---
type: Service
title: Ketamine Therapy
description: Physician-supervised, office-based ketamine treatment (primarily intramuscular) offered off-label for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, chronic pain, and related conditions.
resource: https://carmahealth.com/services/ketamine-therapy
tags: [carmahealth, service, ketamine, depression, ptsd]
timestamp: 2026-07-08T20:00:00Z
---

# Ketamine Therapy

## Overview

Ketamine therapy (KT) at [CARMAhealth](../carmahealth.md) is an office-based treatment in which ketamine is administered primarily by intramuscular (IM) injection, with intravenous (IV) infusion available case-by-case. A physician is on-site for every session, and treatment plans are designed by board-certified physicians. When indicated, CARMAhealth collaborates with therapists for preparation, in-session support, and post-session integration. The site describes ketamine's mechanism as acting on NMDA receptors to promote rapid synaptic neuroplasticity, distinct from serotonin- or norepinephrine-targeting antidepressants. KT can be coordinated with [medication management](./medication-management.md), [TMS therapy](./tms-therapy.md), or [Spravato](./spravato.md). Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic (since 1970, per the site) and used off-label for psychiatric conditions; the FDA-approved esketamine form is covered under the separate [Spravato](./spravato.md) service.

## How it works (as described by the provider)

1. **Psychiatric evaluation** — a [psychiatric evaluation](./psychiatric-evaluation.md) determines whether KT is appropriate.
2. **Preparation** — intention-setting and expectation-setting; when therapist support is part of the plan, the patient meets a trained KT therapist beforehand.
3. **Sessions** — the patient reclines in a softly lit room with optional music and eye shades while ketamine is administered IM; heart rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure are monitored before and after each session. The experience typically lasts 45 to 60 minutes; patients remain conscious and may feel relaxation, heightened perception, or detachment. A typical course for depression is six sessions.
4. **Integration** — post-session integration work, with therapist support when part of the plan; the physician monitors progress and adjusts treatment.

## Conditions addressed

Per the site, KT is typically recommended for patients who have not responded adequately to other treatments, including:

- [Treatment-resistant depression](../conditions/treatment-resistant-depression.md) / [depression](../conditions/depression.md)
- [PTSD](../conditions/ptsd.md)
- [Substance use disorders](../conditions/substance-use-disorder.md) (listed in the page's framing of office-based KT)
- Chronic pain conditions and acute suicidal ideation (mentioned by the site; no dedicated concept pages in this bundle)

## Availability & locations

An in-person, office-based service; the telehealth page states patients needing ketamine therapy are referred to in-person locations in [Austin](../locations/austin-tx.md) or [Dripping Springs](../locations/dripping-springs-tx.md). Availability at [Coral Springs, FL](../locations/coral-springs-fl.md): unable to verify from the source pages. Program contact given: (512) 212-4670 or ketamine@carmahealth.com.

## Insurance & payment

The site states insurance plans do not currently cover IV, IM, or oral ketamine for psychiatric conditions; cost varies by session count and plan (a typical depression course is six sessions). Spravato is presented as the insurance-covered alternative.

## Claims noted

- The site claims a roughly 70 percent response rate for treatment-resistant depression and that patients often feel improvement within hours rather than weeks.
- The site cites a systematic review in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs that ketamine combined with psychotherapy can initiate and prolong clinically significant reductions in pain, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.
- The site cites research in Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology that repeated ketamine administration significantly improved PTSD symptoms versus active placebo.
- The site cites Harvard Health on the need for qualified medical supervision of ketamine therapy.

## Sources

- Canonical page: https://carmahealth.com/services/ketamine-therapy
- Machine-readable mirror: https://mr.carmahealth.com/services/ketamine-therapy
- Retrieved 2026-07-08.