A Look Inside Your Ketamine Session

During your session, you will embark on a self-guided exploration where you will learn more about yourself in often unexpected ways. 

Throughout your appointment, Able Psychiatry staff are always available to assist with any needs you have and will be checking in on you periodically.

1. Getting settled: You'll start by getting comfortable in a private treatment room[NI2] . We’ll check your resting blood pressure and review the ketamine administration process with you. We will also give you personalized instructions, such as what to focus on throughout. 

2. Setting the mood: You’re encouraged to create a calming environment that works for you—listen to music, look at visuals around the room, meditate, or simply relax. This time is yours. 

3. Beginning the session: Once the ketamine is administered, you’ll begin your journey inward. The experience is self-guided, offering a unique opportunity to explore your thoughts and emotions in new, often unexpected ways. Sessions typically take 2 hours to complete. 

4. Ongoing support: Throughout the session, our staff will check in periodically and are always available if you need anything. You're in a safe, supported space the entire time.

 5. Wrapping up: After the session ends, you’ll have time to rest and reorient before heading home. We’ll ensure you’re feeling grounded and supported before you leave. You are encouraged to listen to music, watch our tv visuals, meditate, or whatever you find helps you to relax. We'll start each appointment by taking your resting blood pressure and go over Ketamine administration.

 

Ketamine Therapy Administration

We offer 3 administration options for your comfort. Prior to treatment, we will discuss which option is the best fit for you. 

1. Nasal spray: Ideal for those seeking a fast-acting and convenient option, nasal spray is often preferable for individuals who prefer a non-invasive method. 

2. Troche (dissolvable lozenge): Best for those who want a slow, steady absorption, lozenges are perfect for people who prefer oral medications and want to avoid needles or sprays. 

3.  Intramuscular injection: This method is suited for individuals needing a more potent or closely monitored dose. Injections are often used in clinical settings for maximum effectiveness and consistency.

What Does Ketamine Therapy Feel Like?

Ketamine feels different for everyone, but it often involves a sense of disconnection as the dissociative effects begin. Some people may experience anxiety related to this shift in control, especially at first. Many describe a feeling of lightness or entering a dreamy, float-like state, observing their thoughts from a distance. For some, the experience is meditative and calming, while others may encounter vivid imagery, emotional insights, or release.

 As you reach dissociation, the feeling of disconnect between mind and body may seem uncomfortable or scary - this is part of the process which allows your mind to wander and make healing connections much more easily than it would be able to otherwise. 

The most important thing to keep in mind is that the body is an incredibly complex organism, your mind and body know exactly what they need to do to keep you safe during your ketamine sessions. Trust them and approach the experience with curiosity.

Ketamine Therapy Aftercare

Most people feel a bit “out of it” immediately after—loopy, groggy, or mentally foggy. Some report feeling calm or emotionally lighter, while others may feel tired or introspective. These effects usually fade within a few hours, but everyone’s experience is a little different. Regardless, you should not drive home.

You are required to participate in two (2) monthly check-in appointments (30 days and 60 days after your final Ketamine session). These check-in appointments are crucial in order to build upon and further the work you’ve already done, as well as to determine if additional treatment cycles would be beneficial

Is Ketamine Right For Me?

Please fill out the below form to express interest in the Ketamine program.

If you have already gone through ketamine treatment with us and are interested in exploring an additional round, please click here.

Start KETAMINE Questionnaire

Ketamine Therapy Session Frequently Asked Questions

Will someone be in the room with me during the session?
A trained provider will either be in the room or nearby, checking in periodically to ensure your safety and comfort throughout the session.
What is the purpose of Ketamine?

In the mental health arena, Ketamine is used to treat symptoms of depression, PTSD, and chronic pain. The goal of Ketamine is to create new ways of viewing and perceiving mental blocks or traumatic experiences. It helps guide our brains out of the depressive thought loops these experiences create and promotes the facilitation of new, positive thought patterns.

It can also help isolate our emotional response from triggering events or thoughts so that we can address them from a feeling of safety and objectivity. We might think of this as the way we would view situations if they happened to someone else rather than ourselves. This, in turn, helps retrain our brains to associate vulnerability with safety rather than with threat, to remove barriers, and promote healing. The Ketamine aids us in dissociating, by entering into a trance-like state, so the mind is free to wander and make these new perspective connections.

It's important to note that Ketamine is not a cure-all treatment. It won't magically fix all of our problems. What it will do is help us to gain new tools and perspectives to better navigate and overcome challenges with greater choice and ease.

What are the stages of a ketamine trip?
It varies for everyone, but many describe feeling detached from their body or thoughts, often calm or floaty. Some experience vivid imagery, emotional clarity, or a sense of perspective. [NI1]Note: Most of this content will be covered on the Ketamine page, but it will be more concise. This page is to expand and drill deeper into the experience.
What is a typical session like?

When you come to the office you will get comfortable in one of our Ketamine rooms. You are encouraged to listen to music, watch our tv visuals, meditate, or whatever you find helps you to relax. We'll start each appointment by taking your resting blood pressure and go over Ketamine administration. During your session, you will embark on a self-guided exploration where you will learn more about yourself in often unexpected ways. Throughout your appointment, Able Psychiatry staff are always available to assist with any needs you have and will be checking in on you periodically.

What should I do if I feel uncomfortable during the session?
Let your provider know right away. You’ll be supported through the experience, and your care team can adjust the environment or approach as needed.
Can I move around or get up during the session if I need to?
It’s best to remain seated or reclined for safety, as your coordination and balance may be affected. If you need anything, just let your provider know—they’re there to help.
Is there anything to look at or listen to during the session?
We offer a comfortable room with visuals to look at, but some prefer to use an eye mask to deepen introspection
How will I feel immediately after the session is over?
You may feel groggy, reflective, or emotionally open. Most people need a little time to rest and reorient before heading home with a trusted ride.
Does ketamine therapy get you high?
Ketamine can create altered states of consciousness, often described as dreamlike or dissociative. While this may feel similar to being “high,” the experience is guided and therapeutic—not recreational.