Internal Family Systems
& Ketogenic Diets
Where Food And Parts Work Create A New Story
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The Old Story…
… is where you likely are right now, in overwhelm and anxiety and with a harsh inner critic as overseer. The story is low energy and bad sleep. It's lack of willpower toward all the shiny things, be that food or screen time or yelling at the kids. There is no brake pedal. No self-compassion. No self-love. What even are those?
The New Story…
… is a diet that supports a calm body and a calm brain. Anxiety shifts toward optimism. The critic softens. Sleep improves. We can put the breaks on. We can turn toward the inner turmoil with softness.
How Is So Much Change Possible?
Ketogenic diets shift the energy system of our cells, including our brain cells, from relying primarily on glucose (derived from carbohydrates and protein) to relying primarily on ketones (derived from fat).
This is a radical change.
This is not just "eat more whole foods" or "eat less sugar." Those changes help, but they are not the metabolic overhaul that this change in energy production is. When you literally change how your brain functions you can expect significant changes elsewhere. Of course, how much change varies, but we can't know how much until we try.
Can Trauma Initiate Metabolic Dysfunction?
Maybe. When trauma occurs, cascades of stress hormones course through us, and these could have harmful, long-term, downstream effects. Some preliminary studies suggest that such links are real (I'll list some below), but so far, the science isn't clear.
The Harm If You Try A Ketogenic Diet Anyway,
is almost non-existent. This diet can be challenging. Certain medications require monitoring so we'll check if that applies to you and make a plan if it does. Over time and with the needed effort, you are likely to lose weight, have improved metabolic markers and feel a noticeable improvement in mood.
Why Internal Family Systems and Diet Works
We’re made up of many inner voices; parts that protect, hide, even punish. In IFS, we don’t fight these parts. We listen and help them so they can finally rest.
When our system is calmed through diet, there is more space inside for this inner work, more compassion and trust.
Our tenderest parts are inner children who got hurt by circumstance or even by intention. When we go to them in this way, we can guide them out of the times they're stuck in and out of the negative stories they've written about themselves and the world. There is a lot more clairity on the other side.
Some Troubleshooting
You may have tried keto before or heard others say it didn't work for them. Sometimes this is because the change is made too fast. Remember, this is a metabolic overhaul. Slow is gentle. That's what I'll be guiding you toward. Also, sometimes we think we're doing it but we're not actually making ketones. I'll show you how to measure so we can assess properly.
What if you have no signs of insulin resistance in your blood work? You don't actually have to be insulin resistant for this to help, because ketogenic diets also reduce both inflammation and oxidative stress. Additionally, your glucose numbers and even A1c could be in the ideal range, but unless you're testing fasting insulin, you won't know how much insulin it's taking to keep those numbers where they should be. Insulin can be high and hidden like this even for as long as ten years before glucose starts rising out of range.
Video Examples of Case Studies
Doris's story, a woman who struggled with mental health from when she was 17 until 70 (3 minutes) ⏯​ Listen​ here
Three people with anxiety and depression on a ketogenic diet (25 minutes) ⏯​ Listen​ here
A homeless man who no longer has symptoms of Schizophrenia (30 minutes) ⏯​ Listen​ here
The experiences of three individuals with OCD (40 minutes) ⏯​ Listen​ here
Three individuals who suffered with eating disorders finding some varying levels of relief (40 minutes). ⏯​ Listen​ here
Jen Patterson
I am a Level 3 Internal Family Systems Practitioner, a former scientist with a doctorate in biology, a deep love of the natural world, a co-parent of a fabulous teen, and a pet-parent of two dogs, four cats and a small handful of noisy chickens.
I'm not a physician, dietitian, or licensed therapist. I don't diagnose, treat or prescribe. What I offer is a well-researched approach and strong support: we'll formulate a diet that works for you and support your emotional difficulties with Internal Family Systems.
I've been learning about food and mood, starting with myself, for over 25 years.
Scientific Background
My science background helps me make sense of data and scientific papers. I can run down rabbit holes for you when needed! But do remember, medical decisions are still yours and your doctor's.
IFS Level 3 Practitioner
Internal Family Systems helps you navigate subconscious drives, uncover compassion for what motivates your negative patterns and bring to the light the joy and potential that's buried inside you.
Let's Connect
Reach out. We'll see if we're a good fit, and we'll make a plan that meets you were you are.
Monthly coaching includes one session per week plus ongoing support between sessions. The rate is $690/month.
Sign up above for a free consultation, or if you have questions first, feel free to reach out by email, text or phone:
(812) 219-4645
Client Experiences
These stories reflect the inner healing that grows even stronger when paired with nourishing food foundations.
Jen Patterson is amazing. She is both highly technically skilled in IFS and highly intuitive. That combination is so powerful in session. She helps me get right to the root of different blocks and challenges. Even extremely complex ones. She's able to hold all my different parts in her mind/heart, all at once, even when I lose track of them.
I've had a lot of chronic health issues, and she's helped me access and clear the emotional aspects of them. I'd been yearning for freedom from some of this stuff for years, and Jen/IFS has been a major player in me being able to regain the parts of myself (including my health) that I'd lost.
When I started therapy, I told Jen "I want to stop being attracted to crazy women." Through our weekly sessions over the past year, I was able to heal and understand myself better. This therapy played a significant role in my healing journey, and now I'm in a healthy relationship.
Insightful, encouraging, supportive, caring and kind. Jen Patterson is an amazing individual and an excellent IFS practitioner. She creates a safe, validating and empowering space to meet your subconscious parts and begin the rewarding journey of self-healing.
Meeting parts from a place of true self (unblended) allows me to experience self-love and acceptance. This is the first time I have ever felt confident in caring for myself emotionally and that, no matter the situation, I am going to be just fine.
Working with Jen through Internal Family Systems therapy has been a transformative experience for me. The sessions helped me uncover and heal parts of myself that I didn't even realize were affecting my daily life. I now feel much more equipped to handle everything in my life, including my relationships, my health, and my work, thanks to Jen.
Some Scientific Citations
Ketogenic Diets and Mental Health
Norwitz, N. G., Sethi, S., & Palmer, C. M. (2020). Ketogenic diet as a metabolic treatment for mental illness. Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity, 27(5), 269–274. https://doi.org/10.1097/MED.0000000000000564
Palmer, C. M., Gilbert-Jaramillo, J., & Westman, E. C. (2019). The ketogenic diet and remission of psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia: Two case studies. Schizophrenia Research, 208, 439–440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2019.03.043
Sethi, S., Jones, N., & Norwitz, N. G. (2020). Low-carbohydrate ketogenic therapy as a metabolic treatment for binge eating and ultra-processed food addiction. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 561. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00561
Childhood Trauma and Metabolic Dysfunction
Souama, C., Milaneschi, Y., Lamers, F., Vinkers, C. H., Giltay, E. J., Liemburg, E. J., & Penninx, B. W. J. H. (2024). Metabolic syndrome after childhood trauma: A 9‑year longitudinal analysis. Psychological Medicine, 54(7), 1373–1381. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291723003264
Huffhines, L., Noser, A., & Patton, S. R. (2016). The link between adverse childhood experiences and diabetes. Current Diabetes Reports, 16(6), 54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-016-0740-8
Barton, A. W., Yu, T., Gong, Q., Miller, G. E., Chen, E., & Brody, G. H. (2022). Childhood poverty, immune cell aging, and African Americans' insulin resistance: A prospective study. Child Development, 93(5), 1616–1624. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13795
This is just a sampling. If you start here, you'll find more as you go!