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Be brave enough to find balance

Understanding Ketamine Therapy

A Patient Guide to Safe, Personalized Treatment

Our Philosophy

Safety
Transparency
Individualized Care

At Bravely Balanced Wellness, we believe every patient deserves clear information before beginning treatment. Ketamine therapy has helped many individuals living with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other qualifying conditions, but it is not the right treatment for everyone.

Every treatment decision is made by a licensed psychiatric provider based on your unique medical history, symptoms, treatment goals, and clinical response.

How Ketamine Therapy Works

Unlike traditional antidepressants that often require several weeks before improvement is noticed, ketamine may produce improvements in mood much sooner for some individuals.

Researchers believe ketamine temporarily enhances communication between brain cells and promotes neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to create new pathways and adapt. This may help reduce symptoms while creating an opportunity for meaningful therapeutic change.

Medication alone is rarely the complete answer.

The greatest long-term success typically occurs when ketamine therapy is combined with healthy lifestyle changes, counseling, psychotherapy, and ongoing psychiatric care.

Your Treatment Is Personalized

There is no "standard dose" or one-size-fits-all treatment plan. Your provider will develop an individualized plan based on factors such as:

Current symptoms
Previous psychiatric treatment
Current medications
Medical history
Psychiatric history
Substance use history
Treatment goals
Response to previous ketamine treatments

Every follow-up appointment is an opportunity to determine whether treatment should continue, be modified, paused, or discontinued.

Understanding Your Treatment Options

If treatment is clinically appropriate, your provider may prescribe ketamine in one of three forms. Here's how each one works and what makes them different.

Nasal Spray

A metered spray absorbed through the nasal passages directly into the bloodstream.

Onset

Fastest onset

Duration

Shorter duration

Key Benefits

  • Fastest onset of the three options
  • Absorbed through nasal mucosa, bypassing first-pass liver metabolism
  • No swallowing or holding medication in the mouth
  • Convenient, discreet administration

May be right for

Patients whose provider determines a rapid-onset option is clinically appropriate and who prefer a non-oral route.

Troches

Small dissolvable lozenges held in the mouth, absorbed through the oral mucosa.

Onset

Gradual onset

Duration

Longer duration

Key Benefits

  • Slow, sustained absorption for a more gradual experience
  • Longer duration of effect compared to nasal spray
  • Easy to titrate and adjust under provider guidance
  • Commonly used for structured at-home treatment

May be right for

Patients whose provider determines a longer-acting oral option is appropriate and who are comfortable with slow-dissolving administration.

ODT (Orally Dissolving Tablets)

Tablets that dissolve rapidly on the tongue, absorbed through the oral mucosa.

Onset

Moderate onset

Duration

Moderate duration

Key Benefits

  • Dissolves more quickly than traditional troches
  • Absorbed through oral mucosa for efficient delivery
  • Precise, pre-formed dosing per tablet
  • Discreet and easy to use at home

May be right for

Patients whose provider determines a rapid-dissolving oral option is appropriate and who prefer the convenience of a tablet form.

Because the Little Things Matter, Too.

Ketamine doesn't have to taste like a clinical experience. Our pharmacy partner offers flavored troche options to help make treatment more comfortable and approachable.

Thoughtful care isn't just about what we prescribe. It's about your entire experience.

Your provider decides what's appropriate

You may share preferences, but the specific form, strength, and regimen are determined by your licensed provider based on your evaluation, safety screening, and treatment goals. Patients do not self-select prescriptions.

What to Expect During Treatment

Many patients describe ketamine treatment as a period of deep relaxation, altered perception, or increased emotional awareness. Experiences vary from person to person.

Common temporary effects may include:

Dizziness
Nausea
Sleepiness
Changes in perception
Feeling detached from surroundings
Blurred vision
Mild elevation in blood pressure
Most temporary effects gradually resolve after treatment. Your provider will discuss expected effects, potential risks, and safety precautions before treatment begins.
Calm foggy forest

Safety Is Our Highest Priority

Ketamine therapy is not appropriate for every patient. Your provider will carefully evaluate multiple factors.

Medical conditions

Cardiovascular health

Current medications

Psychiatric history

Substance use history

Previous treatment response

Potential risks and benefits

Referral when needed

Some patients may require additional evaluation, consultation, or referral before treatment can safely begin.

Active Participation Is Essential

Successful treatment requires partnership between you and your provider. Patients enrolled in our membership program are expected to actively participate in their care by:

Attending scheduled appointments
Completing monthly follow-up visits
Logging each treatment session
Completing mood and symptom tracking
Reporting side effects
Responding to provider communications
Following prescribed treatment recommendations

These tools allow your provider to safely evaluate your progress and make informed clinical decisions.

Tracking Your Progress

Our secure Patient Portal allows you to record:

Treatment dates
Medication experiences
Mood before treatment
Mood after treatment
Symptom improvement
Side effects
Questions for your provider
Personal reflections

This information becomes part of your clinical record and helps guide future treatment decisions.

Ongoing Monitoring

Every follow-up visit is a new clinical evaluation. Your provider will assess:

Symptom improvement
Overall functioning
Medication effectiveness
Side effects
Treatment adherence
Safety
Whether ketamine continues to be appropriate

Continuation of treatment is never automatic.

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Treatment Is Part of a Larger Wellness Plan

Ketamine therapy should not be viewed as a stand-alone solution. Patients often achieve the best outcomes by combining treatment with:

Individual therapy

Healthy sleep habits

Physical activity

Stress management

Strong social support

Ongoing psychiatric care

Healthy nutrition

Our goal is long-term improvement—not simply symptom suppression.

Our Commitment to Safe Care

Bravely Balanced Wellness was founded on the belief that exceptional mental healthcare begins with trust. You can expect:

Thorough psychiatric evaluations
Individualized treatment plans
Honest communication
Conservative, evidence-informed prescribing
Regular follow-up
Transparent pricing
Respect for your goals and concerns

If ketamine therapy is not the right option for you, your provider will discuss appropriate alternatives whenever possible.

Our Promise

We are committed to providing thoughtful, compassionate, and evidence-informed psychiatric care. Every treatment recommendation is made with one question in mind:

"What is in the best interest of this patient?"

Whether that means beginning treatment, adjusting treatment, or recommending a different path altogether, your provider's responsibility is to help you make safe, informed decisions that support your long-term mental health and well-being.

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