cycle is the process by which cells within the human body produce adenosine triphosphate, ATP, via the electron transport chain, an aerobic energy system that follows the Krebs cycle in the body's never-ending production of energy. Oxidative phosphorylation takes place within the matrix and inter-membrane space of the mitochondria within each cell. …