I recently had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Matt Keck, the visionary founder of Cielo House eating disorder treatment programs, which were acquired by Refresh Mental Health in 2020. Dr. Keck is now breaking new ground with an innovative online treatment program at Cielomar Recovery. The Immersive Virtual Program, as he calls it, blends the power of simultaneous video conferencing with the engagement of an online video game. Could this unique approach be the next big thing in virtual treatment for eating disorders? Read the transcript below to discover how Dr. Keck is revolutionizing the field.
The interview with Dr. Matt Keck
Kevin Taggart: Hi, Dr. Keck, thank you for joining me today. I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about the new Immersive Virtual IOP Program at Cielomar Recovery. It’s such a fascinating concept. Can you tell us how you came up with the idea?
Dr. Matt Keck: Absolutely, Kevin, and thanks for having me. The idea actually came from a pretty everyday moment in our home. My wife Sofia and I were watching our teenage daughter play an online video game. What struck me was how she wasn’t just playing—it was how she was engaging and interacting with her friends. They were strategizing, laughing, and really connecting over the game. Sofia suggested, why not harness this kind of interaction and apply it to eating disorder treatment? We’ve always emphasized community and cohesion in our programs, so this felt like a modern way to enhance those principles.
Kevin: That’s such an innovative leap. So how does the program actually work? What’s the technology behind it?
Dr. Keck: The program itself takes place in the afternoons on weekdays from 3:30-7PM. Each day involves a therapy group and a supervised meal group, with individual sessions throughout the week. In terms of the technology component, it’s surprisingly accessible. The software for the program can be downloaded on any standard PC, making it easy for participants to join from their own devices. For those who might not have the necessary equipment, we can ship them a laptop with the software preloaded. Once set up, participants join a videoconference where they interact face-to-face while simultaneously engaging in the online video game. It’s this dual interaction—real-time video conferencing combined with the game—that drives engagement and creates a sense of togetherness.
Kevin: What type of treatment methods are you integrating into this immersive program? Is it vastly different from what you’ve been doing over the years?
Dr. Keck: The treatment methods are evidence-approaches we’ve been using over the past 15 years in eating disorder care. The difference lies in the addition of the video game component, which amplifies engagement. In traditional treatment, a lot of the magic happens in the unstructured moments—those transition times between groups, or when clients are just arriving and connecting with one another. This program recreates those moments through a positive, interactive experience without having to go to an in-person treatment center. The game gives participants a way to bond, have fun, and build those crucial connections that support recovery.
Kevin: That sounds brilliant. Can you give us a sense of what participants can actually do in the game?
Dr. Keck: The game is designed to be fun, creative, and therapeutic. Participants can cook meals, build and decorate their own houses—or even help decorate each other’s houses—garden, mine for precious stones, catch butterflies, collect teddy bears, and embark on quests set by non-player characters. They can also team up to help one another achieve various milestones, earning points and coins they can spend on features within the game. It’s all about creating positive, shared experiences.
Kevin: I love the idea of building and decorating houses—it feels very symbolic of recovery and creating a safe space. What do you think makes the video game component so effective in treatment?
Dr. Keck: The beauty of the game is that it provides therapeutic engagement and opportunities for growth both during and outside of treatment time. It’s a space where clients can engage in something enjoyable, develop trust, and work together toward shared goals. These shared experiences mirror the kind of bonding and cohesion we see in in-person treatment settings but in a way that’s accessible from anywhere. Plus, clients can access the game even outside of scheduled program hours, allowing them to focus on their recovery and feel connected even when they are not in program.
Kevin Taggart: We all know about the virtual treatment boom, but that has been mostly relevant to traditional outpatient therapy. How does virtual treatment apply for higher levels of care, such as Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs)?
Dr. Matt Keck: That’s a great question, Kevin. Virtual one-on-one outpatient therapy has proven to be very effective, but when it comes to higher levels of care, like IOPs, the challenges are different. Asking clients to sit for 3-4 hours on a static Zoom meeting simply isn’t ideal. The general feedback about other virtual IOP programs has been a mixed bag—engagement tends to drop off because it’s hard to maintain focus and connection over such long stretches.
That’s why the dual-interaction component of our program, where clients engage in both the videoconferencing and the game, is so important. The game makes the experience dynamic and interactive, enabling clients to remain engaged and even look forward to treatment. It’s novel, it’s cool, and it resonates with clients, especially younger ones. Study after study shows that engagement in treatment is key to treatment efficacy, and this approach keeps that engagement front and center.
Kevin: It’s incredible how you’ve merged technology with treatment in such a meaningful way. What kind of feedback have you received so far?
Dr. Keck: The response has been overwhelmingly positive. People love how engaging and fun the program is, and they feel more connected to their peers. For many, it’s been a game-changer—no pun intended—in making treatment feel less daunting and more like a community they want to be a part of.
Kevin: It sounds like a transformative approach to treatment. Dr. Keck, thank you so much for sharing your insights today. I’m excited to see how this program continues to evolve and make a difference in the lives of your clients.
Dr. Keck: Thank you, Kevin. It’s been a pleasure talking with you. We’re thrilled to be pioneering this program and making recovery more engaging and accessible for those who need it.
Closing Thoughts
Dr. Matt Keck’s Immersive Virtual IOP Program at Cielomar Recovery is redefining what’s possible in virtual treatment for eating disorders. By blending real-time video conferencing with interactive gaming, this innovative approach keeps clients engaged, fosters community, and enhances the recovery experience in ways traditional telehealth struggles to achieve.
As virtual treatment continues to evolve, could this be the future of higher-level care? One thing is certain—Dr. Keck is pushing boundaries and creating a space where healing feels less like treatment and more like connection.
Want to learn more? Visit Cielomar Recovery and explore this groundbreaking program.
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