Our Approach
An Integrative Ketamine Clinic
Most ketamine clinics follow a high-volume medical model: you receive the medicine, a nurse monitors your vitals, and you leave. Our model is built on a fundamentally different belief — that the medicine works best within an authentic clinical partnership, where preparation, presence, and integration are woven into every step.
At Althea NOLA, every patient receives comprehensive preparation before, clinical supervision during, and deep integration after each ketamine session. With your consent, we collaborate directly with your existing therapist or providers so your care stays connected and you never have to start your story over. This is what makes our approach integrative — the medicine is the catalyst, not the entire treatment.
What We Offer
Our Services
Every patient follows a customized treatment plan developed during the intake process. This includes a Clinical Intake with our medical team, a Care Mapping Session with another member of your care team before your first infusion, clinically supervised ketamine sessions, and ongoing preparation and integration sessions where lasting change takes root. Most patients complete an induction series of 6 to 8 medicine sessions, followed by maintenance as determined collaboratively by the clinical team and patient.
During your Care Mapping Session, your clinical team works with you to determine the level of therapist involvement that fits your specific needs. For some patients, preparation and integration sessions are sufficient. For others — particularly those working through complex trauma, grief, or relational material — having a therapist present during the ketamine session itself (Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy) provides deeper clinical support.
Book a clinical intake →We offer small, intentional group ketamine experiences and integration circles for established patients who have completed individual preparation and are clinically appropriate for group work. We also host non-ketamine community events designed to support connection and ongoing healing.
Preparation and integration are foundational components of our integrative model. Sessions may take place with an Althea NOLA clinician, or with a matched partner practitioner determined during your Care Mapping Session based on your needs, preferences, and clinical considerations. Standalone sessions are also available for patients working with an outside ketamine provider.
Althea NOLA
Interactive Care Map
Important Clinical & Legal Notice
This interactive guide walks you through what integrative ketamine therapy looks like at Althea NOLA. It is for educational purposes only.
- Diagnosis Necessary: Ketamine therapy requires a qualifying mental health diagnosis determined during your clinical intake. This tool does not diagnose or determine eligibility.
- Complete Privacy: This tool does not collect, save, or transmit any personal health information.
- No Clinical Relationship: Using this tool does not establish a clinical relationship with Althea NOLA.
If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, please call 911, 988 (suicide/crisis lifeline), or go to your nearest emergency room.
Step 1 of 2
What brings you here?
Select the statement that resonates most right now.
Your Guide
Your Path Through the Work
An integrative model means every step is clinically rigorous and deeply relational.
A brief, no-pressure phone or video call. We listen, answer your questions, and help you decide if the next step feels right. If it isn't the right fit, we'll say so plainly. If it is, your next step is the clinical intake.
Why this matters for you:
A thorough evaluation with your clinical team. We review your history, medications, and clinical picture to determine whether ketamine is safe and appropriate. Completing the intake does not guarantee approval — if it isn't right, that's the intake working as intended. If we move forward together, your next step is a Care Mapping Session.
Why this matters for you:
A 50-minute appointment with another member of your Althea NOLA care team before your first infusion, and your first preparation session. Together we explore your intentions and goals for treatment, talk about your support network, and discuss how we approach music and the infusion experience. When needed, we also connect you with a therapist or integration support provider who is the right fit for you and your goals.
Why this matters for you:
You receive ketamine at a sub-anesthetic dose in a controlled clinical environment, with your team present throughout. The session is where a window opens — what you do with it in the weeks that follow is where lasting change takes root.
Why this matters for you:
Integration is the active work of translating what surfaced during the medicine into concrete changes in your daily life. Often more demanding than the session itself. Without it, even the most profound experiences fade.
Why this matters for you:
Inside the Room
What to Expect During a Session
A ketamine session at Althea NOLA lasts approximately two hours. Here is what that time looks like, step by step.
Arrival & Check-In
You arrive at the clinic and are welcomed into a private, comfortable treatment room. Your clinician checks in with you — how you're feeling, anything that came up since your preparation session, and any intentions you want to carry into the experience. Vitals are taken. There is no rush.
Settling In
You get comfortable — reclining chair, blanket, eye mask and headphones if you choose them. Your clinician walks you through what to expect from the medicine, answers any last questions, and helps your nervous system settle before anything is administered.
Medicine Administration
Ketamine is administered intravenously (IV) or intramuscularly (IM) — the route is determined collaboratively with your clinical team based on your needs and comfort. For IV, the infusion runs approximately 45 minutes at a carefully controlled rate. For IM, the injection is given in a single dose with onset typically within minutes. Both routes deliver a sub-anesthetic dose: enough to safely facilitate an expanded state of awareness, and open a therapeutic window.
The Experience
The ketamine state is often described as dreamlike, spacious, or deeply reflective. Some people experience imagery or emotional shifts. Others feel a sense of distance from habitual thought patterns. There is no right or wrong way to experience the medicine — and no two sessions are the same.
A trained clinician remains present throughout. If you have opted for Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), your therapist is in the room — not directing the experience, but attuned to what surfaces and available if you need support.
Coming Back
As the medicine wears off, you'll gradually return to your normal state of awareness. This transition is gentle — most patients describe feeling calm, open, and a little spacious. Your clinician stays with you through this period, checking vitals and offering water. There is no pressure to talk, process, or perform insight.
After the Session
Before you leave, your clinician does a final check-in. You'll receive guidance on what to expect over the next 24–48 hours. You should not drive for the rest of the day — please arrange a ride home in advance.
Your integration session, typically scheduled within a few days, is where the real translation work begins: taking what surfaced during the medicine and grounding it into your daily life.