Nutritional/Metabolic Psychotherapy

Many people are confused with the terms "psychotherapy, counseling, and therapy." As you look around on my website, keep in mind that they are all the same thing. I've tried to use them all because I know people will search for different terms.

What is Nutritional Psychotherapy?

Thanks to clinicians and researchers at Harvard and Stanford Universities and probably others at this point, we are seeing a growing body of research that shows the importance of nutrition for mental health.

Also known as metabolic psychiatry, nutritional psychology, or other possible combinations, nutritional psychotherapy is utilizing real-food nutrition to support mental health. Contrary to popular belief, this does not mean treating eating disorders. Instead, I like to explore nutrition to support brain function for common conditions like depression, anxiety, and ADHD/ADD in addition to discussing thought patterns and emotions surrounding food and meals.

You might ask, how does food affect mental health? It's actually one of the most important things that's overlooked in mental health treatment. Your gut produces 95% of the neurotransmitters in your body. Almost all of the signals between the gut and the brain are actually coming from the gut, and the food we eat directly affects gut health. What's more, your body, including your brain, is entirely made up of nutrients. Cells are constantly dying and need more nutrients to regenerate. So if your brain isn't functioning properly, you can deduce that it's starving for proper nutrition.

In his recent book, Brain Energy, Dr. Christopher Palmer argued that mental illness all comes down to being a metabolic disorder of the brain. Metabolism is all about energy (ATP) in the mitochondria and our diet and lifestyle significantly affect it. This philosophy is called "Metabolic Psychiatry." It champions the idea that medication and therapy are only minor components of mental health (see figure below) and a ketogenic lifestyle can improve brain function and mental health. This is slightly different from "Nutritional Psychiatry," which is more about generally eating whole foods for mental health. But overall, anxiety, ADHD, and depression could be related to dysregulated blood sugar, nutrient deficiencies, poor sleep, or a food sensitivity. Toxins (especially neurotoxins) could also play a role.

To give them credit, there are some therapists who have done small continuing education courses on nutrition for mental health and they will allude to diet once in a while. That's great! Therapists who understand the connection between nutrition and mental health (and actually have an idea of what a "healthy" diet really looks like) are growing in number. Many people come to me having already made the decision to follow a ketogenic diet for mental health (metabolic or ketogenic therapy), but a ketogenic diet is not required.

Nutritional psychotherapy is a great option for you if:

You live in Utah or Idaho
You suffer from depression, anxiety, chronic stress, sleep disturbance, ADHD, autism, or bipolar disorder.
You aren't already seeing a therapist, or you are open to switching
You are motivated to learn and make small changes to your diet and lifestyle.
You recognize that food affects how you feel.
You've tried to eat well, but you are confused with what "healthy" actually means.
You want a truly holistic approach to therapy that you can't get anywhere else in the state.

Can I Use Insurance for This?

Yes, I take insurance! But you must be in Utah or Idaho and it's crucial that we make sure the focus is on mental health, not physical conditions. Because I'm not a dietitian, we also can't solely do nutrition and call this "psychotherapy," even if it's to support mental health. That means your sessions will still mostly be psychological, social, or spiritually oriented, but we can discuss nutrition and lifestyle in general terms for mental wellness. Read more here.

You might notice that I am a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. However, as a legal disclaimer and for full transparency, I'm not a registered dietitian (RD). I do offer nutrition as a separate service from psychotherapy, but please be aware that in this role, I cannot bill insurance, diagnose, or "treat" a disease. It's more of a foundational approach to support the body's natural ability to heal itself for better overall health. While that sounds very generic, many people have found that supporting the body as a whole can indirectly improve their condition. If you choose this route, be aware that I may still recommend seeing a licensed provider if I feel that it's medically necessary.

If you have a burning need to use insurance, I recommend you seek out a holistic (HOLISTIC!) registered dietitian, one who sees food as medicine rather than just as calories or fuel. For medically complex cases, you might also consider seeing a naturopathic doctor (ND). NDs are physicians, but use diet and lifestyle as the first line of medicine before they resort to more invasive options.

If you are not in Utah/Idaho or only want nutrition and not psychotherapy, check out my nutrition package or Group Nutrition Program instead. Because I am not a dietitian or a physician, I cannot treat physical conditions, but I can guide you to support general health with a foundational approach.

What if it's too much for me?

I understand that not everyone is ready or able to eat all organic, whole foods, sleep well every night, and exercise regularly. That would be the end goal (and nobody's really ever there). But I like to start where you are and focus on small, doable changes that inch you toward feeling better. Preferably, that means using the least invasive therapy possible. To get an idea of what I mean, see the image below. This is my philosophy for organic mental disorders. In this model, we start with nutrition, then work up to better sleep, then exercise, and finally, therapy and medication. Personally, I would put medication as a last resort, but I have recommended it in extreme cases.

So while it might feel like a lot, it's actually not so daunting. For example, my first recommendations might be to drink more water, eat whole wheat bread instead of white bread, or to drink whole milk instead of skim milk. These are simple and healthy changes to something you are already doing. It requires little sacrifice.

Another common concern is the cost of food. I get it; healthy food can seem pricey. But consider this: Would you rather spend more money on better food and health now, or on medical bills later? It comes down to one or the other. Personally, I'd choose better food and health now, because it means a better quality of life. But I can also help you find affordable ways to do this. You don't need to buy everything at an expensive health food store or buy the most expensive products.

What Does a Session Look Like?

This depends on what you want. I would personally prefer to talk mostly about nutrition all the time, but the reality is that most people aren't quite ready for this unconventional approach to mental health, and psychotherapy does need to involve a main focus on the psychological and social aspects of your struggles. So instead, I spend a lot of my time doing talk/trauma therapy and just talk about nutrition in more general terms (how to eat well, how to improve energy and cognitive clarity, etc.).

I may recommend professional supplements as related to mental health. We will probably also do some conventional ("talk") therapy sessions while you work on any nutritional goals you have.

Because many people would prefer to just "have someone to talk to," I don't have a separate service for nutritional psychotherapy. Just book regular mental health counseling and let me know what your goals are.

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