Rewiring Mental Health from the Inside Out with Metabolic Psychiatry

It’s Not Just for “Serious” Diagnoses

I’ll be honest with you—I’ve experimented with keto myself. As someone who manages an ADHD diagnosis, I noticed a significant improvement in my ability to focus and think clearly when I started eating low-carb. And I’m not alone. Many people report that ketogenic diets help with brain fog, focus, mood, and emotional regulation—even if they don’t have a formal diagnosis.

When your brain is better fueled, it works better. Simple as that.

Getting Started with Ketogenic Therapy

If you’re considering exploring metabolic interventions for mental health, here are some key points Dr. Scher shared:

• Ketogenic diet ≠ ketogenic therapy. A diet is a general approach. Therapy involves setting specific ketone goals, tracking levels, and using ketosis as a medical intervention.
  
• Ketogenic diets typically involve eating fewer than 30 grams of carbs per day—a huge contrast from the 250–300 grams in a standard Western diet.
  
• Common keto foods include eggs, avocados, meats, low-carb veggies, nuts, and healthy fats like olive oil.
  
• It’s important to work with a clinician if you’re using ketosis to manage a medical or psychiatric condition. Medication levels may need to be adjusted, and there can be interactions.
  
• Therapy and medication still matter. This isn’t an either/or—it’s a both/and approach.
  

Why Isn’t This Common Knowledge?

You’d think this would be front-page news, right? But most physicians and therapists were never trained in metabolic therapy. Many still believe outdated ideas about cholesterol and fat, and confuse therapeutic ketogenic diets with unhealthy, high-fat junk food meals.

But as research mounts and more stories come in this science is gaining the attention it deserves.

Changing the Narrative Around Mental Health

If this sparked something in you to take action to make changes in your life, I’d love to help you connect the dots. If you’ve been doing all the things—reading the books, showing up to therapy, journaling your heart out—but still feel stuck, foggy, or like something’s just off, I encourage you to check out our Clarity and Confidence Coaching here at Growing Self.

You’ll work 1:1 through 8 structured coaching sessions with a licensed therapist trained in evidence-based coaching psychology. This isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about aligning your inner and outer world so you finally feel clear, calm, and grounded. 

If you’re ready to explore what’s really going on beneath the surface and build momentum in your life with tools that actually work, let’s talk. You can schedule a free consultation call to talk more about your goals and how we can support you.

And if you want more inspiration like this, be sure to follow me on Instagram and YouTube where we dive deeper into evidence-based tools that work.

Xoxo
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

PS: Know someone who needs to hear this? Maybe a friend who’s been in therapy forever or a loved one who’s struggling in ways that just don’t add up? Share this article with them. You never know—it might be the game-changer they’ve been waiting for.

Resources:

Lee, P. R., & Kossoff, E. H. (2011). Dietary treatments for epilepsy: management guidelines for the general practitioner. Epilepsy & Behavior, 21(2), 115-121. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525505011001120

Williamson, R., McNeilly, A., & Sutherland, C. (2012). Insulin resistance in the brain: an old-age or new-age problem?. Biochemical pharmacology, 84(6), 737-745. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006295212003504

Koh, S., Dupuis, N., & Auvin, S. (2020). Ketogenic diet and neuroinflammation. Epilepsy Research, 167, 106454. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0920121120305040

Bostock, E. C., Kirkby, K. C., & Taylor, B. V. (2017). The current status of the ketogenic diet in psychiatry. Frontiers in psychiatry, 8, 43. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00043/full