Over the past decade, ketamine therapy has emerged as one of the most promising new approaches in mental health treatment. The therapy is legal in New York City, where residents can explore this innovative option through numerous clinics offering different types of ketamine treatments.
In this article, we’ll explain what ketamine therapy is, how it works, and why InnerMost is recognized as one of the city’s leading providers of this cutting-edge care.
Ketamine is a medication that was originally developed as an anesthetic, but has more recently become sought after in psychiatry. In carefully controlled doses, it can have powerful effects in treating mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ketamine has a unique mechanism of action compared to conventional psychiatric medications, and can provide relief when first-line treatments have failed to do so.
From a neuroscientific perspective, ketamine works primarily by blocking NMDA receptors. These proteins in the brain normally respond to glutamate, a chemical messenger involved in electrical signaling. By interacting with glutamate, ketamine can enhance activity in brain regions linked to mood and emotional regulation.
Ketamine also promotes neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt and form new neural connections. This enhanced flexibility can help individuals more easily overcome negative thoughts and behaviors when paired with therapy.
Across New York, you can find several different types of ketamine therapy. At InnerMost, we provide ketamine as standalone infusions or as part of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), where the treatment is combined with therapeutic support.
We offer ketamine in several forms, including intravenous (IV) infusions, intramuscular (IM) injections, and oral tablets, so you can choose an administration method best suited to your preferences and needs.
Infusions are the most common type of ketamine therapy, and are most well-researched for treating depression and other mental health disorders, as well as chronic pain.
During ketamine IV “bolus” administration, the medication is delivered directly into your vein in a single, slow push. This allows for rapid onset of effects and efficient symptom relief. Medical staff will monitor you throughout the administration and the immediate post-bolus period, checking your vital signs and ensuring you tolerate the dose safely.
This is different from a ketamine IV drip, where you would be hooked to a catheter for the whole duration of the infusion. To our knowledge, we are the only clinic offering Ketamine bolus infusions in New York City.
Intramuscular (IM) ketamine
Im ketamine therapy is similar to IV infusions, only the medication is injected into a muscle, rather than the vein. You’ll be closely monitored following the injection to check for any side effects and remain in the clinic room until the main effects wear off.
Ketamine Infusions With Integration (KIWI) Ketamine Infusions With Integration (KIWI) leverages ketamine’s psychoactive effects, which include altered thinking and perception. The therapy typically involves two key components:
Combining ketamine with therapeutic support helps make the most of ketamine’s neuroplastic effects and increases the chance for lasting positive changes.
Ketamine Telehealth Services?
Some clinics, including InnerMost, offer partial telehealth services, where the preparation and integration sessions are done online, while ketamine administration occurs in-person at the clinic. This hybrid approach makes therapy more convenient while ensuring safety during the actual treatment.
Other clinics may allow you to administer the medicine at home by sending a postal delivery along with detailed instructions. InnerMost does not provide this type of service as we focus on offering the highest standard of care.
Spravato is the brand name for esketamine, one of the two chemical components that make up ketamine. It comes in the form of a nasal spray, which you’ll self-administer under medical supervision. Staff will monitor you for two hours after each spray, ensuring the drug effects have worn off before you go home. Spravato therapy is covered by insurance for treatment-resistant depression.
Ketamine therapy is effective for a wide range of indications. Clinical trials show it can have rapid-acting benefits for various clinical conditions, including:
Ketamine is a Schedule III controlled substance, which means it has recognized medical uses but is strictly regulated. In mental health treatment, ketamine is often used “off-label.” This means it is not FDA-approved for these specific purposes, but doctors can prescribe it if they believe it will benefit a patient, based on evidence of its effectiveness.
Spravato, by contrast, is FDA-approved for certain mental health conditions. Specifically, it is approved to treat treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and major depressive disorder with suicidal ideation (MDSI). Spravato can only be administered at authorized clinics, such as InnerMost.
Ketamine is not typically covered by insurance companies in New York. However, certain programs may offer partial coverage, such as covering the cost of administering ketamine or a limited number of sessions.
Spravato, on the other hand, is covered by most insurance companies, provided you meet the patient eligibility criteria.
At InnerMost, our team is here to support you in navigating insurance. This could include looking at what support is available or producing the required documents you need for coverage.
InnerMost is a clinical services company based in Manhattan, New York. We specialize in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, helping make meaningful, lasting changes to your quality of life using ketamine.
Unlike other clinics in New York, we emphasize integration as an integral part of ketamine therapy. This process involves unpacking ketamine experiences and any changes felt afterwards to make meaningful progress towards your wellness goals.
Sessions at InnerMost are conducted in a calm, supportive environment, with licensed and experienced clinicians at hand to ensure your safety. We’ll work with you to create a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs and track your progress along the way.
In addition to individual dosing, InnerMost offers group ketamine-assisted therapy experiences. This is a less common but highly effective approach to administering ketamine. Group sessions can support healing through fostering connection and providing a community of others on a similar journey of transformation.
If you want to know more about our services and approach, contact us to schedule a consultation.
