Ketamine Therapy
Ketamine Therapy for Depression and Mental Health
When depression hasn’t budged despite everything you’ve tried, there may be a different path forward. Ketamine therapy works differently than traditional treatments — and at Ellie, we make sure you don’t have to navigate it alone.
What you can achieve with ketamine therapy
Some people have tried medication after medication, year after year, and still wake up feeling like the weight hasn’t lifted. If that’s where you are, it doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It means your brain may need a different kind of support — and ketamine therapy is one of the most meaningful advances in mental health treatment in decades.
Ketamine is an FDA-approved anesthetic that, at lower therapeutic doses, has shown rapid and meaningful antidepressant effects — often within hours or days, not weeks. It works through a different neurological mechanism than traditional antidepressants, targeting the glutamate system and promoting new neural connections in areas of the brain affected by depression. (Source: Murrough JW, et al. Antidepressant Efficacy of Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression. American Journal of Psychiatry, 2013.)
Here’s what ketamine therapy at Ellie can support:
- Create rapid relief from severe or persistent depressive symptoms that haven’t responded to other treatments
- Reduce suicidal ideation in people experiencing acute crisis alongside depression
- Help ease PTSD symptoms by interrupting entrenched fear and avoidance patterns
- Lessen the grip of treatment-resistant anxiety when other approaches have plateaued
- Open a window of neuroplasticity — a period where the brain is more receptive to therapeutic work
- Work alongside talk therapy to help you move forward more effectively during and after treatment
Ketamine therapy is typically delivered in a clinical setting with close monitoring. Treatment schedules vary depending on the form used and your individual needs, and your care team will work with you to build a plan that fits.
Ellie’s promise for your mental health care
Ketamine therapy is still new to many people, and we understand that “new” can feel uncertain. You might have questions. You might be cautiously hopeful after a long stretch of things not working. That’s exactly where we want to meet you.
At Ellie, our commitment is to make this process feel supported, clear, and human from the first conversation.
That means:
- We explain ketamine therapy in plain language — how it works, what to expect, and how it fits into a broader care plan
- We take your history seriously and conduct a thorough evaluation before recommending any treatment
- We help you navigate insurance coverage upfront, so you’re not left guessing about costs
- We pair ketamine therapy with ongoing clinical support, because the treatment works best when it’s part of a larger picture of care
- We stay in close contact throughout your treatment course — checking in, adjusting, and staying available
- We treat every person who walks through our doors with the same respect: your story matters, your goals matter, and your experience in our care matters
This is a real option for people who have been told they’ve run out of options. Ellie is here to walk that path with you.
Frequently Asked Questions for Ketamine Therapy
Not sure what to expect? These are the questions people ask us before they get started.
When administered in a clinical setting by trained providers, ketamine therapy has a well-established safety profile. It is FDA-approved as an anesthetic, and esketamine (Spravato) has specific FDA approval for treatment-resistant depression. Side effects can include temporary dissociation, dizziness, nausea, or elevated blood pressure during treatment, which are monitored closely by your care team. A thorough evaluation before treatment helps ensure it is appropriate for you.
Therapeutic ketamine is administered at carefully measured, sub-anesthetic doses in a supervised clinical environment. The intention, the dose, the setting, and the monitoring are entirely different from recreational use. The goal is measured, evidence-based symptom relief — not dissociation for its own sake. Your care team is present throughout the session and remains in contact before and after.
One of ketamine’s most significant distinguishing features is how quickly it can act. Many people report noticeable improvements in mood within hours to days of their first treatment — a meaningful contrast to traditional antidepressants, which often take four to six weeks. That said, individual responses vary, and a full treatment course and follow-up plan are important for lasting benefit.
Insurance coverage for ketamine therapy varies significantly. Esketamine (Spravato) administered in a clinical setting is more likely to be covered by major insurance plans when medical criteria are met. IV ketamine infusions are generally considered off-label and less commonly covered. Our team will review your specific benefits with you before you begin so you have a clear and honest picture of your costs.
Experiences vary by person and by delivery method. Many people report a sense of calm, mild perceptual shifts, or a feeling of emotional distance from distressing thoughts during the session. Some describe it as dreamlike. Sessions are conducted in a comfortable, monitored setting, and you will not be alone at any point. You should plan not to drive on the day of treatment, so arranging a ride is part of the preparation.
No — and in fact, the two work best together. Ketamine is thought to open a window of neuroplasticity, a period in which the brain may be more receptive to new patterns and insights. Talk therapy during or after this window can help you make the most of that openness. Many people find that ketamine helps them engage with therapy in ways that previously felt stuck or inaccessible.
Treatment protocols vary depending on your diagnosis, the delivery method, and your response to initial sessions. A typical induction series for IV ketamine involves several infusions over two to three weeks. Esketamine (Spravato) follows an FDA-approved schedule of twice-weekly sessions initially, tapering over time. Your clinician will work with you to develop a plan and adjust it based on how you respond.