Get ready for your first ketamine infusion...

We totally understand, your first time can be a little nerve wracking...

By far, the most common question we get about ketamine is "what is it going to feel like?"

Not so fast, let's start at the beginning:

1. All patients will first go through an initial phone or in-person interview to determine eligibility for treatment. This means meeting with one of our Nurse Partitioners or Medical Director for your free 30 minute consultation. We will go over your health history and take a set of vitals - like a quick health check-in. We will discuss what has brought you to seek ketamine infusion therapy as a potential treatment and what other therapies you have tried in the past.

2. Once we have determined that you qualify for Ketamine Infusion Therapy, we will schedule your 6 infusions together in advance. We normally recommend 2 infusions per week, over three weeks. However, we can adjust them to be more or less frequent, depending on your schedule.

3. Next you will schedule your first meeting and intension setting therapy session with our licensed ketamine psychotherapist, Jill McCormick. She will help you determine the right mindset to channel as you start your first of six infusions. Jill also has great recommendations for music and podcasts to listen to while you are getting the infusion.

4. On the day of treatment, you will be re-evaluated to ensure there have been no major changes to your physical health and that you are not currently experiencing a crisis. You will also complete a questionnaire to help us guide your treatment. Please note: You cannot have anything to eat or drink 3 hours prior to or during your infusion. We will provide you with water and a snack after your infusion is done.

5. When you are cleared for the infusion, you will be guided to our comfortable recliner. We will start an IV and begin the infusion.

6. IV ketamine treatments last 40-45 minutes per session, followed by a 15-20 minute recovery period. During this time you are welcome to sit back and relax while the infusion is going. You may bring your own headphones or use our Sony noise cancelling headphones to listen to during your infusion. We can also provide eye shades and ear plugs to help you get into a dissociated state without the outside world interfering.

7. Because ketamine is an anesthetic, infusions will always be managed by certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), who have extensive training in the use of anesthetics in the surgical setting and can manage the infusion with the utmost safety. You will be fully monitored throughout the entire infusion using state of the art equipment, including heart rate, EKG, and oxygen saturations.

8. Once the infusion is done, we will continue to monitor your vital signs until you are ready to stand and walk. Then we will guide you back to the lobby to meet with your ride.

9. Finally, we will ask you "So, what did it feel like?"

This is where you tell us the answer.