Finding Her “Old Self” Again: Laura’s Experience with Ketogenic Therapy for Mental Health

When Laura first learned that ketogenic metabolic therapy (KMT) might support mental health, she was highly skeptical. After years of worsening depression and anxiety despite trying numerous traditional treatments and medications, she was desperate for hope and willing to explore a different approach. 

With personalized guidance from Advanced Ketogenic Therapies (AKT), Laura learned how to implement the therapy gradually and make it work within a busy household.

Key Takeaways

• After approximately three months, Laura began to experience what she called her “old self”—the person she was before becoming severely ill.

• With medical oversight, she was able to greatly reduce the psychiatric medication she was taking when she started ketogenic therapy.

• AKT’s professional guidance helped make an unfamiliar and initially overwhelming therapy feel manageable.

• Gradually paced education, detailed session notes, and direct communication between appointments were especially valuable.

• Laura’s greatest practical challenge was following a different diet from her husband and three children. She managed this by modifying shared meals and openly communicating with her family.

The Problem: Traditional Treatments Were Not Providing Relief

Before beginning KMT, Laura had spent years seeking help for worsening depression and anxiety. She had worked with medical doctors, psychologists, and therapists and had tried numerous traditional psychiatric treatments.

Despite those efforts, she felt that she was only getting worse.

Nutrition had never been presented as a potential part of her mental health treatment. When Laura first learned about the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry, she questioned whether changing her diet could truly make a difference.

“I thought, ‘There’s no way that this could help because someone would have told me.’”

After someone shared Dr. Christopher Palmer’s work and the book Brain Energy with Laura and her family, she began learning more about KMT. A dietician friend then recommended Advanced Ketogenic Therapies for professional support.

Laura decided she wanted to try the therapy, but she also recognized that she was not in a position to take on another major challenge by herself.

“I wanted to do it the right way, but I didn’t know what to do or how to do it,” she said. “I was not in a place to really take on a new challenge.”

The Solution: A Guided Approach to Ketogenic Therapy

KMT is more complex than following a general low-carbohydrate or “keto” diet. When used as part of mental health treatment, it requires an individualized plan, careful implementation, ongoing monitoring, and collaboration with the client’s medical team.

For Laura, AKT’s professional guidance was essential.

“I could not have done it without the help, guidance, and support,” she said. “They really guided me in how to start and what to get from the grocery store.”

Laura worked with Stephanie, a ketogenic dietitian who was part of the AKT team at the time of Laura’s care. Their approach included several elements that helped prevent the process from becoming overwhelming.

Information introduced at a manageable pace

Instead of presenting every aspect of the therapy at once, Stephanie focused on the information Laura needed to take the next step.

“She only gave me enough information that I needed to get to the next session,” Laura explained. “She never gave me too much, so it wasn’t overwhelming.”

Detailed notes after each appointment

After each virtual session, Laura received written notes documenting what they had discussed. These notes included specific recommendations about supplements, dosages, electrolytes, and other important parts of her plan.

Because so much of the information was new, having a written reference made it easier to remember and implement the recommendations correctly.

Direct communication between sessions

Laura could also use AKT’s app to send Stephanie questions as they arose. Knowing that she had someone available to provide clarification helped Laura feel supported as she began making significant changes to her diet.

“It was absolutely necessary for me to have someone I could send a message to and ask questions,” she said.

Gentle, individualized support

Laura also appreciated that Stephanie recognized when something felt especially difficult and adjusted the pace accordingly.

“Stephanie was very gentle, and she didn’t push,” Laura said. “If something was really challenging for me and I was struggling, she could tell. I appreciated her professionalism.”

The Challenge: Integrating the Diet Into Family Life

Laura and her husband are raising three children. Because the rest of her family does not follow a ketogenic diet, grocery shopping and preparing meals for everyone became her greatest practical challenge.

Eating out could also be difficult, particularly at restaurants with limited options. However, that became easier as Laura gained experience and learned how to advocate for her needs.

Laura’s most effective strategy was what she described as “constant modification.” Instead of always preparing an entirely separate meal, she adapted whatever the rest of the family was eating.

If they had spaghetti, she might eat the meat and a small amount of sauce with cheese over a sauteed vegetable, while omitting the pasta. If they had hamburgers, she could remove the bun.

“I’m always modifying,” she said. “Everything has gotten so much easier. Now I know my macros, what I can eat, and what I probably shouldn’t eat.”

Open communication also helped her children understand why their mother sometimes ate differently. Laura explained that depression is an illness affecting her brain and that eating this way was part of caring for her health and happiness. 

“When I eat this way, I feel so much better—and I know that they can see it.”

The Outcome: Feeling Like Herself Again

Laura did not notice a dramatic change immediately. Her turning point came approximately three months after beginning ketogenic metabolic therapy.

“I started to emerge back from the darkness and experience my true self again”

As her mental health improved, Laura realized how much depression had affected her ability to be present with her husband and children. Before beginning the therapy, much of her attention had been consumed by wondering when she would get better, why her treatments were not working, and what medication she might need to try next.

Feeling like herself again changed more than her individual experience, iIt affected the atmosphere of her entire household.

“The lightness, laughter, music and joy has returned to our home”

Laura described ketogenic and metabolic therapies as life-changing for her, her marriage, and her family. She also believes that becoming a more present parent has positively changed the trajectory of her children’s lives.

With medical oversight, Laura was able to greatly reduce the psychiatric medication she was taking when she began ketogenic therapy.

Next Steps: Treating Nutrition as Part of Her Therapy

Today, Laura views KMT as an important part of her overall treatment plan.

“You have to view it as your therapy—your medication,” she said.

She combines nutrition with other practices that support her well-being, including protecting her sleep, exercising, spending time in nature, and continuing to work with her healthcare providers.

Laura acknowledges that the therapy takes effort, particularly in the beginning. However, she wants others who are considering it to know that it can become easier with time and experienced support.

“You can do it,” she said. “It can be challenging when you first start, but it is doable.”

Most importantly, Laura recommends working with professionals who understand the clinical application of ketogenic therapy.

“I do not think I could have done it without Stephanie,” she said. “AKT makes it easy. They walk you through the whole process. They are professionals, they know what they’re doing, and they truly have a heart for helping others.”

Laura’s experience reflects the individualized education, guidance, and ongoing support that remain central to AKT’s approach today.

If you are interested in exploring ketogenic metabolic therapy as part of your mental health treatment, you do not have to navigate it alone.

Learn more about working with Advanced Ketogenic Therapies

This testimonial describes one client’s personal experience. Individual results vary, and ketogenic metabolic therapy may not be appropriate for everyone. It should be implemented with experienced medical and nutritional supervision and should not replace prescribed treatment or medical care. Medication changes should only be made in collaboration with the prescribing healthcare provider.