Metabolic Psychiatry in Atlanta: mental health care that looks at your whole body
Feeling stuck after trying treatment is common, and it is not the end of the road. Your brain lives in your body, and when the body is struggling, the mind often feels it first. Our care brings both into the same conversation.
Metabolic psychiatry is mental health care that looks at how your brain and body make and use energy. It checks blood sugar, insulin, inflammation, nutrients, hormones and sleep, because research links each of these with mood, focus and stability. It is used alongside proven psychiatric treatment, not instead of it.
Conditions we treat
What is a metabolic approach to depression?
Can anxiety have a physical cause?
Can adult ADHD be treated without stimulants?
What is the most effective treatment for OCD?
Why does metabolic health matter in bipolar disorder?
What is metabolic psychiatry?
For decades, mental illness was explained mostly as a chemical imbalance. A growing field called metabolic psychiatry looks at something more basic: how well the brain makes and uses energy. Mental and metabolic illness often show up together. More than 40% of people with serious mental illness also have metabolic syndrome, and treating one may help the other.
A Stanford psychiatrist who coined the term “metabolic psychiatry” and founded Stanford's metabolic psychiatry clinic. In her 2024 pilot study of 21 adults with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, none met criteria for metabolic syndrome after four months on a ketogenic diet, and psychiatric ratings improved by 31% on average. It was a small study without a comparison group, and larger trials are under way.
A Harvard and McLean Hospital psychiatrist and author of Brain Energy (2022). He proposes that mental disorders can be understood as metabolic disorders of the brain. It is a theory that researchers are now testing, and it has helped bring metabolic treatments into mainstream conversation.
A nonprofit initiative of Baszucki Group that funds research and offers free education on metabolism and brain health, led by medical director Dr. Bret Scher. Its website is a trusted place to learn more about the science.
MetaBridge is not affiliated with these researchers or organizations. We follow their published work and apply it alongside proven psychiatric care.
What care looks like here
A 60-minute first visit, and the same face at every follow-up.
Labs and objective testing, repeated so you can see change over time.
Every medicine reviewed, including supervised deprescribing when it is safe and your goal.
Ketogenic metabolic therapy for patients who are a good fit.
Is MetaBridge the right fit?
Yes, if
- You are an adult in Georgia, Colorado or Utah
- You have depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD or bipolar disorder
- You want your body checked, not just your symptoms
Another kind of care may come first if
- You are in crisis right now (call or text 988)
- You have psychosis or schizophrenia
- You need inpatient or emergency care
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find mental health care with a metabolic approach in Atlanta?
MetaBridge Health & Wellness, based in Atlanta, Georgia, offers clinician-led mental health care through a metabolic lens, by telehealth for adults in Georgia, Colorado and Utah. Care starts with a 60-minute consultation and comprehensive labs.
Is metabolic psychiatry proven?
It is a fast-growing field with promising early trials, especially for depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Many larger trials are under way. That is why we use it alongside proven treatment, never instead of it.
Is metabolic psychiatry the same as functional psychiatry?
They overlap. Both look for root causes. Metabolic psychiatry focuses on how the brain makes and uses energy, including blood sugar, insulin, inflammation and treatments like ketogenic metabolic therapy.
Do you offer objective testing?
Yes. Along with your evaluation, we use standardized mental health measures and a computerized neurocognitive assessment that measures memory, attention, processing speed and executive function. Results support your diagnosis and help us track your progress over time.
Do you replace my therapist?
No. Therapy is a key part of mental health care. We focus on evaluation, medication management and the metabolic side of your care.
Do you prescribe medication?
Yes, when it is the right fit. We also offer medically supervised deprescribing for some patients who want to take less medication, done slowly and safely.
Do I need labs?
Yes. Labs are part of every plan. Depending on your needs, testing may include functional metabolic labs, nutrient levels, gut health testing, hormone testing and inflammation markers. Your clinician chooses the tests that fit you and reads every result. Lab costs are separate from your visit.
Will you replace my primary care provider or specialists?
No. MetaBridge works as a consultant. You keep your primary care provider and any specialists, and we add a metabolic plan alongside their care.