How to find Ketamine Therapy in NYC for Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma Relief

Ketamine therapy has emerged as a promising option for those seeking relief from anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges in New York City. With options like Ketamine Infusion Therapy (KIT) and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), it’s essential to understand the differences and benefits of each approach. 

This blog post covers the recommended timeline for IV ketamine treatment, the typical costs involved, and how to determine whether KIT or KAP is the best fit for your needs.

By understanding these factors, you can make an informed decision about ketamine therapy in NYC and find the approach that aligns with your mental health needs and goals.

What is the Timeline for IV Ketamine Treatment in NYC?

KIT's gold standard introductory treatment course is six infusion sessions over two or three weeks. The cadence is normally three infusions per week for two consecutive weeks or two infusions per week for three consecutive weeks. 

This is dependent on your personal schedule and the appointment availability at your chosen clinic. 

Most clinics will accommodate a deviation from this cadence if necessary, although always with the caveat that it may impact full efficacy. Many people still experience worthwhile benefits even if they cannot follow the recommended schedule strictly.

Once the introductory course of six treatments is complete, some people choose to continue with maintenance treatments. This usually takes the form of one or two sole infusions at the cadence of their choice. There is wide variation. 

Some people come in for a maintenance infusion once a month, some once a year or less, and everywhere in between (although most clinics will not accommodate maintenance more than once a month). 

Most clinics will allow you to schedule a maintenance treatment without purchasing the six-session introductory package if you have already received a full course of ketamine treatment elsewhere.

Ketamine Therapy NYC Cost

Cost of Ketamine Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in New York City

Ketamine administration to treat mental health, no matter the route, is not covered by insurance. 

This is because the official FDA indication for ketamine is as an anesthetic agent or as a treatment for chronic pain and not for the treatment of psychiatric conditions.

Therefore, the provision of ketamine for depression, anxiety, or PTSD is considered off-label use.

Off-label means it is not being used for its intended purpose as per the FDA (this is a legal prescribing practice and occurs quite commonly; for example, beta-blocker cardiac medication is routinely and legally prescribed off-label for anxiety). 

Is Ketamine Therapy Covered by Insurance?

Insurance companies will not cover the off-label use of ketamine. Therefore, you have to pay out-of-pocket for mental health ketamine treatment.

There is variability in the cost, but the average at an IV clinic is $500 - $600 per infusion. A sole-proprietor clinician who offers administration in their private office is usually a bit more expensive, sometimes nearing $800 or more per three-hour session (and this is usually sublingual or IM).

If you have out-of-network insurance, some clinics provide superbills to submit for reimbursement (although usually only the intake assessment is covered). Most insurance companies will reimburse for one hour of the three-hour therapy session for KAP treatments with a therapist.

Many clinics accept HSA, FSA, and CareCredit plans and provide other financing options.

Ketamine Infusion Therapy (KIT) vs. Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): Which is Right for You?

The ketamine world of clinicians, researchers, and scientists seems to be loosely divided into two separate paradigms: those who believe in the biomedical model (KIT), and those who believe in the merging of the biomedical model with a holistic, consciousness-raising, or psychedelic framework (KAP).

Many professionals believe that KIT alone is sufficient in that it has rapid antidepressant effects and can pull you out from under the black cloud. This is especially relevant in cases of severe depression in which the patient is non-functional or actively suicidal. (Of note, much of the research on ketamine’s mental health benefits has been conducted following the KIT model only and has shown substantial evidence supporting the positive outcomes of this approach). 

The KIT-only paradigm does not believe that facilitating a psychedelic experience or emphasizing conjunctive integration therapy is mandatory (although they are not necessarily opposed to it). 

Similarly, most in the psychedelic paradigm are not opposed to KIT without therapy if that will acutely benefit the patient. However, they firmly believe that engaging in a holistic treatment course, featuring carefully-timed integration therapy, is necessary in order to achieve full efficacy.

How to Choose Between KIT and KAP in NYC's Psychedelic Therapy Landscape

The bottom line is that the benefit of KIT vs. KAP depends on the individual patient's specific needs, mindset, beliefs, and desired approach.

There is indeed a plethora of biomedical-model ketamine clinics in which no emphasis is placed on set & setting, holism, or even personalized quality of care. For them, a ketamine infusion is nothing more than inserting an IV, hanging a bag of fluid, turning on the pump, and leaving you alone with minimal attention. 

Many of these clinics are not owned or operated by mental health professionals but rather by anesthesiologists or other medical personnel with no experience in psychiatry and no knowledge or familiarity with altered states of consciousness.

It’s important to do your research before committing to a Ketamine Clinic in NYC—they vary greatly.

Finding Holistic KIT Clinics that Support KAP Principles

However, some KIT-only clinics are certainly pro-KAP. These types of clinics employ providers who have mental health experience and licensure, provide therapeutic interaction before and after the infusion, and facilitate psychedelic experiences.

This is done via careful attention to set & setting, by establishing warm and trusting relationships with their patients, and by utilizing their own beliefs and personal experiences with the power of this medicine. 

If you are exploring KIT / KAP for yourself, it would benefit you to ask potential clinics about the setting of their infusions and the approach and experience of their clinicians.

Here is a list of questions to ask a potential ketamine clinic:

• Are there specific measures in place to ensure a calm, comfortable environment? For instance, do you use soft lighting, calming music, or other ambiance-enhancing elements?

• What role does mental health support play during and after the infusion?

• Can you describe your clinic's 'set and setting' approach for each session?

• What kind of support is available if a client feels overwhelmed or anxious during an infusion?

• Are your clinicians licensed in fields like psychiatry, psychology, or psychotherapy? Do they have experience with altered states of consciousness and psychedelic integration?

• Is there a pre-infusion consultation process, and what does it include?

• Do you offer integration therapy or sessions to help process the experience and apply insights gained during treatment?

• Are there options for combining Ketamine Infusion Therapy (KIT) with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)?

• Who monitors the infusions, and how frequently do they check in?

• Do you provide any resources or recommendations for pre- or post-session self-care?

• Are there suggestions for grounding practices, journaling prompts, or other tools to help clients process their experience?

Stella Center NY is an example of a KIT clinic that is pro-KAP and pro-facilitation of psychedelic experiences.

Choosing the right ketamine clinic is a vital step in ensuring a safe, supportive, and transformative healing journey.

By asking the right questions about setting, therapeutic support, and clinician expertise, you can find a clinic that aligns with your needs and values, whether you’re considering Ketamine Infusion Therapy (KIT) or Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP).

A holistic, personalized approach can make a profound difference in your experience, helping you maximize the potential benefits of ketamine therapy for anxiety, depression, and personal growth.

If you’re considering ketamine therapy in New York City, reach out to Third Nature Therapy for a holistic KAP approach, or connect with Stella Center for targeted KIT support.

More notes on psychedelics:

Amanda Vogel is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 16 years of clinical experience working in behavioral health and emergency psychiatry. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from New York University and her Master of Science degree from Stony Brook University. In 2019, she helped initiate, design, and operate the ketamine infusion service for psychiatric inpatients at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Convinced of this medicine’s potential to catalyze true healing, she has moved into working with ketamine as her primary focus. Naturally inclined toward humanistic care, she approaches her work every day with empathy, curiosity, and compassion.