Ketamine Therapy Services


We specialize in providing Ketamine Therapy Services as part of our continuum of services available to patients seeking help breaking through complex mental health barriers.




TRANSFORMATIVE TREATMENT

Cutting-Edge Care

While ketamine therapy is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of any mental illness, it is the topic of intense research, with some studies demonstrating that it can be beneficial for certain patients who have not responded ideally to traditional interventions, such as psychopharmacology and psychotherapy. Our clinicians carefully assess each individual to determine who may be candidates for ketamine infusion therapy before integrating it into a treatment plan. An important component of the assessment process for patients who elect to try ketamine treatment is education about the potential risks and benefits of this novel treatment modality. Whether provided through Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) Services, or as a standalone treatment (Ketamine-Only Therapy Services), all of Hightop Health’s ketamine services are provided in our clinics to ensure safety, appropriate monitoring of patients, and to prevent possible misuse of the agent.

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WHAT TO EXPECT

Ketamine Therapy Services Process

Hightop Health provides ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and ketamine-only therapy options. All ketamine services involve the following phases:

1

INTAKE & EVALUATION 

First, you’ll meet with a medical provider for an intake evaluation to determine whether ketamine therapy is appropriate and assess any relevant risk factors, such as certain comorbid medical conditions, that may prevent eligibility.

2

PREPARATION

KAP patients meet with their therapist to establish a foundation for treatment and get familiar with the space and process. Ketamine-only patients may prepare independently or by completing the KAP Patient Workbook.

3

SESSIONS & MAINTENANCE

Patients complete six to eight two-hour appointments, either two or three times per week. KAP appointments include additional preparation and integration work with a KAP Therapist. Maintenance sessions are scheduled as needed to prevent further symptoms.

HOW IT WORKS

Understanding Ketamine Therapy Services

Hightop Health offers Ketamine Therapy Services, which utilizes a dissociative anesthetic that may be helpful in treating mental health conditions, such as treatment-resistant depression and other complex mental health conditions in which traditional interventions, such as medications and psychotherapy, have not resulted in adequate improvements. Ongoing investigations suggest that some patients report rapid and significant improvement in acute suicidality and depression when dosed with ketamine, though not all patients benefit from the treatment.

It’s important to note that some patients may have dissociative episodes or other frightening experiences during treatment with ketamine, for which having a therapist present during the sessions may be helpful. Other patients receiving ketamine describe experiencing very meaningful and influential thoughts or feelings during sessions and want the opportunity to explore those things with a therapist.  It is impossible to predict what someone may experience during ketamine infusions. As a result, some patients elect to involve a therapist while others do not.

Regardless of treatment type, attention to safety and tolerability is standard at Hightop Health. Ketamine treatments are always administered in a private clinical setting and under strict medical supervision to ensure maximum safety and efficacy. Unlike others who offer Ketamine Therapy Services, our patients receive ketamine infusions in a private, relaxing room rather than a shared room with multiple patients. Hightop Health clinicians and support staff are specially trained and experienced in administering ketamine therapy, ensuring patients receive the supportive and passionate care required.

During sessions, patients are comfortably reclined and encouraged to wear specially-made eyeshades for a deeper experience. Curated playlists are provided, which are intentionally unfamiliar and lack lyrics that may distract from the ketamine experience. Ketamine is administered via intramuscular injection (usually in the shoulder) or intravenous (IV) infusion. The experience generally unfolds over 60 minutes, with additional time for recovery and ongoing monitoring after administration.

GET ANSWERS

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to commonly asked questions about our Ketamine Therapy Services and Hightop Health’s approach to offering comprehensive, integrative care. Learn about what conditions can potentially benefit from Ketamine Therapy Services.

Ketamine is an anesthetic agent that has also been shown in some research studies to improve mood in patients with difficult-to-treat depression, and even decrease suicidal ideation. It’s important to note that Ketamine therapy is not approved for clinical use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

While there are different treatment options, ketamine is safely administered via intramuscular injection (usually in the shoulder) or intravenous (IV) infusion. The experience generally unfolds over 60 minutes. More specifically, KAP is an innovative approach that pairs ketamine’s transformational impact with a psychotherapist’s skilled care to support change at the deepest levels. KAP patients receive treatment with a therapist who guides them through the entire session, while ketamine-only patients are monitored by our clinical staff who are standing by and available to come into the treatment room upon request. As such, emergency buttons are in the room so patients can request assistance anytime. We invest completely in preparation and integration, as well as the Ketamine Therapy Services experience itself, to offer a truly comprehensive approach to treatment.

Hightop Health differentiates itself by providing extensive monitoring of patients who are undergoing ketamine treatments. Regardless of which ketamine therapy option a patient chooses, they will be fully supported by our staff of Medical Assistants and Advanced Practice Providers. In general, patients who are considering Ketamine Therapy Services need to be closely monitored in a state-of-the-art clinical setting to ensure that the intervention is safe, and potential effectiveness of the ketamine treatment is maximized. We prioritize safety, comfort, and information-sharing to ensure that our patients understand and appreciate the potential risks and benefits of ketamine treatment.

In addition to medication and therapy, our interdisciplinary team of Psychiatrists, Advanced Practice Providers, Medical Assistants, and Psychotherapists always consider important factors such as environment, diet, exercise, meditation, and social support in your treatment plan. Most ketamine providers follow a single protocol for every patient. In contrast, our team designs a customized treatment plan based on your needs, goals, and history.

When you arrive at one of our clinics for Ketamine Therapy Services, you’ll immediately notice the peaceful experience we curate for our patients. From the music we play in our lobby to the lighting and overall ambiance, we take the time to create the safest and most serene environment from the moment patients walk through the door.

The ketamine dose prescribed for mood and anxiety disorders, significantly smaller than that used for anesthesia, is very low and considered by many clinicians to be safe when administered by trained medical professionals. During treatment, blood pressure and heart rate may increase, so patients are closely monitored, and individuals with certain health conditions may not be eligible for ketamine treatment, including:

  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women
  • Individuals with schizophrenia or those currently experiencing a manic episode
  • Individuals with untreated high blood pressure
  • Individuals with a history of heart disease hyperthyroidism

Your expert diagnostic assessment will help determine for whom the potential benefit of ketamine treatment might outweigh the associated risks.

As with every treatment, it is not possible to predict how any individual will experience ketamine administration or if it will help improve their mood symptoms. However, we have seen significant progress in some patients in a short period of time. In some cases, after just three sessions, we’ve seen patients become brighter and more lively when they arrive at the clinic, which is often a noticeable improvement from their initial visit. While ketamine is not approved by the FDA to treat any psychiatric indication at this time, it is an ongoing area of investigation for Hightop Health. Our in-house clinical research studies are contributing to the field’s understanding of the potential roles for ketamine and other novel biologic agents in treating psychiatric conditions.

The effects of ketamine can vary from person to person and even from one treatment to another. Generally, some patients might experience mild visual effects, such as seeing colors, which could be described as mild hallucinations. Nausea or lightheadedness could occur as well. Less frequently, some patients become fearful, disoriented, or even feel like they are having an out-of-body experience during treatment. Our trained staff will be available to help manage any reaction to the treatment to ensure safety and maximize tolerability.

Related Blog Posts

Discover more about Ketamine Therapy Services and other novel treatments Hightop Health offers through these insightful blog posts.

  • Is Ketamine Really Safe To Use As A Treatment for Depression?

    The recent tragic death of beloved actor Matthew Perry has spurred a number of questions and legitimate concerns from healthcare…

    Read More

  • What’s Better for Treatment-Resistant Depression? Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Ketamine, or SPRAVATO®(Esketamine)?

    Many of my patients who come to me for a treatment resistant evaluation wonder what’s wrong with them that the…

    Read More

  • Ketamine for Depression? How Do I Know If It’s Right For Me?

    Ketamine is an anesthesia and pain management medication developed over 40 years ago that doctors and patients soon recognized had…

    Read More

  • Should I Get Ketamine Through the Vein (IV), by Mouth, as a Nasal Spray, or Shot in the Muscle/Skin?

    I would love to answer this question in a very precise scientific manner with extensive research studies to support my…

    Read More

  • Is Ketamine a Cure for Depression?

    When patients with depression who have not done well with traditional oral antidepressants come to my clinic for other options,…

    Read More

  • How to Maintain Your Ketamine Success

    Patients’ stories abound demonstrating the rapid and robust antidepressant and antianxiety effects of ketamine. And there is substantial scientific research…

    Read More

  • Psychedelics in Psychiatry: Coming Back Down to Reality

    If you have any interest in new treatments for mental health conditions, you cannot escape being bombarded by the hype…

    Read More
Load More
Blog Post Image

Is Ketamine Really Safe To Use As A Treatment for Depression?

The recent tragic death of beloved actor Matthew Perry has spurred a number of questions and legitimate concerns from healthcare…

Learn More
Blog Post Image

What’s Better for Treatment-Resistant Depression? Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Ketamine, or SPRAVATO®(Esketamine)?

Many of my patients who come to me for a treatment resistant evaluation wonder what’s wrong with them that the…

Learn More
Blog Post Image

Ketamine for Depression? How Do I Know If It’s Right For Me?

Ketamine is an anesthesia and pain management medication developed over 40 years ago that doctors and patients soon recognized had…

Learn More
Blog Post Image

Should I Get Ketamine Through the Vein (IV), by Mouth, as a Nasal Spray, or Shot in the Muscle/Skin?

I would love to answer this question in a very precise scientific manner with extensive research studies to support my…

Learn More
Blog Post Image

Is Ketamine a Cure for Depression?

When patients with depression who have not done well with traditional oral antidepressants come to my clinic for other options,…

Learn More
Blog Post Image

How to Maintain Your Ketamine Success

Patients’ stories abound demonstrating the rapid and robust antidepressant and antianxiety effects of ketamine. And there is substantial scientific research…

Learn More
Blog Post Image

Psychedelics in Psychiatry: Coming Back Down to Reality

If you have any interest in new treatments for mental health conditions, you cannot escape being bombarded by the hype…

Learn More
quotes

“Ketamine treatment is one of many interventional treatments we offer and is a groundbreaking option for patients who have not found relief with traditional therapies. We have years of experience administering this therapy and have seen rapid and sustained improvements in patients’ mood and quality of life, often after long periods of struggling with depression and other mood and anxiety disorders.”

– Michael Banov, MD

Medical Director, Psych Atlanta




Learn More or Get Started With Ketamine Therapy Services

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