Mental Health Practice

What Is a Mental Health Practice Offering Ketamine Therapy?

A mental health practice that offers ketamine therapy combines medication-based treatment with psychotherapy or counseling services. These practices are typically run by licensed therapists, psychologists, or psychiatric nurse practitioners who have added ketamine to their treatment toolkit. The distinguishing feature is the emphasis on therapy integration, meaning the ketamine sessions are designed to work alongside ongoing psychotherapy.

At a mental health practice, ketamine is most commonly administered as sublingual lozenges, nasal spray (including Spravato, the FDA-approved esketamine nasal spray), or intramuscular injections. Some practices partner with infusion providers for IV delivery. The route depends on the provider's licensure, training, and the specific protocols they follow.

What sets mental health practices apart is the focus on the psychological component of treatment. Many of these providers offer ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), where a therapist guides you through the experience and helps you process the thoughts and emotions that arise during and after sessions. Research suggests that combining ketamine with therapy may enhance and extend the antidepressant effects compared to ketamine alone.

With 111 providers in this category, mental health practices offer a meaningful alternative to standalone infusion clinics. If your primary goal is treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other psychiatric conditions, working with a mental health practice can provide a more integrated treatment approach that addresses both the biological and psychological dimensions of your condition.

What to Expect

Your first visit will typically involve a comprehensive psychological assessment. The provider will review your mental health history, current symptoms, previous treatments, and goals for ketamine therapy. This evaluation is usually more in-depth than what you would receive at an infusion-only clinic because the provider is assessing your needs from a therapeutic perspective.

During a ketamine-assisted therapy session, you may spend time with a therapist before, during, and after the medication is administered. Some practices have you take the ketamine and then engage in guided therapy during the experience. Others provide the ketamine session first and schedule a therapy session shortly after to process the experience. The format varies, so ask how the practice structures their sessions.

Treatment plans at mental health practices tend to be more individualized. Rather than following a fixed six-infusion protocol, your provider may adjust the frequency and dosing based on your therapeutic progress and the themes emerging in your therapy work.

How to Choose a Provider

Look for providers who have specific training in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, not just a general mental health license. Ask about their training background, how many patients they have treated with ketamine, and what therapeutic framework they use during sessions.

Find out how they structure the integration between ketamine and therapy. A strong practice will have a clear protocol for preparation sessions before your first dose, support during the experience, and integration work afterward. Ask whether the same provider handles both the medication and the therapy, or whether these roles are split between team members.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP)?

KAP is a treatment model where ketamine is administered in conjunction with psychotherapy sessions. A therapist works with you before, during, or after the ketamine experience to help you explore and process emotions, memories, and insights that arise. The goal is to combine the neurobiological effects of ketamine with therapeutic support.

Do I need to already be in therapy to start ketamine at a mental health practice?

Not necessarily. Many mental health practices will take new patients and establish a therapeutic relationship as part of the ketamine treatment program. However, if you already have a therapist, the practice may want to coordinate with them. Some providers require a referral or prior therapy history.

Is therapy integration really necessary with ketamine treatment?

It is not strictly required, but evidence suggests it helps. Research indicates that therapy integration can extend the duration of ketamine's antidepressant effects and help you apply insights from the sessions to your daily life. For trauma-related conditions like PTSD, therapeutic support is particularly recommended.

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