Traditional infusion clinics primarily follow a high-volume medical model: you receive the medicine, a nurse monitors your vitals, and you leave. Our concierge model is entirely relational and psychotherapeutic. You are never alone. We provide comprehensive preparation before your session, continuous clinical presence during your altered state, and deep integration therapy afterward. We are treating your entire nervous system and personal history, not just administering a chemical.

Traditional psychiatric medications (like SSRIs) often require daily use to manage symptoms. Ketamine works differently. Biologically, it promotes rapid neuroplasticity—helping the brain form new neural connections. Psychologically, it can temporarily lower the defenses that keep us locked in old patterns of depression, trauma, or anxiety. Rather than numbing the pain, it opens a window that allows you to see and process what is driving your distress with greater clarity, making the therapeutic work that surrounds it far more effective. It is not a daily pill. It is a catalyst, embedded within a comprehensive treatment plan.

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 decide together that it isn't the right time, or if we feel another modality would serve you better, we celebrate that clarity. 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. That is exactly why we begin with a complimentary Discovery Call. It is a real conversation, not a screening checklist. We listen to your story, answer your specific questions, and help you determine whether this is genuinely the right fit for where you are right now. If it is not, we will tell you honestly and help point you toward what might be.

Yes. Ketamine is a legal, FDA-approved medication that has been used safely in medical settings for over fifty years. While it is not yet FDA-approved specifically for psychiatric indications (with the exception of Spravato, the esketamine nasal spray), licensed physicians can legally prescribe ketamine off-label for conditions like depression, PTSD, and anxiety. This is a well-established and common practice in medicine. At Althea NOLA, all ketamine is prescribed and overseen by a licensed medical provider, administered in a controlled clinical environment, and used within the bounds of state and federal law.

This is one of the most important questions you can ask, and we take it seriously. 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 medical and therapeutic 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 effects 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 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.

We understand ketamine has a complex reputation as a recreational substance outside of clinical settings. In a medical environment, however, it has an incredibly robust safety profile. We ensure safety through precisely calculated sub-anesthetic doses, extensive screening for medical contraindications, continuous monitoring of your physiological state, and an unwavering, sober therapeutic presence throughout your session. You are never alone in the medicine space, and our clinical team is trained to hold whatever arises—physically or emotionally.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is a specialized medical intervention. To participate, you must undergo a thorough evaluation with our medical team to establish a qualifying diagnosis (such as treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, or generalized anxiety) and assess your overall physical health. This rigorous screening ensures the treatment is both legally sound and clinically appropriate for your specific needs. Your eligibility can only be determined after a comprehensive clinical assessment—not through the website.

Yes. Because safety is our primary directive, certain conditions are contraindications for KAP. These may include unmanaged hypertension, a history of psychosis or schizophrenia, certain severe personality disorders, active substance use disorders, pregnancy, and conditions involving elevated intracranial pressure. We assess all of this carefully and compassionately during your medical screening. If we determine that ketamine is not the right fit for you, we will communicate that honestly and, where possible, offer alternative referrals.

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 team will review your complete medication list and create a customized protocol. We will never ask you to change medications without careful coordination with your existing prescriber.

It is a process. While the medicine can produce rapid biological shifts, lasting change requires repetition and integration. Most treatment plans involve a foundational series of medicine sessions (typically four to six) surrounded by dedicated preparation and integration therapy. It is not a daily pill, nor is it a single transformative event. It is a powerful catalyst within a broader, structured healing journey.

Integration is where lasting change happens. Ketamine opens a temporary window of neuroplasticity, making your brain highly adaptable. Without integration therapy, the insights gained during the medicine session can fade. Integration is the active process of translating those experiences into concrete changes in your daily life, your relationships, and your self-perception. At Althea NOLA, preparation and integration sessions are required—not optional add-ons. If you have had difficult experiences with ketamine in other settings, it was likely because this phase was skipped or rushed. We do not rush it.

Ketamine works best in conjunction with preparation and integration sessions. If you do not currently have an ongoing relationship with a ketamine-informed practitioner—whether a therapist, psychiatrist, social worker, or other qualified clinician—we will discuss your options during the medical intake. To maximize the benefits and reduce potential harm, all patients at Althea NOLA are required to engage in preparation sessions before treatment and integration sessions afterward. We have a range of options available, including in-house clinicians and trusted community partners for you to choose from.

Absolutely. If you have an established therapist you trust, you are entirely welcome to continue working with them. With your consent, we collaborate with your existing provider to ensure your KAP work supports your ongoing therapeutic goals. If you are looking for a therapist who specializes in psychedelic integration, we can also connect you with a clinician from our referral network. It is also fine to see both your existing therapist and a specialized integration provider concurrently, as long as everyone on your care team is comfortable with that collaborative approach.

We believe in pricing transparency. Our current fees are:

• Discovery Call: Complimentary
• Medical Intake: $275 (60 minutes, in-person or virtual)
• Preparation or Integration Session: $125 (50 minutes, in-person or virtual)
• IV or IM Treatment Session: $675 (2-hour appointment)

We believe cost should not be the only barrier to quality care. If treatment presents a financial hardship, please reach out to us directly. We may be able to work with you.

We do not process reimbursement payments from health insurance at this time. Payment is collected in advance for all services. We can provide you with a detailed receipt (a "superbill") that you may submit to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement, though we cannot guarantee coverage. If cost is a significant barrier, please ask us about accessibility options during your Discovery Call.

At Althea NOLA, we primarily administer ketamine via IV (intravenous) infusion and IM (intramuscular) injection. Both routes allow for precise dosing and real-time adjustment, which is important for both safety and therapeutic depth. Some patients may eventually transition to sublingual (under-the-tongue) treatment sessions in their therapist's office as part of their ongoing care plan. The best route for you will be determined collaboratively during your medical intake and preparation sessions.

The first step is simply a conversation. You can reach out to schedule a complimentary Discovery Call. This is a brief, no-pressure phone conversation where we listen to your story, answer your specific questions, and help you determine whether our concierge model is the right clinical fit for your healing journey. There is no intake form, no clinical paperwork, and no obligation. If we sense this isn't the right fit or the right time, we will say so plainly.