Conditions We Treat

Think of the mind like a pond on a windy day. Thoughts and emotions are like raindrops and gusts striking the surface — constant disturbance, making it impossible to see anything clearly beneath. Depression keeps that surface agitated. You lose sight of what is underneath.

Ketamine quiets that surface. It calms the part of the brain responsible for the looping, repetitive thinking that fuels depression — what neuroscientists call the default mode network. When that chatter settles, even temporarily, patients often describe it as a fog lifting, or a windshield suddenly becoming clear. In that stillness, insights can surface, perspective can shift, and the brain enters a state of heightened neuroplasticity — where new patterns of thinking and feeling can actually take hold.

But the medicine alone is only part of it. Real change happens when those insights are integrated into daily life — which is why our approach pairs every treatment with structured support before, during, and after.

Imagine you have been stuck inside a room for a long time — so long that you have forgotten there is anything outside of it. The walls feel like the whole world. Depression, anxiety, trauma — they can do that. They shrink your sense of what is possible.

During a ketamine session, many people describe stepping outside that room for the first time. Not losing control — more like gaining perspective. Thoughts and emotions that normally feel overwhelming can be observed from a distance, almost like watching clouds pass through the sky rather than being caught in the storm. Some patients describe a deep stillness. Others notice memories or emotions surfacing gently, without the usual charge.

The experience is different for everyone, and not every session feels profound. What matters most is what you do with what comes up — which is where integration and guidance make the real difference.

Most traditional treatments work on the surface — adjusting brain chemistry, managing symptoms, helping you cope with what you are feeling. That matters. But for many people, it is not enough. The underlying patterns remain.

Think of it this way: depression, anxiety, and OCD are, at their core, thought illnesses. Depression is the mind stuck ruminating about the past. Anxiety is the mind stuck ruminating about the future. OCD is the mind stuck in repetitive loops it cannot escape. The thoughts generate the feelings, and eventually the person fully identifies with them — “I am depressed” rather than “I am experiencing depression.” That is the trap.

Ketamine works differently because it interrupts that cycle at a deeper level. It temporarily quiets the overactive thinking mind and opens a window where the brain is more flexible, more receptive — more able to learn new ways of relating to itself. When you combine that window with the right guidance, the right practices, and the right support, real and lasting shifts become possible.

This is one of the most common concerns we hear, and it makes sense. The idea of an altered state can feel intimidating — especially for people already dealing with anxiety or a sense of being out of control.

Here is what we have learned from thousands of treatments: the experience is not about losing control. It is closer to the opposite. Many patients describe it as the first time they have been able to step back from their thoughts and observe them clearly, rather than being swept away by them. One patient put it simply: “I felt clear for the first time in years. Not numb — just present.”

You are never alone during treatment. Our clinical team monitors you continuously in a calm, private environment designed to feel safe. We prepare you before each session, stay with you throughout, and support you afterward. Safety is not just a protocol for us — it is the foundation everything else is built on.

Spravato is an FDA-approved nasal spray made from esketamine — a close relative of ketamine. It is specifically approved for treatment-resistant depression and for depressive symptoms associated with suicidal thoughts, and it may be covered by insurance.

Ketamine therapy is more flexible in how it can be used and is commonly considered for a broader range of conditions — depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, postpartum depression. The experience tends to be different as well. Many patients find ketamine sessions involve a deeper, more reflective state.

Both work on the same core principle: temporarily quieting the overactive thinking mind and creating a window of neuroplasticity where real change can take root. The right choice depends on your symptoms, history, insurance, and personal goals. During a consultation, we help you understand which path makes the most sense for you.

No. You do not need a formal diagnosis before reaching out. Many of the people who come to us know something is not right — they feel stuck, exhausted, or disconnected — but they may not have a specific label for it. That is okay.

We begin with a thorough evaluation where we take time to understand your experience — not just your symptoms, but how they show up in your life, what you have tried, and what you are hoping for. From there, we determine together whether treatment is appropriate and which approach may be the best fit. We evaluate the whole person, not just a diagnosis.

Yes. Postpartum depression can bring overwhelming sadness, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and a painful disconnection from the moments that should matter most. Because that window is short, treatments that may work within days rather than weeks can make a real difference. Ketamine is considered case by case, and breastfeeding and medication timing are reviewed in your evaluation. Verify the breastfeeding wording with the clinical team.

Trauma keeps the nervous system locked in survival mode long after the danger has passed. Ketamine can create the distance needed for the nervous system to begin releasing what it has been holding without being overwhelmed, and at Reyou a trauma therapist is part of the integration team. It is used for PTSD, complex trauma, and trauma that shows up as anxiety or depression.

Ketamine is used for OCD, where it may loosen the rigid loops the mind gets caught in. For bipolar II with mostly depressive symptoms and for alcohol use disorder, ketamine is considered after a careful psychiatric evaluation, because mood stabilization and safety come first. We will tell you plainly if it is not the right fit.