Ketogenic Therapy
Ketogenic Therapy at MH²
Clinically supervised ketogenic therapy for complex mental health and metabolic conditions — from first evaluation through long-term support.
What is the keto diet?
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate, moderate-protein therapeutic intervention first developed in the 1920s for epilepsy. At MH², ketogenic therapy is used as a powerful metabolic tool to support individuals with complex mental health and metabolic conditions.
Why ketogenic therapy is relevant to mental health
- Supports brain energy and mitochondrial efficiency
- Helps stabilize glucose and insulin, reducing metabolic strain on the brain
- May reduce markers of inflammation and oxidative stress
- Offers a non-pharmaceutical metabolic intervention for treatment-resistant symptoms
- Prioritizes nutrient-dense whole foods to support overall brain function
Who ketogenic therapy may benefit
Individuals with significant metabolic dysregulation, treatment-resistant psychiatric symptoms, or those seeking a structured nutritional intervention under medical supervision.
All ketogenic therapy at MH² is clinically supervised, with monitoring, lab work, and structured support to ensure safety and long-term success.
Research
Explore the science of ketogenic therapy
A growing body of research is examining how ketogenic therapy may support brain energy, metabolic health, and psychiatric symptoms.
Explore the scienceHow care is organized
Ketogenic Services at MH²
Ketogenic therapy is a medical intervention. When it is used to treat serious mental illness, it alters metabolism, medication needs, and mood regulation in ways that require active clinical management, so every ketogenic service at MH² is delivered with psychiatric oversight. Our ketogenic services include support from our psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner alongside care from our dietitians, reinforced by health coaching and group support services as needed. Tracking includes laboratory testing, DXA scans, ongoing biometric tracking, and other essential elements of safe, appropriate medical management of ketogenic therapy.
Psychiatric oversight is central to this work. Metabolic change can affect psychiatric medications and can bring on symptoms such as hypomania, which need to be recognized and managed by clinicians who treat serious mental illness. Our team is happy to consult and collaborate with a patient’s current psychiatric provider to help ensure appropriate safety monitoring and continuity of psychiatric care.
Get started
Getting Started with Ketogenic Therapy at MH²
Explore starting points
Explore Intensive Treatment Programs and Assessments
Ketogenic Therapy with Comprehensive Treatment
Intensive Treatment Programs
Aurora and Foundations for Recovery are MH²’s intensive treatment programs. Both include a thorough ketogenic therapy evaluation and ketogenic therapy services when clinically recommended.
Aurora Program
Our most intensive, hands-on care model — in-home, community, and clinic-based support.
Learn moreThe Aurora Program starts with an accelerated advanced assessment with treatment beginning on day one. The advanced assessment includes an intake with our dietitian and a 3-day food log review to assess whether ketogenic therapy is appropriate, safe, and likely to be beneficial based on your medical history, psychiatric symptoms, current treatments, and metabolic health.
- Comprehensive psychiatric, metabolic, physical health, and psychosocial evaluation
- High-touch support three to six days per week, including psychiatry, psychotherapy, and metabolic care
- In-home visits and individualized case management
- Community integration, rehabilitation, and life-skills development
Foundations for Recovery Program
A comprehensive three-month program with coordinated psychiatry, therapy, nutrition, and groups.
Learn moreFoundations for Recovery Program starts with an accelerated advanced assessment with treatment beginning on day one. The advanced assessment includes an intake with our dietitian and a 3-day food log review to assess whether ketogenic therapy is appropriate, safe, and likely to be beneficial based on your medical history, psychiatric symptoms, current treatments, and metabolic health.
- Coordinated psychiatric care and metabolic support
- Individual and group psychotherapy
- Movement, nutrition, and health coaching interventions
- Structured skill-building with a multidisciplinary team working together on your behalf
Advanced Assessment and Custom Monthly Plans
An advanced assessment is our most in-depth diagnostic evaluation, which includes readiness for ketogenic therapy. This may be followed up by a custom monthly plan. You and your team will develop the appropriate combination of specialties and cadence that is best for your needs.
Advanced Assessment
Our most in-depth diagnostic experience — two to three days with the multidisciplinary team.
Learn moreThe Advanced Assessment is our most in-depth diagnostic experience. It begins with extensive pre-visit questionnaires and may include optional labs completed ahead of time. Patients then spend two to three days in the clinic meeting with each member of our multidisciplinary team.
The advanced assessment includes an intake with our dietitian and a 3-day food log review to assess whether ketogenic therapy is appropriate, safe, and likely to be beneficial based on your medical history, psychiatric symptoms, current treatments, and metabolic health.
- Comprehensive psychiatric and metabolic health evaluation by a psychiatrist
- Detailed psychosocial and substance-use assessments
- Medical, lifestyle, sleep, nutrition, and environmental evaluation
- Expanded biomarkers, including DXA and lab work
- Cognitive testing and fitness and movement assessment
- Multidisciplinary case conference and treatment recommendation meeting
Custom Monthly Plans
After an assessment, choose a customized monthly plan that can include ketogenic therapy along with psychiatry, therapy, health coaching, and therapeutic groups.
After your assessment appointments are complete, our team meets to integrate all findings into a cohesive diagnostic picture. During your Treatment Recommendation Meeting, you’ll review key findings from each discipline, diagnostic impressions, your personalized treatment plan, and short- and long-term recommendations. In conjunction with recommendations from our team, you can build a custom plan that works best for your needs.
Custom monthly plans may include varying cadence of the following disciplines:
- Psychiatry
- Individual therapy
- Dietetics
- Health coaching
- Therapeutic groups
- Ketogenic therapy when clinically recommended
Targeted ketogenic therapy without other treatments
Metabolic Assessment
Team-based evaluation focused on metabolic health and its relationship to mental health, with medical, nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle assessments.
What's included
- Metabolic and mental health evaluation by a nurse practitioner (60 min)
- Comprehensive nutrition assessment by a registered dietitian (60 min)
- Health coach assessment of fitness, physical activity, sleep, and lifestyle
- Review of current medications and their potential metabolic effects
- Metabolic laboratory testing
- DXA scan for body composition and bone health
- Assessment of metabolic risk factors and opportunities for improvement
- Integrated team review and treatment planning
- Personalized recommendations for nutrition, physical activity, lifestyle, weight management, and other appropriate metabolic interventions
- Evaluation for therapeutic ketogenic interventions when clinically appropriate
Who it's for
The Metabolic Assessment is designed for people who want a deeper understanding of their metabolic health and/or are interested in metabolic therapies for mental health conditions. It may be appropriate for individuals seeking:
- Evaluation for therapeutic ketogenic interventions
- Weight loss or improved body composition
- Improved cardiometabolic health
- Nutrition and lifestyle optimization
- Evaluation of metabolic effects of psychiatric medications
- Metabolic strategies to complement treatment for a mental health condition
The assessment considers metabolic and mental health together, while placing greater emphasis on metabolic health and interventions.
Ketogenic Navigator
Medical and nutrition evaluations to get started with ketogenic therapy at MH². Designed to assess whether treatment is appropriate for you, identify safety considerations, and guide your treatment plan.
What's included
Every participant begins with comprehensive intake appointments with an MH² psychiatric nurse practitioner and a registered dietitian. These visits establish medical and psychiatric readiness, nutritional needs, treatment goals, baseline monitoring, and an individualized plan for implementing ketogenic therapy. Select labs are required before intake appointments, to be reviewed by our clinicians during the intake. Our clinicians will recommend additional appointments, monitoring, collaboration with other providers, or a higher level of support when clinically indicated.
Learn more
The Ketogenic Navigator Appointments are designed for individuals who are medically and psychiatrically stable and able to take an active role in implementing ketogenic therapy. Participants should generally be able to follow a treatment plan, make and sustain dietary changes, monitor their health and symptoms, attend scheduled appointments, and contact their treatment team when concerns arise.
This is particularly well suited for people who already have an outside psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or other prescribing clinician. With the patient's permission, our clinicians can collaborate with outside providers to coordinate care, particularly when ketogenic therapy may affect medications, symptoms, or other aspects of treatment.
The Ketogenic Navigator Appointments may also be appropriate for individuals who want to work primarily with the MH² team but do not require a higher level of clinical or multidisciplinary support.
Continuing care
Monthly Ketogenic Support Tracks
Keto Intensive
Designed for patients who desire intensive support during ketogenic therapy implementation and stabilization.
This track may be appropriate for patients who:
- Are newly implementing ketogenic therapy
- Require frequent medication monitoring or adjustment
- Have significant psychiatric symptom burden
- Need substantial nutrition and behavioral support
- Are experiencing challenges with adherence or implementation
- Nurse Practitioner: Weekly
- Dietitian: Weekly appointments alternating between (45min) and (20min) visits
- Health Coach: Weekly appointments alternating between (45min) and (20min) visits
- Weekly vitals
- Weekly Keto Support Group
- Weekly interdisciplinary team review
Keto Maintain
Designed for patients who have established a foundation with ketogenic therapy but continue to benefit from regular multidisciplinary support.
This track may be appropriate for patients who:
- Have achieved a stable ketogenic routine
- Are continuing to work toward clinical or metabolic goals
- Benefit from ongoing accountability and guidance
- Require periodic adjustments to their treatment plan
- Nurse Practitioner: Bi-weekly
- Dietitian: Bi-weekly
- Bi-weekly vitals
- Weekly Keto Support Group
- Bi-weekly interdisciplinary team review
Keto Thrive
Designed for patients who have achieved clinical stability and are focused on long-term sustainability, optimization, and relapse prevention.
This track may be appropriate for patients who:
- Have established a sustainable ketogenic lifestyle
- Demonstrate stable psychiatric and metabolic outcomes
- Require less frequent support
- Desire continued access to the multidisciplinary team for guidance and monitoring
- Nurse Practitioner: Monthly appointment
- Dietitian: Monthly appointment
- Monthly vitals
- Weekly Keto Support Group
- Monthly interdisciplinary team review
Ketogenic Therapy Team
Not sure where to start?
Our team is happy to help you choose the ketogenic service that best fits your needs.
617-675-6602