Althea NOLA
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding ketamine therapy and our approach to your care.
Our Model & Getting Started
Traditional medications like SSRIs manage symptoms through daily use. Ketamine works differently — it promotes rapid neuroplasticity, helping the brain form new connections and temporarily creating distance from entrenched patterns of depression, trauma, or anxiety. This makes the therapeutic work that surrounds it significantly more effective. For a deeper look at the science, visit our Ketamine Therapy page.
Traditional infusion clinics primarily follow a high-volume medical model: you receive the medicine, a nurse monitors your vitals, and you leave. Our model is entirely relational. You are never alone. We provide comprehensive preparation, continuous clinical presence during your session, and deep integration afterward. We are treating your entire nervous system and personal history, not just administering a chemical.
You have complete flexibility. If you have an established therapist you trust, you are entirely welcome to keep working with them. With your consent, we act as clinical partners, collaborating with them to ensure your work with us supports your ongoing goals. Alternatively, if you are looking for a therapist who specializes in psychedelic integration, we can connect you with an exceptional clinician from our curated referral network. It is also completely fine to see both your existing therapist and a specialized integration provider concurrently, provided everyone is comfortable with that collaborative care team approach.
Ambivalence is entirely welcome here. In fact, a healthy respect for altered states is a sign of a well-functioning nervous system. Our consultation process is an exploration, not a sales pitch. We encourage you to bring your skepticism, your fear, and your curiosity. If we determine together that now is not the right time, we will discuss why, explore what might be more helpful at this stage, and support you in finding the right path forward. There is never any pressure to proceed.
The honest answer is: we won't know for certain until we know you. Ketamine has strong clinical evidence for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, OCD, and existential distress, but outcomes depend on far more than diagnosis alone. Your readiness, your support system, your history, and your relationship with the clinical team all matter. A complimentary Discovery Call or a clinical intake are both good places to begin — one is a brief conversation, the other is a comprehensive clinical evaluation. Either way, we listen to your story and help you determine whether this is genuinely the right fit.
We do not process reimbursement payments from health insurance at this time. We accept payment in advance for all services. We may be able to provide a superbill upon request for out-of-network reimbursement purposes. For those facing financial challenges as a major barrier to treatment, please reach out — we are developing options to help make this work more accessible.
We believe in full transparency. You can start with a complimentary 15-minute Discovery Call or book your clinical intake directly. The clinical intake is $275 for a comprehensive 60-minute evaluation. Preparation and integration sessions are $125 each (50 minutes). Ketamine treatment sessions (IV or IM) are $575 per approximately 2-hour appointment. If you choose to have a therapist present during your ketamine session (Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy), there is an additional fee. For more detail, visit our Pricing page.
Safety, Eligibility & Medications
Yes. Ketamine is an FDA-approved medication that has been used safely in medical settings for over 50 years. It is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance by the DEA. Its use for psychiatric conditions is considered "off-label" — a common and well-established practice in medicine, similar to how beta-blockers are prescribed for anxiety even though they are FDA-approved for blood pressure. We use generic racemic ketamine, administered intravenously (IV) or intramuscularly (IM) in our clinical setting.
Ketamine does carry a potential for psychological dependence when used recreationally, at high doses, and without clinical structure. That is precisely why context matters. In our model, ketamine is administered at sub-anesthetic doses, on a defined clinical schedule, under direct clinical supervision, and always embedded within a broader treatment plan. We actively screen for substance use history, monitor your relationship with the medicine throughout treatment, and build in clinical checkpoints specifically designed to prevent dependence. The structure around the medicine is as important as the medicine itself.
We believe you deserve a straightforward answer. Physically, the most common risks during a session include a temporary increase in blood pressure, mild nausea, and dizziness, all of which we monitor and can address in real time. Psychologically, ketamine produces a dissociative altered state that can surface difficult emotions, memories, or sensations. Without proper support, that experience could feel destabilizing rather than healing. There is also the risk of using ketamine as a shortcut, bypassing the deeper therapeutic work rather than catalyzing it. Our entire model is designed to mitigate these risks: thorough medical screening, continuous clinical presence, careful dosing, and an integration process that helps you metabolize what surfaces. We do not minimize the risks. We hold them seriously so that you can engage the medicine safely.
Ketamine therapy is a medical and psychiatric intervention. To participate, you must undergo a thorough evaluation with your clinical team to establish a qualifying mental health diagnosis (such as treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, or OCD). This rigorous screening ensures the treatment is both legally sound and clinically appropriate for your specific presentation. Completing the intake does not guarantee approval for treatment — if we determine this isn't right for you, that assessment is the evaluation working as intended.
Yes. Because safety is our primary directive, certain conditions are contraindications. These include unmanaged hypertension, a history of active psychosis or schizophrenia, certain severe personality disorders, or active substance use disorders. We assess this carefully and compassionately during your medical screening.
In most cases, no. Ketamine interacts safely with a wide variety of daily psychiatric medications, including SSRIs and SNRIs. However, certain medications (like daily benzodiazepines or stimulants) can blunt or alter the efficacy of the treatment. Our medical director will review your exact medication list and create a customized protocol.
The Experience & Integration
At therapeutic doses, ketamine creates a feeling of separation from your ordinary thought patterns and physical body. Clients frequently report profound somatic relaxation, altered perceptions of time, and a unique, objective distance from the things that normally trigger them. The experience is highly individual — some find it quiet and deeply embodied, while others experience rich, visual, and expansive emotional processing. No two sessions are the same, and there is no right or wrong way to experience the medicine.
Sessions last approximately 2 hours, including arrival, preparation, the ketamine experience itself, and recovery time. You will receive ketamine at a sub-anesthetic dose via IV or IM in a comfortable clinical environment. Your clinical team is present throughout the entire experience, monitoring both your physiological state and your psychological process. You will need a ride home and should plan for a restful day afterward. We recommend avoiding major decisions, work, and driving for the remainder of the day.
It is definitely a process. While the medicine induces rapid biological shifts, lasting change requires repetition and integration. Most patients complete an induction series of 6 to 8 sessions, followed by a maintenance phase determined collaboratively with the clinical team. It is not a daily pill, nor is it a "one-and-done" solution. It is a powerful catalyst for your ongoing healing journey.
Ketamine Therapy (KT) is our base offering — a clinically supervised ketamine session with our physician and nurse practitioner present. Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) adds a therapist who is present during the ketamine session itself, providing real-time psychological support throughout the experience. During your intake, your clinical team collaborates with you to determine the level of therapist involvement that fits your specific needs. For many patients, preparation and integration sessions with a therapist are sufficient. For others — particularly those working through complex trauma, grief, or relational material — therapist presence during the session provides deeper clinical support.
Integration is where the actual healing happens. Ketamine opens a temporary window of neuroplasticity, making your brain highly adaptable. Without integration therapy, the profound insights gained during the medicine session can fade. Integration is the active process of translating those abstract, altered-state insights into concrete behavioral changes in your daily life, your relationships, and your self-perception. The medicine session is not where the healing is completed — it is where a window opens. What you do with that window is where lasting change takes root.
Ketamine works best in conjunction with preparation and integration sessions. If you do not currently have an ongoing relationship with a therapist, we will discuss options during your clinical intake. We have a range of options, including in-house staff and trusted community partners for you to choose from. You do not need to arrive with a therapist already in place — we will help you find the right fit.
Still have questions? Book your intake directly, or start with a Discovery Call.