Long Term Care Resources

At this stage in your care, your clinical team has explained how ketamine works in addressing depression and providing relief. As a complement to this guidance, we have crafted an evidence-filled resource to deepen your understanding of what we often refer to as the “three part framework” of how treatment works.

IV ketamine treatment offers a highly effective and safe way to mitigate and manage depressive symptoms over time. That said, it is not a “cure.” For the >80% of people who realize treatment success with us following their foundation, the positive effects usually last between 2 - 10 weeks before depressive symptoms return. Success and “relief” also look different for different people. We have mapped out the phases of care following the foundation, and provided guidelines for how to engage with us over that time to realize your care goals.

Depression is a notoriously difficult condition to diagnose, measure, and track over time. You are always the best judge of how you’re feeling, though we realize it can sometimes be difficult to recognize the signs that depressive symptoms may be returning. We have provided tools to help you assess how you’re doing, and guidance around how to book a booster appointment when you believe it’s time to come back in.

Evidence reinforces that creating a safe, supportive, calming environment can help each patient establish a positive mindset that leads to better clinical outcomes. For this reason, we help each patient articulate their intentions for care and establish a set of supporting rituals that will reinforce those objectives. We have provided guidelines and best practices to make these concepts as approachable and helpful as possible.

For many patients at Ember Health, music is a key part of their infusion experience. Music can influence the visual and emotional content that comes up during infusions, and set the tone of the entire session. Patients often describe the music they select as a “container for their thoughts,” helping to progress their patterns of thinking and inspire their emotions throughout their session. Given this significance, we’ve conducted research, outlined guidance, and curated musical content for the benefit of our patient community.

Our patients consistently tell us how important it is to thoughtfully prepare for their ketamine treatments with us. The following guidelines may help you prepare both emotionally and logistically for your initial sessions. We encourage you to reflect on the questions we’ve provided and, if possible, to discuss with your mental health team in advance of your first infusion.

Patients tell us time and again how important it is to have dedicated time to “integrate” the psychological content that comes up during their sessions, take stock of how they are feeling, and make the most of the neuroplastic window following care. Evidence supports that engaging in this kind of therapeutic self-work following sessions can extend the length of mental “durability” and stretch out time between boosters. We’ve prepared guidelines for you to make the most of your personal reflections and structured conversations with trusted mental health providers following treatment.

Literature supports that ketamine treatment results in a period of increased neuroplasticity, which presents the opportunity for adaptive learning following treatment. We have endeavored to explain this phenomenon and provide guidance around how to make the most of the neuroplastic window to fulfill long term care goals.