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Keith Ablow
Keith Ablow
Keith Ablow
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Keith Russell Ablow (born November 23, 1961) is an American author, life coach, former television personality, and former psychiatrist. He is a former contributor for Fox News Channel and TheBlaze.

Key Information

Formerly an assistant clinical professor at Tufts University School of Medicine,[2] Ablow resigned as a member of the American Psychiatric Association in 2011, in protest to the APA's tacit support of transgender surgeries, which he considered irresponsible.[3] Ablow's medical license was suspended in May 2019 by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine. The board concluded he posed an "immediate and serious threat to the public health, safety and welfare", stating that he had engaged in sexual and unethical misconduct towards patients.[4]

According to the Associated Press, Ablow "freely mixes psychiatric assessments with political criticism, a unique twist in the realm of cable news commentary that some medical colleagues find unethical."[5]

Early life and education

[edit]

Ablow was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, the son of Jewish parents Jeanette Norma and Allan Murray Ablow. Ablow attended Marblehead High School, graduating in 1979.[6] He graduated from Brown University in 1983, magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Science degree in neurosciences. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Johns Hopkins Medical School in 1987[7] and completed his psychiatry residency at the Tufts-New England Medical Center. He was Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology in psychiatry in 1993 and forensic psychiatry in 1999.[8]

While a medical student, he worked as a reporter for Newsweek and a freelancer for The Washington Post and Baltimore Sun and USA Today. After his residency, Ablow served as medical director of the Tri-City Mental Health Centers and then became medical director of Heritage Health Systems and Associate Medical Director of Boston Regional Medical Center.[9][10]

Television and writing career

[edit]

Ablow has written fifteen books, written for the Journal of the American Medical Association, and written for Psychiatric Times.[11]

Ablow hosted The Dr. Keith Ablow Show, syndicated by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution in the 2006–07 television season. Since his show's cancellation, Ablow has been a contributing editor for Good Housekeeping and a columnist for the New York Post. He contributed commentary and analysis for the Fox News Channel until 2017.

Punditry

[edit]

In April 2011, Ablow wrote a health column for FoxNews.com[12] which criticized designer Jenna Lyons for publishing an advertisement in the J. Crew catalogue in which she was depicted painting her young son's toenails hot pink. Ablow wrote that gender distinctions are "part of the magnificent synergy that creates and sustains the human race." The column sparked a controversy around his claims that painting a child's toenails pink could have an effect on their gender identity and led to accusations of overreaction, as was reported upon by numerous news media sources.[13][14][15]

In 2013, Ablow said that marriage had "died" because of same-sex marriage.[16] In 2014, he likened same-sex marriage to polygamous relationships or bestiality.[16] He has linked gay parenting to sexual abuse of children.[16]

In June 2014, Ablow accused the 2014 World Cup of having been a plot by President Barack Obama to distract America from what Ablow believed were Obama administration scandals.[17][18]

In August 2014, as a guest co-host on the Fox News show, Outnumbered, Ablow criticized First Lady Michelle Obama's weight, stating "she needs to drop a few [pounds]."[17][19][5] He told the women panelists on the show that they also needed to lose weight.[20]

In October 2014, concerning the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Ablow, on Fox News, promoted a conspiracy theory that Obama wanted Ebola to spread to America because he wanted America to suffer as much as poor countries.[21][22][23] He stated that President Obama was not protecting the United States from Ebola because his "affiliations" and "affinities" were more with Africa than with America.[24] His Ebola comments drew criticism, including from Fox television host Greg Gutfeld.[23]

In May 2015, on another segment of Outnumbered, Ablow stated that he believed that men should be able to "veto" women's abortions.[25]

Ablow was chief spokesperson and brand ambassador for Golo, a company that sells a weight loss supplement. Progressive media watchdog group Media Matters for America raised questions about whether Ablow's endorsement of Golo violates Fox News' policy against product endorsements.[26]

Medical ethics

[edit]

The Associated Press has reported that Ablow "freely mixes psychiatric assessments with political criticism, a unique twist in the realm of cable news commentary that some medical colleagues find unethical."[5] Ablow has, for instance, frequently diagnosed former president Barack Obama as having "abandonment issues," without ever having met or treated the former president.[5] He has asserted that Obama dislikes the United States, that he prefers Africa to the United States, and wants the United States to dissolve.[5] He publicly speculated, in an October 2012 Huffington Post op-ed that then-Vice President Joe Biden had dementia after his 2012 VP debate performance.[27]

Ford Vox, a staff physiatrist at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, said that Ablow's attempts to connect his political views to medical analysis "is really just irresponsible and it's embarrassing for physicians in general."[5] Jeffrey Lieberman, chairman of psychiatry at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, and past president of the American Psychiatric Association, remarked, "It is shameful and unfortunate that he is given a platform by Fox News or any other media organization. Basically he is a narcissistic self-promoter of limited and dubious expertise."[5]

Sexual assault allegations

[edit]

On February 21, 2019, the Boston Globe reported that Ablow had been accused by multiple patients and employees of sexual assault and harassment; three malpractice lawsuits by former patients allege physical and verbal abuse, and three former employees filed affidavits listing threatening and abusive behavior.[28] The lawsuits were settled out-of-court in the summer of 2019.[29]

On May 15, 2019, the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine indefinitely suspended Ablow's medical license, concluding he posed an "immediate and serious threat to the public health, safety and welfare."[4] New York state has also suspended Ablow's medical license in that state.[4][30]

DEA raid

[edit]

On February 13, 2020, Ablow's office in Newburyport, Massachusetts, was raided by Drug Enforcement Administration agents executing a search warrant. He has denied allegations of inappropriate sexual activity with patients and illegally diverting prescription drugs.[31]

It is alleged that Ablow prescribed medication to eight employees. When the Board of Registration in Medicine rescinded his license in 2019, they also stated Ablow asked the employees to share the medication with him.[32]

Potential U.S. Senate candidacy

[edit]
See also: 2013 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts

In January 2013, Ablow expressed his interests in possibly running for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by John Kerry,[33] On February 5, 2013, Ablow announced that he would seek the Republican nomination, but only if he did not have to face a primary battle.[34] On February 6, 2013, Ablow said he would not run since other Republican contenders entered the race, and declared his support for Republican State Rep. Dan Winslow.[35]

Bibliography

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Keith Ablow

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from Grokipedia
Keith Russell Ablow (born November 23, 1961) is an American author, former , television commentator, and life coach. Graduating from with highest honors in neurosciences and earning his M.D. from School of , Ablow completed psychiatric training at Tufts/ Medical Center and maintained board certifications in adult, adolescent, and while practicing for over 25 years. He gained prominence as a contributor providing psychological analysis on news events and authored 16 books, including New York Times bestsellers such as The 7 Wonders, with his works translated into eight languages and contributing to over 1,000 media appearances on programs like The Today Show and Oprah. Ablow pioneered early clinical use of intravenous treatments for depression and developed the Pain-2-Power system, a counseling approach emphasizing transformation of emotional pain into personal strength, which he now applies in life coaching for clients including executives and artists across multiple continents. His career included notable controversies, including settled malpractice lawsuits from patients alleging sexual exploitation and improper prescribing, leading the Board of Registration in to suspend his in 2019 upon determining he posed an immediate serious threat to and safety; Ablow subsequently surrendered his , transitioning fully from .

Early Life and Education

Family and Upbringing

Keith Ablow was born on November 23, 1961, in , , to Allan Ablow, who worked in business as a shoe salesman, and Jeanette Ablow (née Mezonsky), a teacher. He grew up as an in an upper-middle-class household in , a coastal town north of . Ablow attended Marblehead High School, graduating in 1979. In later reflections, he described his parents as "nice people" and his upbringing in a "pretty ," indicating a stable early environment without publicly detailed conflicts or adversities shaping his personal narrative. No verifiable accounts from primary sources suggest dynamics or traumatic events during his childhood; instead, available biographical details emphasize conventional socioeconomic circumstances conducive to educational pursuits.

Academic and Medical Training

Ablow earned a Bachelor of Science degree in neurosciences from in 1983, graduating with highest honors. He then attended the School of Medicine, receiving his degree in 1987. Following , Ablow completed a four-year residency at Tufts-New England Medical Center in . He was subsequently board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Psychiatric Practice and Theories

Clinical Methods and Philosophy

Ablow's clinical philosophy centers on the principle that personal pain encodes latent power, which, when confronted through honest self-examination, enables profound transformation and . This "Pain-2-Power" framework posits that adversity in one's life story contains the psychological and spiritual "DNA" necessary for unlocking happiness, , and success, rejecting avoidance of in favor of decoding past events to dismantle self-defeating patterns. Drawing from over two decades of psychiatric practice, Ablow advocates for radical insight and authenticity, arguing that burying traumatic memories perpetuates dysfunction across life domains, whereas embracing fosters genuine connections and resilience. His approach critiques prevailing trends in short-term talk therapy and , viewing them as superficial fixes that overlook deeper causal roots in , environment, and unresolved conflicts, often prioritizing natural remedies and lifestyle integration over medications with adverse effects like or . In practice, Ablow employs an insight-oriented method rooted in exploring patients' full life narratives, emphasizing childhood origins and inner conflicts to reveal hidden truths, akin to psychodynamic traditions but updated with biological considerations of and mind interplay. Therapeutic sessions, typically weekly and one-hour in duration, incorporate tools such as writings, worksheets, and exercises (e.g., VennSure for relational mapping and SelfStrong for building ), delivered via Zoom, phone, or in-person, with 24/7 text/ support to encourage ongoing confrontation of realities. He favors holistic interventions addressing trauma, anxiety, and low mood at their sources—such as decoding painful events to reset toward optimism—over symptom suppression, integrating environmental factors with neurological healing as detailed in case studies from his clinical work. For couples or families, the method extends to collective truth-telling, while retreats like Hiatus1 provide immersive environments for intensive application. Ablow's philosophy underscores the therapist's role in modeling risk-taking and , warning that evasive "empty talk" conceals helplessness and undermines genuine progress.

Notable Therapeutic Approaches

Ablow developed the Pain-2-Power system, a multifaceted approach combining life coaching, counseling, and mentoring to transform personal pain into insights that enable and overcoming challenges. This method posits that adversity encodes latent psychological and spiritual power, which clients decode by examining past events to dismantle limiting patterns and uncover inherent gifts for fulfillment and success. Unlike traditional focused primarily on symptom alleviation, Pain-2-Power emphasizes proactive engagement with difficulties, holistic empowerment, and practical implementation of destiny-aligned actions through ongoing partnership. Ablow launched this platform in 2020 after 25 years of psychiatric practice, integrating it with personality testing to optimize core self-expression, autonomy, and creativity. Central to Ablow's therapeutic is the principle of "living the truth," articulated in his 2007 of the same name, which advocates confronting personal histories with and insight to convert past vulnerabilities into future strength. This approach encourages clients to embrace inner realities, foster genuine connections, and reject , viewing authenticity as essential for emotional resilience and life transformation. In practice, it involves empathetic narrative exploration of one's life story to reset self-perception toward , , and , often supplemented by custom tools for interim and optional natural mood-enhancing substances. Ablow pioneered the clinical application of intravenous ketamine infusions for treatment-resistant depression, positioning himself among the earliest psychiatrists worldwide to adopt this method by the mid-2010s. He advocated for its accessibility, including generic forms and nasal sprays, particularly for veterans with severe depression or PTSD, citing its rapid efficacy in disrupting entrenched neural patterns. Complementing pharmacological interventions, Ablow incorporated deep (dTMS), a non-invasive technology targeting deeper brain regions to alleviate depressive symptoms, which he offered through his New England TMS clinic starting around 2017. These evidence-based innovations reflected his commitment to integrating emerging with introspective psychological work.

Media and Public Commentary Career

Television Punditry

Ablow hosted the syndicated daytime The Dr. Keith Ablow Show from September 11, 2006, to May 2007, which featured discussions on , crises, and personal psychological issues, drawing from his background. In 2007, following the cancellation of his talk show, Ablow joined Channel as a contributor and was designated a member of the network's Medical A-Team, providing psychiatric analysis on health, mental health, and political topics across programs such as . His Fox News appearances often included commentary on public figures' mental states, such as a November 28, 2012, segment with and a February 15, 2017, opinion labeling President a "genius in the Oval Office." Ablow remained a regular contributor until 2017, when his role ended amid growing scrutiny over his clinical practices. Ablow also made guest appearances offering expert insights on networks including NBC's Today Show, ABC's , CNN's , and Oprah Winfrey's program, typically addressing psychological dimensions of news events or celebrity cases.

Political and Cultural Analysis

Ablow's political commentary often integrated psychiatric insights with critiques of liberal policies and figures, emphasizing personal responsibility and skepticism toward government overreach. As a Fox News contributor from 2007 to 2017, he routinely analyzed leaders' behaviors through a psychological lens, such as attributing President Barack Obama's decisions to unresolved abandonment issues from his childhood, a he elaborated in a 2014 column without having treated the president. Similarly, Ablow identified early signs of in dating to 2012, based on observed public behaviors, which he discussed in a 2025 , predating widespread media acknowledgment of Biden's decline. In assessing Donald Trump's impact, Ablow highlighted "Trump Derangement Syndrome" as a pathological overreaction among critics, linking it to deeper insecurities rather than substantive policy disagreements, as explored in his 2025 media appearances. He advocated for conservative principles like , critiquing initiatives such as Michelle Obama's anti-obesity campaign in 2014 as infantilizing adults by presuming government knows better than individuals about personal health choices. Ablow's analyses consistently prioritized causal explanations rooted in over systemic or environmental excuses, viewing political failures as often stemming from character flaws amplified by ideological echo chambers. On cultural matters, Ablow warned against the normalization of identities, arguing in segments that affirming gender transitions—particularly in children—equates to enabling delusions akin to forcing tattoos on minors to match self-perceptions, potentially eroding societal standards of and self-worth. He extended this to broader cultural decay, attributing a surge in among youth to platforms like and , which foster self-absorption over genuine achievement, as noted in his commentary on generational trends. In a 2015 , Ablow controversially linked Jewish passivity during to a cultural of disarmament and victimhood, urging modern embrace of Second Amendment rights to prevent historical repetitions through armed deterrence. These views positioned Ablow as a voice against progressive cultural shifts, often drawing criticism from left-leaning outlets for blending with , though he maintained that unvarnished psychological realism serves public discourse better than sanitized narratives. His willingness to treat high-profile patients across political lines, including , underscored his claim that suffering transcends partisanship, leveling ideological divides in clinical settings.

Writing Career

Non-Fiction Contributions

Ablow's non-fiction writings primarily encompass psychiatric memoirs, self-help guides, and psychological profiles of high-profile criminal cases, often integrating clinical insights with personal reflections on and resilience. These works emphasize confronting uncomfortable truths about one's past and psyche as essential for and personal efficacy, drawing from his experience as a forensic . His early non-fiction includes How to Cope with Depression: A Complete Guide for You and Your Family (1989), which provides practical strategies for managing depressive disorders, targeted at both patients and their support networks. In Medical School: Getting In, Staying In, Staying Human (1990), Ablow advises medical students on enduring the demands of training while preserving ethical and emotional integrity, based on his own training at School of Medicine. To Wrestle with Demons: A Psychiatrist Struggles to Understand His Patients and Himself (1992) offers a semi-autobiographical examination of the interpersonal dynamics in , detailing the psychiatrist's internal conflicts and the blurred boundaries between healer and patient in treating severe pathologies like personality disorders. Ablow extended his forensic expertise to true crime analyses, such as The Strange Case of Dr. Kappler: The Doctor Who Became a Killer (1994), which recounts the descent of a physician into murder, attributing it to unchecked narcissistic traits and professional stressors. Similarly, Without Mercy: The Shocking True Story of a Doctor Who Murdered (1996) dissects another case of medical homicide, highlighting failures in ethical oversight and psychological denial. In self-improvement literature, Living the Truth: Transform Your Life Through the Power of and (2007) argues that suppressing painful memories perpetuates dysfunction, advocating radical self-examination to convert trauma into adaptive strength; Ablow positions it as his inaugural dedicated volume. He co-authored The 7: Seven Wonders That Will Change Your Life (2011) with , outlining principles for psychological and spiritual renewal derived from archetypal human experiences. Ablow's psychological portraits of notorious figures include Inside the Mind of Scott Peterson (2005) and Inside the Mind of Casey Anthony: A Psychological Portrait (2011), both New York Times and bestsellers that apply to infer motivations behind the crimes, such as Peterson's apparent sociopathic detachment and Anthony's potential defenses. More recently, Trump Your Life: 25 Life Lessons from the Ups and Downs of the 45th (2020), co-authored with Christian Josi, distills resilience, risk-taking, and defiance of from Donald Trump's career as applicable to individual .

Fiction and Other Works

Ablow authored six psychological thrillers in the Frank Clevenger series, featuring a forensic psychiatrist protagonist who confronts complex criminal psyches and personal demons. The series begins with Denial (1997), in which Clevenger investigates a surgeon's apparent suicide amid suspicions of foul play. Projection followed in 1999, exploring themes of psychological transference in a murder case tied to a patient's delusions. Compulsion (2002) delves into obsessive behaviors driving a killer, drawing on Ablow's psychiatric expertise for forensic analysis. Subsequent installments include Psychopath (2003), focusing on a serial offender lacking empathy; Murder Suicide (2004), examining intertwined motives in a high-profile death; and The Architect (2005), concluding the series with Clevenger facing a manipulative adversary orchestrating societal chaos. These novels blend medical thriller elements with introspective character studies, often incorporating Ablow's clinical insights into mental disorders without endorsing unverified therapeutic claims. No additional fiction or creative works beyond this series have been published by Ablow.

Political Involvement

U.S. Senate Candidacy Exploration

In January 2013, Keith Ablow, a and contributor, announced he was considering a run for the U.S. special election in to fill the seat vacated by upon his confirmation as . Ablow positioned himself as a Republican challenger emphasizing threats to constitutional liberties and individual rights, drawing on his public commentary background. Ablow conditioned his candidacy on receiving unified support from Republican leaders, stating he would only enter the race if designated as the party's sole nominee to avoid a divisive primary. He cited the compressed timeline of the 2013 special election as a factor making intra-party competition unfeasible for his campaign strategy. On February 5, 2013, Ablow withdrew from consideration after Republican leaders failed to consolidate behind him, opting instead to endorse state Representative Randy Winslow, a fellow conservative. In a statement, he referenced consultations with advisor and reiterated his reluctance for a primary contest amid the election's urgency. Ablow did not file paperwork or formally enter the race, ending his brief exploration without impacting the Republican primary, which Gabriel Gomez ultimately won before losing the general election to .

Broader Political Stances

Ablow has consistently identified as a conservative, emphasizing individual responsibility, traditional values, and skepticism toward progressive interventions in personal and societal matters. In a 2015 interview, he explicitly stated, "I'm a conservative," while critiquing fellow conservatives for overly rigid moral judgments in cases like the Duggar family scandal. On Second Amendment issues, Ablow has opposed framing as a crisis or , viewing such characterizations as extensions of progressive agendas infiltrating medical institutions like the . In 2016 commentary, he argued that does not qualify as a and criticized efforts to treat it as such for advancing policies. He has linked Democratic support for stricter gun laws to personal psychological factors, suggesting in 2013 that President Obama's advocacy stemmed from childhood abandonment issues fostering a desire for control. Ablow has also contended that historical events like were exacerbated by a cultural mindset among against arming themselves, implying a broader endorsement of armed as a societal norm. Ablow's critiques of Democratic leaders often incorporate psychiatric analysis intertwined with policy objections. He has diagnosed former President Obama with abandonment-related pathologies influencing leadership style, including a perceived promotion of dependency over self-reliance. Regarding President Biden, Ablow observed early signs of cognitive decline as far back as , based on televised debates, and later described Democrats under such influence as veering toward a "death cult" mentality in policy priorities. In contrast, Ablow has offered supportive psychoanalytic interpretations of Trump's appeal, portraying it as rooted in sane, assertive rather than , countering narratives from professionals questioning Trump's fitness. His commentary extends to , resisting what he sees as ideological overreach in institutions. Ablow has advocated for psychiatric advice to Obama emphasizing resilience and over government-centric solutions. While not deeply documented on social issues like , his overall framework prioritizes causal realism in , favoring empirical outcomes over politically motivated narratives in debates.

Controversies and Regulatory Actions

Medical Ethics Disputes

Ablow resigned his membership in the (APA) prior to 2012, protesting what he described as the organization's unscientific and arbitrary process for developing psychiatric diagnoses in the DSM-5. He publicly criticized the APA on for relying on committee consensus rather than , arguing that changes to diagnostic criteria lacked rigorous validation. Advocacy groups have attributed his resignation in part to the APA's positions supporting LGBTQ patients, including depathologizing certain sexual orientations and gender identities, though Ablow's own statements emphasized broader methodological flaws in the association's work. A central ethical dispute arose from Ablow's frequent public psychiatric assessments of political figures and celebrities without conducting personal examinations or obtaining consent, conduct that critics argued contravened the APA's (Section 7.3 of the Principles of Medical Ethics with Annotations Especially Applicable to Psychiatry), which prohibits members from offering professional opinions on individuals they have not directly evaluated. For instance, in November 2014, Ablow diagnosed President with abandonment issues stemming from his childhood, linking it to perceived patterns in Obama's public behavior and policy decisions. Similarly, he offered assessments of figures like , speculating on dynamics related to without patient interaction. The noted Ablow's practice of interweaving such evaluations with political commentary, a approach described as distinctive but raising concerns about the misuse of psychiatric authority for partisan ends. Critics, including mental health professionals and media analysts, contended that these remote diagnoses undermined public trust in , risked stigmatization, and prioritized spectacle over , echoing the original 1964 controversy that inspired the —when psychiatrists commented on Barry Goldwater's fitness without evaluation. Ablow's defenders, however, viewed the rule as overly restrictive, potentially limiting informed discourse on leaders' decision-making capacities, especially given observable behaviors in public records; Ablow continued such commentary post-resignation, unbound by APA guidelines. This tension highlighted broader debates in over balancing ethical restraint with societal needs for evaluating high-stakes public roles, though Ablow's approach drew no formal APA sanctions due to his prior departure from the organization.

Patient Allegations and Lawsuits

In July 2018, a former patient filed a lawsuit against Keith Ablow in , alleging physical , acts that caused physical trauma, and encouragement of submissive behaviors during treatment for depression. Two additional lawsuits followed in from other former patients, presenting similar claims of Ablow engaging in sexual relationships while serving as their , including prescribing infusions to treat depression, billing for sessions amid sexual encounters, and inflicting physical harm such as striking one with a belt featuring a skull-shaped . The , who had traveled from out of state to Ablow's Newburyport office, further alleged demeaning statements like "I own you" and "You are my slave," with one reportedly tattooing Ablow's name on her arm at his urging. Ablow, through his attorney A. Bernard Guekguezian, denied all allegations of improper conduct or substandard care, asserting that the claims lacked merit. The three 2018–2019 cases were settled out of court in June 2019, with terms including monetary amounts remaining confidential and no admission of liability by Ablow. Separate from these, a 2016 malpractice suit by another former patient alleged boundary violations such as excessive texting, assisting with personal errands, prescribing medications for family members, and suggesting extramarital involvement via the Ashley Madison website, but did not claim sexual misconduct; it settled in May 2019 prior to trial, also with undisclosed terms. In 2021, a New Hampshire woman who claimed nearly a decade of treatment filed an additional malpractice lawsuit, though specific allegations beyond general impropriety were not detailed in public reports. None of the suits resulted in judicial findings of guilt, as they resolved via settlement.

Professional License Suspension

On May 15, 2019, the Board of Registration in Medicine issued a summary suspension of Keith Ablow's (number 61395), determining that his continued practice posed an immediate and serious threat to the , safety, and welfare. The board's order cited multiple allegations, including Ablow's engagement in sexual activity and boundary violations with several patients, diversion of controlled substances from patients for non-therapeutic purposes, disruptive behavior such as displaying and pointing a loaded at an employee to intimidate them, and fraudulent procurement of his license renewal by failing to disclose prior disciplinary issues. Ablow, who had been licensed in since 1989 and operated a solo practice in Newburyport, was also licensed in New York at the time, though that license faced separate scrutiny amid similar patient complaints. The suspension followed a series of civil lawsuits filed by former patients, primarily women who alleged sexual exploitation, inappropriate prescribing of addictive medications like opioids and stimulants, and ethical breaches during treatment sessions at Ablow's office. For instance, at least four lawsuits accused Ablow of fostering romantic or sexual relationships under the guise of , with some patients claiming he encouraged them to travel from out of state for sessions that escalated into personal involvement. The board's emergency action preempted a full hearing, granting Ablow the right to request one within seven days at of Administrative Law Appeals, though public records indicate no reinstatement occurred. As a result of the suspension, Ablow ceased practicing medicine in and effectively lost his ability to function as a licensed nationwide, transitioning instead to non-clinical roles such as life coaching. Independent reports confirm that by late 2019, both his and New York licenses were inactive or revoked equivalents, prohibiting him from prescribing medications or providing psychiatric care. The board's decision underscored longstanding concerns over Ablow's boundary violations, which multiple patients described as grooming tactics exploiting vulnerabilities like and trauma, rather than standard therapeutic interventions. No evidence of restoration has emerged as of 2025, aligning with Ablow's public pivot away from clinical .

Federal Investigations Including DEA Raid

On February 13, 2020, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) executed federal search warrants at the Newburyport, Massachusetts, office of psychiatrist Keith Ablow, as part of an ongoing investigation into potential violations of federal controlled substances laws. The raid also involved Ablow's residence and a nearby pharmacy, Daniel Lynch Pharmacy, though specifics on items seized from those locations were not publicly detailed at the time. DEA spokesman Timothy Desmond confirmed the actions stemmed from a court-authorized probe but provided no further operational details, emphasizing the investigation's active status. The federal scrutiny followed Ablow's May 2019 suspension of his medical license by the Board of Registration in Medicine, which cited his improper prescribing of controlled substances—such as and other stimulants—to at least seven office staff members without conducting required medical examinations or documenting legitimate medical purposes. Ablow, who was DEA-registered to prescribe Schedule II through V controlled substances, faced allegations that these prescriptions enabled non-medical use or diversion, prompting the agency to investigate potential breaches of the . No arrests occurred during the raid, and Ablow cooperated with authorities, according to reports. As of subsequent reporting through 2022, no federal charges have been publicly filed against Ablow in connection with the DEA investigation or raid. In a 2025 interview, Ablow revealed that during the office search, DEA agents seized a belonging to , which Ablow had retained after treating him as a in 2019; the device contained but was not central to the probe's focus on Ablow's practices. This disclosure linked the raid peripherally to broader federal inquiries into Biden's activities, though the primary target remained Ablow's handling of controlled substances. The absence of ensuing indictments suggests the investigation may have concluded without sufficient evidence for prosecution or shifted to state-level oversight, where Ablow's license remains indefinitely suspended.

Notable Client Engagements

Treatment of High-Profile Individuals

Keith Ablow has publicly discussed treating numerous high-profile individuals as part of his psychiatric practice, though specific details on most remain confidential due to patient privacy standards. One notable case involved , son of President , whom Ablow treated from late 2018 to early 2019. According to Ablow's account in a 2025 interview, Hunter sought treatment amid struggles with , prompted by a recommendation from undisclosed sources familiar with Ablow's work with prominent clients. The therapy included intravenous infusions aimed at facilitating recovery, with Hunter residing in a cottage adjacent to Ablow's office during sessions. Additional elements incorporated tank experiences at the nearby Blue Water Wellness Center, and the two explored potential collaboration on a book. Treatment concluded before April 2019, coinciding with 's announcement of his 2020 presidential campaign. Ablow has reflected that Hunter's desperation for help "levels the playing field," emphasizing ketamine's potential to induce profound behavioral shifts in addicts. During the DEA raid on Ablow's office in February 2020, agents seized patient records alongside a and other items Hunter had abandoned there, though no charges resulted against Ablow related to this case. Ablow later interpreted Hunter's repeated abandonment of laptops, including this one, as potentially indicative of a "Freudian desire" for exposure amid internal conflict.

Recent Developments and Current Role

Transition to Life Coaching

Following the summary suspension of his Massachusetts medical license on May 15, 2019, by the Board of Registration in —which determined that Ablow posed an immediate threat to , safety, and welfare—Ablow ceased practicing and pivoted to life coaching and consulting. The board's action followed investigations into patient allegations of boundary violations and improper prescribing, leading to the indefinite suspension of his ability to practice medicine in the state. Ablow's New York license was also revoked that year, further limiting his clinical practice. In response, Ablow founded Pain-2-Power in 2019, a platform centered on life coaching, counseling, and mentoring designed to help clients transform emotional pain into personal power by confronting fears, clarifying values, and pursuing autonomous goals. The program draws from his prior 25 years as a but operates outside regulated medical practice, offering one-on-one sessions via in-person, phone, video, or to entrepreneurs, executives, and individuals seeking self-improvement. Unlike licensed , life coaching emphasizes goal-oriented strategies without diagnosing or treating mental disorders, allowing Ablow to continue advisory work unbound by medical board oversight. Ablow expanded Pain-2-Power with resources like a launched in 2021, annual guides such as "25 Ways to Change Your Life in 2025" released December 31, 2024, and online content promoting resilience through truth-facing and action. He positions the transition as a culmination of decades of client insights, focusing on empowerment rather than clinical intervention, with services marketed through websites like pain-2-power.com and keithablow.com. This shift has sustained his professional engagement, including consultations for high-profile clients, amid ongoing federal scrutiny unrelated to activities.

Ongoing Commentary and Publications

Ablow has maintained an active presence in literature, publishing annual guides focused on and truth-seeking behaviors. Beginning in 2015 and continuing through recent years, he has released yearly lists offering practical advice, such as "Twenty-Three Ways to Improve Your Life in 2023," "Twenty-Four Ways to Improve Your Life in 2024," and "Twenty-Five Ways to Improve Your Life in 2025," the latter issued on December 31, 2024. These compilations emphasize , resilience, and rejecting as pathways to fulfillment, reflecting themes recurrent in his broader oeuvre. In 2020, Ablow co-authored Trump Your Life: 25 Life Lessons from the Ups and Downs of the 45th President of the United States with Christian Josi, published on June 2 by Harvard Book Group. The book extracts psychological and strategic principles from Donald Trump's career, advocating their application to individual goal-setting and adversity management, such as cultivating resolve and leveraging personal narratives for advantage. This work aligns with Ablow's prior nonfiction on human motivation but incorporates political biography to illustrate causal links between mindset and outcomes. Through platforms like pain2power.com, launched in , Ablow disseminates insights on transforming pain into purpose, often via essays and resources that critique cultural tendencies toward evasion of personal truths. His publications post- prioritize empirical self-examination over institutional therapies, positioning honesty as a core mechanism for behavioral change, though they lack peer-reviewed validation and rely on anecdotal framing. No mainstream op-eds or columns by Ablow appear after approximately 2017, with output shifting to independent channels amid professional transitions.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2104753/bio/
  2. https://pain-2-power.com/keith/
  3. https://keithablow.com/keith/
  4. https://www.amazon.com/Keith-Ablow/e/B000AP9KSI
  5. https://www.biospace.com/psychiatrist-keith-ablow-md-offers-another-groundbreaking-treatment
  6. https://www.mass.gov/news/massachusetts-board-of-medicine-takes-disciplinary-action-26
  7. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/20/nyregion/fox-news-keith-ablow-psychiatrist.html
  8. https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/06/27/three-women-settle-medical-malpractice-lawsuits-against-prominent-psychiatrist-keith-ablow/kogTNEpXikjwEiZ3T5qjKI/story.html
  9. https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/ablow-keith-russell-1961
  10. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/01/fashion/move-over-dr-phil-freud-is-back.html
  11. https://www.bostonmagazine.com/uncategorized/2007/01/22/got-problems-cant-fix-them-its-mom-and-dads-fault/
  12. https://keithablow.net/
  13. https://authorlink.com/interview/dr-keith-ablow-talks-about-creating-a-gifted-killer/
  14. https://www.drkeithablow.com/mentalhealth
  15. https://pain-2-power.com/
  16. https://www.amazon.com/Living-Truth-Transform-Through-Insight/dp/0316017817
  17. https://keithablow.com/help-me-with/mental-health/
  18. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/446783.Anatomy_of_a_Psychiatric_Illness
  19. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/wellness/1992/11/03/taking-risks-in-therapy/3c79318d-c56f-4460-b070-51c8d8601587/
  20. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dr-keith-ablow-launches-pain-2-power-program-for-life-coaching-counseling-and-mentoring-301061221.html
  21. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dr-keith-ablow-adds-personality-testing-to-his-pain-2-powercom-platform-301253068.html
  22. https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/keith-ablow-md/living-the-truth/9781594839009/
  23. https://www.biospace.com/psychiatrist-keith-ablow-md-calls-on-fda-to-approve-generic-ketamine-nasal-spray-and-ketamine-intravenous-therapy-for-combat-veterans
  24. https://www.newburyportnews.com/news/local_news/psychiatrist-offers-new-technology-to-battle-depression/article_91dfee2a-6592-5a2e-8cb3-b3c2a1f1f00d.html
  25. https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/the-dr-keith-ablow-show-the-doctor-is-out/
  26. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0852771/
  27. https://www.ksl.com/article/32245456/correction-tv-fox-keith-ablow-story
  28. https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/dr-keith-ablow-a-psychiatrists-advice-for-president-obama
  29. https://www.foxnews.com/video/1994059655001
  30. https://www.foxnews.com/video/5324574186001
  31. https://www.chartwellspeakers.com/speaker/keith-ablow/
  32. https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2014/11/the-strange-case-of-dr-keith-ablow-198426
  33. https://apnews.com/arts-and-entertainment-television-e81b6b54e4334456a819891253e54967
  34. https://nypost.com/2025/10/15/us-news/dr-keith-ablow-explains-why-he-felt-there-was-an-element-of-dementia-in-joe-biden-as-far-back-as-2012/
  35. https://www.facebook.com/NYPost/posts/dr-keith-ablow-touched-on-trump-derangement-syndrome-during-this-weeks-episode-o/1223950142930313/?locale=cx_PH
  36. https://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/susan-milligan/2014/08/13/fox-news-contributor-keith-ablow-insults-michelle-obamas-weight
  37. https://www.advocate.com/politics/media/2015/06/16/watch-fox-newss-keith-ablow-predictably-uses-rachel-dolezal-justify-transp
  38. https://glaad.org/gap/keith-ablow-0/
  39. https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/commentary/id/3193/narcissists-get-real.htm
  40. https://www.thewrap.com/fox-news-keith-ablow-is-reckless-gun-ideologue-for-holocaust-comments-says-historian/
  41. https://www.vox.com/2015/10/10/9493975/keith-ablow-jews-holocaust
  42. https://www.mediamatters.org/research/2011/12/19/dr-keith-ablow-misinformer-of-the-year-on-lgbt/185494
  43. https://nypost.com/2025/10/15/us-news/dr-keith-ablow-tells-pod-force-one-how-he-became-hunter-bidens-shrink/
  44. https://keithablow.com/resources/books/
  45. https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/keith-ablow/
  46. https://books.google.com/books/about/To_Wrestle_with_Demons.html?id=gaxrAAAAMAAJ
  47. https://www.amazon.com/Trump-Your-Life-Lessons-President/dp/1642798800
  48. https://www.fantasticfiction.com/a/keith-ablow/
  49. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/authorpage/keith-russell-ablow.html
  50. https://www.orderofbooks.com/authors/keith-ablow/
  51. https://www.bostonherald.com/2013/01/03/dr-keith-ablow-considering-run-for-senate-seat/
  52. https://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/fox-doctor-keith-ablow-mulls-bid-for-john-kerry-seat-085725
  53. https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/foxs-ablow-says-hell-run-senate-if-republican-leaders-united-around-me
  54. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/statement-from-dr-keith-ablow-regarding-his-interest-in-the-massachusetts-senate-seat-189655851.html
  55. https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/foxs-keith-ablow-reportedly-passes-us-senate-run?page=9
  56. https://www.boston25news.com/news/fox-news-contributor-says-no-to-senate-bid-backs-rep-winslow/139615963/
  57. https://www.newburyportnews.com/news/local_news/ablow-bows-out-of-race-for-senate/article_ab6f818d-3b89-55b5-a5e4-c0c245e5b36d.html
  58. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/keith-ablow-senate-fox-news-contributor_n_2647106
  59. https://www.msnbc.com/the-cycle/gop-hopes-fill-kerrys-senate-seat-dwindle-msna18502
  60. https://thewartburgwatch.com/tww2/2015/06/07/dr-keith-ablow-takes-on-robert-jeffress-in-an-incredible-interview-on-the-duggar-family/
  61. https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-friends/conservatives-claim-gun-violence-not-public-health-crisis-medical-experts-disagree
  62. https://www.mediaite.com/tag/keith-ablow/page/2/
  63. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_OOPo_pb5s
  64. https://www.aol.com/articles/dr-keith-ablow-tells-pod-100000488.html
  65. https://www.facebook.com/groups/165563067224915/posts/407647446349808/
  66. https://www.madinamerica.com/2012/05/former-member-criticizes-apa-on-fox-news/
  67. https://jaapl.org/content/44/2/226
  68. https://www.transadvocate.com/hold-dr-keith-ablow-responsible-now_n_4554.htm
  69. https://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylsnappconner/2014/11/20/should-it-be-allowable-to-diagnose-mental-health-in-the-press/
  70. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/909668
  71. https://apnews.com/general-news-688dbaa4499a42c5ac702c21abc7bab0
  72. https://www.salemnews.com/news/another-former-patient-files-suit-against-keith-ablow/article_54f6ad96-9b0a-11ec-81e2-a3aaa976b48b.html
  73. https://commonwealthbeacon.org/health-care/prominent-north-shore-psychiatrist-has-medical-license-suspended/
  74. https://patch.com/massachusetts/salem/state-suspends-license-north-shore-celebrity-psychiatrist
  75. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/keith-ablow-markets-himself-life-coach-he-actually-whose-steve-wagner?trk=public_profile_article_view
  76. https://www.psychcrime.org/articles/index.php?vd=79&t=Is%2BYour%2BLife%2BCoach%2BReally%2Ba%2BFormer%2BPsychologist%2Bor%2BPsychiatrist%2BWho%2BLost%2BTheir%2BLicense%253F
  77. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/13/metro/dea-raids-newburyport-office-dr-keith-ablow-prominent-psychiatrist-who-settled-malpractice-lawsuits/
  78. https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/dr-keith-ablow-newburyport-office-dea-agents-raid/
  79. https://www.wcvb.com/article/dea-raids-home-of-former-north-shore-psychiatrist-keith-ablow/30915682
  80. https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/feds-raid-office-of-former-celebrity-psychiatrist-keith-ablow/2076481/
  81. https://www.newsweek.com/former-celebrity-psychiatrist-keith-ablow-has-office-raided-dea-1487449
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  83. https://www.yahoo.com/news/another-former-patient-files-suit-145500703.html
  84. https://nypost.com/2020/10/31/feds-reportedly-seized-second-hunter-biden-laptop-in-february/
  85. https://nypost.com/2022/07/24/ketamine-is-so-effective-at-helping-addicts-it-even-got-hunter-biden-clean/
  86. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/disciplinary-and-other-board-actions-2010-2019
  87. https://www.eagletribune.com/news/state-suspends-ablows-medical-license/article_aac0fbda-8a51-5b2f-80ce-dc1f788342e0.html
  88. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dr-keith-ablow-releases-23-ways-to-change-your-life-in-2023-301711441.html
  89. https://keithablow.com/
  90. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/keith-ablow-founder-of-pain-2-powercom-launches-the-pain-2-power-podcast-301244326.html
  91. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dr-keith-ablow-releases-25-130000321.html
  92. https://keithablow.com/twenty-five-ways-to-improve-your-life-in-2025/
  93. https://pain-2-power.com/insights/
  94. https://www.harvard.com/book/9781642798807
  95. https://keithablow.com/resources/
  96. https://nypost.com/author/dr-keith-ablow/
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