Question: “Why do you emphasize specific exercises after my infusion? Isn’t the medication enough?”

Ketamine is not a magic eraser; it is an agent of neuroplasticity. The infusion opens a crucial 48-to-72-hour window where your brain produces high levels of BDNF and forms new synaptic connections rapidly.

Think of ketamine as softening hard clay. If you soften the clay but return immediately to old toxic environments, rumination, or complete physical immobility, the clay will simply harden back into its old shape.

Our proprietary reprogramming protocol utilizes this plastic window. For pain patients, we reintroduce gentle, non-threatening movement to re-map the motor cortex. For mood patients, we integrate structured cognitive and mindfulness tasks to establish positive, resilient neural highways. The infusion provides 50% of the biological opportunity; the post-infusion reprogramming solidifies the permanent architectural change.

Whether you are suffering from treatment-resistant depression or complex chronic pain, we are dedicated to helping you restore function and reclaim your life.

If you have questions about our treatments or want to discuss whether ketamine is right for you, contact our team at info@renewketamineinfusion.com or book a consultation at our Tustin or San Juan Capistrano clinics.

Cheers,

Dr. Justin Yanuck, MD

Renew Ketamine Infusion

Tustin & San Juan Capistrano, CA

The post The Science of the 72-Hour Neuroplastic Window: Why Reprogramming Matters appeared first on Renew Ketamine Infusion.

Question: “I just had a baby and I feel completely hopeless. Why is ketamine a breakthrough for postpartum depression?”

Postpartum depression occurs during a critical bonding window between mother and infant. Traditional SSRIs can take 6 to 8 weeks to show an effect—a timeframe that is simply too long when a family is in crisis.

The dramatic hormonal shifts after childbirth cause rapid neurochemical changes and synaptic degradation in vulnerable women. Ketamine’s mechanism offers rapid reversal of this synaptic loss. Clinical response often occurs within 24 hours of the first or second infusion.

By rapidly restoring synaptic connections in mood-regulating centers, ketamine gives mothers the emotional bandwidth and cognitive energy needed to care for themselves and connect with their newborn. We coordinate directly with OB-GYNs and psychiatrists to ensure care plans are safe, structured, and comprehensive.

Whether you are suffering from treatment-resistant depression or complex chronic pain, we are dedicated to helping you restore function and reclaim your life.

If you have questions about our treatments or want to discuss whether ketamine is right for you, contact our team at info@renewketamineinfusion.com or book a consultation at our Tustin or San Juan Capistrano clinics.

Cheers,

Dr. Tanya Dall, MD

Renew Ketamine Infusion

Tustin & San Juan Capistrano, CA

The post Postpartum Depression: The Need for Rapid Biological Relief appeared first on Renew Ketamine Infusion.

Question: “I’m nervous about my first ketamine session. What actually happens during the treatment?”

It is completely normal to feel apprehensive before your first infusion. At Renew, we have structured our clinic environment to eliminate stress. You will be relaxed in a quiet, private treatment room equipped with comfortable seating, dim lighting, and continuous medical monitoring equipment.

To prepare:

• Fasting: Do not consume solid food for 4 hours prior to your session to prevent nausea.
• Attire: Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
• Auditory Setup: We provide noise-canceling headphones and carefully curated, non-lyrical instrumental playlists to guide your experience.

Our clinical team administers the medication slowly via a computer-controlled infusion pump. Most mood infusions last 40 minutes, followed by a quiet recovery period until you feel fully grounded. You will need a designated driver to take you home, and we recommend keeping the rest of your day restful and low-stress.

Whether you are suffering from treatment-resistant depression or complex chronic pain, we are dedicated to helping you restore function and reclaim your life.

If you have questions about our treatments or want to discuss whether ketamine is right for you, contact our team at info@renewketamineinfusion.com or book a consultation at our Tustin or San Juan Capistrano clinics.

Cheers,

Dr. Justin Yanuck, MD

Renew Ketamine Infusion

Tustin & San Juan Capistrano, CA

The post Preparing for Your First Infusion: What to Expect at Renew appeared first on Renew Ketamine Infusion.

Question: “My anxiety creates constant internal chatter that I can’t shut off. How does ketamine quiet this down?”

Severe anxiety is closely linked to hyperactivity in the Default Mode Network (DMN)—a network of interacting brain regions active when a person is reflecting, worrying, or ruminating about the past and future. When the DMN runs out of control, it creates a loop of “what-if” scenarios, panic, and cognitive paralysis.

Functional neuroimaging shows that during a ketamine infusion, activity in the DMN is transiently down-regulated. This provides an immediate break from rumination and self-referential fear.

Following the infusion, as new synaptic connections sprout, the prefrontal cortex gains enhanced executive control over hyperactive emotional circuits. Patients describe this as finally having functional “brakes” on their thoughts, allowing them to remain grounded in the present moment.

Whether you are suffering from treatment-resistant depression or complex chronic pain, we are dedicated to helping you restore function and reclaim your life.

If you have questions about our treatments or want to discuss whether ketamine is right for you, contact our team at info@renewketamineinfusion.com or book a consultation at our Tustin or San Juan Capistrano clinics.

Cheers,

Dr. Tanya Dall, MD

Renew Ketamine Infusion

Tustin & San Juan Capistrano, CA

The post Quieting the Default Mode Network in Anxiety appeared first on Renew Ketamine Infusion.

Question: “I constantly feel like I’m on edge and waiting for the next emergency. Can ketamine reset my PTSD?”

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) reflects a profound breakdown in communication between the prefrontal cortex (the brain’s rational center) and the amygdala (the fear center). Chronic trauma causes hyper-reactivity in the amygdala while simultaneously pruning connections in the prefrontal cortex. The brain’s fire alarm becomes permanently stuck in the “ON” position.

Clinical trials reveal that IV ketamine rapidly reduces PTSD symptom severity. Ketamine alters NMDA-dependent memory reconsolidation. It opens a brief neurological window where painful traumatic memories can be processed without triggering a overwhelming physiological fear response.

By promoting rapid synaptogenesis between the logical brain and the emotional brain, ketamine allows patients to step out of constant survival mode and regain emotional stability.

Whether you are suffering from treatment-resistant depression or complex chronic pain, we are dedicated to helping you restore function and reclaim your life.

If you have questions about our treatments or want to discuss whether ketamine is right for you, contact our team at info@renewketamineinfusion.com or book a consultation at our Tustin or San Juan Capistrano clinics.

Cheers,

Dr. Justin Yanuck, MD

Renew Ketamine Infusion

Tustin & San Juan Capistrano, CA

The post PTSD and the Overactive Alarm System appeared first on Renew Ketamine Infusion.

Question: “Why isn’t IV ketamine fully covered by insurance, and how can I get reimbursed?”

While the FDA approved Spravato (esketamine nasal spray) for treatment-resistant depression—which insurance frequently covers—IV ketamine infusions remain classified as “off-label” for pain and mood disorders. Insurance companies move slowly to update coverage policies, despite robust clinical trial data supporting IV administration.

At Renew, we prioritize total financial transparency.

When evaluating cost, we encourage patients to weigh the ongoing financial burden of ineffective daily medications, specialist co-pays, lost work productivity, and disability. Investing in a definitive protocol that restores function is often the most cost-effective path toward long-term health.

Whether you are suffering from treatment-resistant depression or complex chronic pain, we are dedicated to helping you restore function and reclaim your life.

If you have questions about our treatments or want to discuss whether ketamine is right for you, contact our team at info@renewketamineinfusion.com or book a consultation at our Tustin or San Juan Capistrano clinics.

Cheers,

Dr. Tanya Dall, MD

Renew Ketamine Infusion

Tustin & San Juan Capistrano, CA

The post The Reality of Ketamine Costs, Insurance, and Superbills appeared first on Renew Ketamine Infusion.

Those are the right questions to ask before you ever sit in a treatment chair, and we answer them every day at Renew Ketamine Infusion. Our physician-led team provides ketamine therapy combined with integrative psychotherapy at clinics in Tustin, San Juan Capistrano, and Seal Beach. This guide covers what we tell patients about getting home safely, side effects, how long results last, and how to find us locally.

Do I Need Someone to Drive Me Home After Ketamine Treatment?

Yes. Please arrange a ride before your appointment. Ketamine can leave you tired, and it can alter your judgment and your ability to operate a vehicle for the rest of the day. We would never want a good treatment session to end with an unsafe drive.

Here is how we suggest you plan the rest of your day:

• Line up your ride in advance. A family member or friend who can pick you up works well.
• Keep the evening light. Our physician, Dr. Justin Yanuck, recommends having little to no work obligations after treatment on the day itself. Some patients notice slower thinking or talking for a few hours, and a clear schedule removes the pressure.
• Expect to be back to normal the next day. Most people resume normal activities the next day. Some of our patients are working professionals who return to work the day after treatment without trouble.
• Be gentle with your emotions. You may feel heightened emotions for the next few days. That is a normal part of the process, and it is one reason we pair treatment with psychotherapy.

Before you arrive, we also ask that you eat a meal about 4 hours before your treatment and limit yourself to small sips of water within 2 hours of treatment. Being hydrated and fed helps with nausea, which we cover below.

Your visit itself takes about 1.5 to 2 hours for IV ketamine and 2 to 2.5 hours for Spravato. During that time you stay in our clinic under close observation. You arrive through a private and discreet entrance, you will not see other patients, and you are never alone.

What Are the Side Effects of Ketamine Therapy?

Anytime you take a medicine, you should know the possible side effects. It is a fair question, and it is the one our doctors hear most. Ketamine is a very dose-dependent medicine. At high doses it is used for anesthesia, and at lower doses it is used for mental health. Clinically, side effects tend to show up in line with dose, and the doses we use in an outpatient setting are low and infrequent.

For a deeper look from our physician, you can read his full answer on our page about the side effects of ketamine. Here is a summary of what we see in our clinics.

Nausea

Nausea is the most common side effect we see, and it is usually mild. It is more noticeable for people who are prone to nausea or get motion sickness easily. We give everyone anti-nausea medicine before each treatment, whether it is IV ketamine or the nasal spray Spravato. If you have no nausea after your first treatment, we hold off on the anti-nausea medicine next time.

Nausea is very rarely limiting. Most patients have none, and when it happens it is often mild. A few simple steps help:

• Arrive well hydrated.
• Eat a meal about 4 hours before treatment.
• Keep your eye mask on until the very end if you feel queasy. Under ketamine, what we see and what our head feels can disconnect, and that disconnect can heighten nausea. This simple trick has saved many patients from vomiting.

If nausea is stronger, we have other medicines we can give. Only a couple of patients have ever vomited in our clinic.

Constipation

Constipation can occur. We suspect most of it comes from the anti-nausea medicine rather than ketamine itself. Severe constipation is rare and almost always happens in people with a history of constipation.

Headache

Headache affects fewer than 10% of patients. It lasts only that day and responds well to Tylenol. It does not tend to make migraines worse, though people who get migraines should prepare for the possibility. If you ever have the worst headache of your life, a sudden onset headache, weakness, or vision changes, seek medical care immediately. That has never been the case for our patients to date.

Brain Fog

Some patients feel slower in processing speed, talking, or thinking. It lasts a day at most, and it is rarely disruptive. Many people do not notice it at all. For those who do, we reassure them that it will not last forever. Ketamine expands neural networks, and this brief slowdown is often a sign that your brain is responding to the medicine.

Other Effects You May Notice

During and after treatment, some patients experience impaired coordination, dissociation, or confusion. Ketamine can also temporarily raise heart rate and blood pressure.

Bladder Pain

Bladder pain is very rare. We have seen it only twice, and both times it was unclear whether ketamine was the cause. A ketamine metabolite can irritate the bladder as it leaves the body, but this is typically seen with recreational use, daily high doses, or very high-dose IV treatment over several days in a hospital. Our doses are low and no more frequent than twice weekly. If you already have bladder problems, we encourage you to hydrate well before and after treatment and to empty your bladder several times in the hours that follow.

How We Reduce Risk Before You Start

Our job is to reduce the risk of rare side effects to near zero, and most of that work happens before treatment. We conduct an extensive consultation with a series of questions to assess your risk factors. For people with underlying heart disease, we take extra care. That can mean premedication, clearance from a cardiologist, or, if the risk is too high, not proceeding with ketamine therapy at all.

We also do not treat everyone. Ketamine is not appropriate for people with uncontrolled blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, active substance abuse where withdrawal could be deadly, a history of brain bleed, aneurysm, or arteriovenous malformation, psychosis or active mania, acute suicidal ideation, a ketamine allergy, untreated thyroid disease, or glaucoma. You can find more answers in our frequently asked questions.

We also take addiction and misuse seriously. The existing data does not show evidence of ketamine being addictive, and our staff monitors you throughout treatment. We reserve the right to withhold treatment if we suspect signs of addiction or misuse.

How Long Do the Effects of Ketamine Therapy Last?

There are two timelines to understand: how quickly you may feel something, and how long relief may last.

How fast. Many people notice effects within hours. For depression, ketamine can reduce symptoms within 2 to 8 hours, while traditional antidepressants often take weeks to months. For PTSD, some patients notice a sense of lightness and joy almost immediately.

How long. Effects can last a month or more. The goal of our program is sustained relief after a set treatment plan, not a medication you take for the rest of your life. For IV ketamine, a typical plan is 2 sessions a week for 3 weeks. If you need support later, additional enhancement sessions are available.

What makes relief last longer? We believe the answer is psychotherapy. Ketamine acts as a catalyst, and therapy helps you process your experience and build new ways of responding to your thoughts and triggers. That is why we require an integrated psychotherapy program rather than simply recommending one. Our process also includes workbook exercises, regular check-ins with our clinical team, and free weekly Reset Sessions, which are live, guided practices with meditation and breathwork. Private sessions are available if you prefer.

We also want to be honest. Up to 20% of patients can be non-responders. To track your progress, we encourage you to use the mood assessments through Osmind, a platform we partner with. If treatment is not helping, we work with you to find alternative care. You are never charged up front for sessions, only per session.

Where Can I Find Ketamine Therapy in Tustin, CA?

If you live or work in Tustin, our clinic is at:

Renew Ketamine Infusion, Tustin 17581 Irvine Boulevard, Suite 114 Tustin, California 92780 Phone: 949-503-1414

Our Tustin clinic is a tranquil, quiet, calming environment, designed with intention to support healing. Our founders, Dr. Tanya Dall and Dr. Justin Yanuck, are Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physicians, and Dr. Yanuck is also a Board Certified Pain Medicine Physician. Both have experience using ketamine in their daily practice.

You will also find a team of licensed therapists who work with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, along with providers including Jasmyn FNP, Susan PMHNP-BC, and Emily PA-C. Our therapists include Maria Lloyd, LMFT, Elizabeth Cappelletti, LMFT, Kai Lewis, LMFT, and Sabrina Owen, LMFT.

If you want to explore treatment in Tustin, you can request a free consultation through the form on our Tustin page, or call us directly.

Where Can I Find Ketamine Therapy in San Juan Capistrano, CA?

Our San Juan Capistrano clinic is where Renew began, and it is open to patients across the area:

Renew Ketamine Infusion, San Juan Capistrano 30230 Rancho Viejo Rd, Ste 134 San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 Phone: (949) 503-1414

Our San Juan Capistrano clinic offers the same physician-led approach, with a team that includes Sheila PA-C, Riley FNP, and Emily PA-C, along with our licensed therapists. Dr. Lisa Stockdale, a licensed psychologist, also supports our San Juan Capistrano clinic as part of our multidisciplinary team.

We are open Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am to 6:30 pm, or by appointment, at all of our locations. If you are closer to the coast, we also have a clinic in Seal Beach.

What Happens at Your First Visit

If you are still deciding, here is what the path looks like from first contact to treatment:

1. Book a free exploration call. A specialized Renew team member discusses treatment options and eligibility and answers your questions. We offer next-day or same-week intakes.
2. Meet with a physician by video. You receive a thorough medical evaluation, including screening for medical issues such as vitamin and thyroid problems that can mimic depression. We build an individualized treatment plan. You do not need a physician referral.
3. Schedule your sessions. If you work with one of our therapists, we coordinate your sessions so they happen close to your ketamine treatment.
4. Arrive and settle in. Our staff takes your vitals, guides you through a short meditation, and gets you comfortable in a recliner with an eye mask, noise-canceling headphones, and a curated playlist.
5. Receive your treatment. For IV ketamine, you receive an treatment over 40 minutes through a small IV placed by one of our nurses. You can pause or stop at any time if needed.
6. Process and integrate. After treatment, you take time to settle, meet with your psychotherapist, and continue with workbook exercises and check-ins.

Between sessions, we stay in touch by phone or text so you are never left waiting for a callback.

Take the Next Step With Us

Safety, aftercare, and local access are the details that make ketamine therapy feel manageable instead of overwhelming. Plan your ride, prepare with a meal and plenty of water, and give yourself an easy rest of the day. Expect relief that can begin within hours and last a month or more, and know that our team will be with you at every stage.

If you are ready to talk, we would be glad to hear from you. Schedule a free exploration call, call us at 949-503-1414, or email info@renewketamineinfusion.com. Whether you are in Tustin, San Juan Capistrano, or nearby, we are here to help you renew your outlook.

The post Ketamine Therapy Safety, Aftercare, Duration & Local Treatment Options appeared first on Renew Ketamine Infusion.

Question: “Is IV ketamine safe, and what precautions are taken during my infusion?”

Ketamine was approved by the FDA in 1970 as a surgical anesthetic and is listed on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines. Its primary safety advantage in emergency and surgical settings is that it does not suppress primary airway reflexes or respiratory drive, unlike opioids or traditional sedatives.

In our clinical environment in Tustin and San Juan Capistrano, we use sub-anesthetic doses—a small fraction of surgical anesthesia levels. Every patient undergoes rigorous medical screening led by our board-certified physicians. During the infusion, we continuously monitor cardiac rhythm, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, and respiratory status.

Side effects during treatment—such as transient blood pressure elevation, mild nausea, or feeling floaty—are temporary and resolve shortly after the infusion pump is turned off. When administered by experienced physicians in a controlled medical setting, sub-anesthetic IV ketamine has an exceptionally high safety profile.

Whether you are suffering from treatment-resistant depression or complex chronic pain, we are dedicated to helping you restore function and reclaim your life.

If you have questions about our treatments or want to discuss whether ketamine is right for you, contact our team at info@renewketamineinfusion.com or book a consultation at our Tustin or San Juan Capistrano clinics.

Cheers,

Dr. Tanya Dall, MD

Renew Ketamine Infusion

Tustin & San Juan Capistrano, CA

The post Is Ketamine Safe? A Dual-Board-Certified Physician’s Perspective appeared first on Renew Ketamine Infusion.

Question: “I’ve tried three different SSRIs and my depression hasn’t changed. Why are traditional antidepressants failing me?”

Traditional antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs) attempt to flood the synaptic cleft with monoamines like serotonin. However, if years of chronic stress have caused significant dendritic pruning, there is no physical architecture left to receive those serotonin signals. It’s like trying to make a phone call when the cell towers are down; adding more signal doesn’t fix missing hardware.

This explains why SSRIs take 6 to 8 weeks to show minimal effects—they rely on slow, indirect downstream gene expression changes to stimulate mild neuroplasticity.

Ketamine bypasses the monoamine system entirely. As an NMDA antagonist, it acts directly on glutamate pathways to trigger immediate synaptogenesis. Instead of waiting two months to see if a chemical tweak works, ketamine begins repairing neural architecture within hours, providing rapid relief even for treatment-resistant depression.

Whether you are suffering from treatment-resistant depression or complex chronic pain, we are dedicated to helping you restore function and reclaim your life.

If you have questions about our treatments or want to discuss whether ketamine is right for you, contact our team at info@renewketamineinfusion.com or book a consultation at our Tustin or San Juan Capistrano clinics.

Cheers,

Dr. Justin Yanuck, MD

Renew Ketamine Infusion

Tustin & San Juan Capistrano, CA

The post Why Traditional Antidepressants (SSRIs) Fail appeared first on Renew Ketamine Infusion.

At Renew Ketamine Infusion, we provide physician-led ketamine therapy combined with integrative psychotherapy at our locations in San Juan Capistrano, Seal Beach, and Tustin. Below, we take the four questions we hear most and answer each one honestly: can ketamine therapy help with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain?

Can Ketamine Therapy Help With Treatment-Resistant Depression?

For many people, yes. Treatment-resistant depression describes depression that has not improved after two or more antidepressants. If that sounds familiar, you are not alone, and it does not mean you are out of options.

Ketamine has been shown to be extremely effective and safe for patients with depression, including treatment-resistant depression. One of the biggest differences is speed. Ketamine can reduce depressive symptoms rapidly, within 2 to 8 hours, while traditional antidepressants often take weeks to months to work.

The contrast does not stop at speed. Many traditional antidepressants come with side effects such as reduced libido, weight gain, GI upset, and mood disturbances. They also tend to require daily use for months to years, and even when they work, some people stay on them for the long term. Ketamine is different in how we use it. It is not a medication meant to be taken for the rest of your life. Our goal is sustained relief after a set treatment plan, and in most patients, treatment has been shown to lead to resolution of symptoms without the need for further medications. Additional enhancement sessions are available as needed.

We also pay attention to a gap that many people fall into. A significant subset of patients do not get meaningful relief from traditional cognitive behavioral therapy. We think of ketamine as a catalyst. It stimulates a patient’s innate capacity for psychological healing, and when you pair it with therapists trained to work with neuroplastic therapies, it can open the door to deep psychological healing and real breakthroughs.

Before we recommend any treatment, we also look for other explanations. Our physicians screen for vitamin and thyroid problems that can mimic depression, because treating the wrong cause helps no one. If you would like to learn more about our approach, visit our page on ketamine therapy for depression.

Can Ketamine Therapy Help With Anxiety?

Anxiety is often treated with medications that work poorly, carry addictive properties, or cause side effects such as brain fog and drowsiness. Over time, many of those treatments lose their effect and provide only temporary relief. If that has been your experience, it is reasonable to look for something different.

When ketamine is combined with our integrative psychotherapy, it can lead to significant relief of anxiety. The therapy part matters as much as the medicine. During the integration process that follows, patients often gain a better understanding of their anxiety and learn to reframe many of the triggers that provoke it.

There is also a biological side to the story. Ketamine has properties that allow for rewiring of the brain, including new synapse formation and repair of existing synapses. In practical terms, that gives people room to change patterns that felt fixed. We often hear that patients come away feeling they have the power to heal from within and to take control of their relationship with anxiety.

If anxiety is your main concern, our page on ketamine therapy for anxiety goes deeper into what treatment looks like.

Can Ketamine Therapy Help With PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a major public health concern. It affects up to 7% of Americans, and as many as half of all Americans with PTSD get inadequate relief from traditional treatments, which include antidepressants, antipsychotics, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Ketamine combined with psychotherapy has been shown to be very effective at reducing the symptoms of PTSD, and the effects last well beyond its near-immediate relief. Researchers have proposed many mechanisms for how ketamine works in PTSD, and the science continues to develop.

We want to be clear about one point, because it is a common worry. Ketamine will not make you forget your trauma. What it can do is allow you to reacquaint yourself with what happened from an emotionally neutral perspective. You can acknowledge that it occurred without being continually re-traumatized by thinking about it. Depending on the patient, outcomes can be noticed almost immediately, with a sense of lightness and joy. Ketamine followed by psychotherapy has been shown to lead to significant relief from the burdens of PTSD.

That sequence is why we do not treat ketamine as a stand-alone answer. The medication creates an opening, and psychotherapy helps you use it. You can read more on our page about ketamine therapy for PTSD.

Can Ketamine Therapy Help With Chronic Pain?

This is the question where we believe in giving the most careful answer. Our co-founder, Dr. Justin Yanuck, is a Board Certified Pain Medicine Physician. From personal experience, he has had patients with chronic pain, including fibromyalgia, who found significant relief of their symptoms with ketamine-assisted therapy. He is equally direct about the limits. Ketamine-assisted therapy will definitely not work for everyone with chronic pain, and each patient needs a thorough evaluation to make sure they are an adequate candidate for a trial.

The research is still growing. The current evidence for ketamine-assisted therapy in chronic pain is fairly mixed, and most studies looked only at ketamine without any assisted psychotherapy. Ketamine can provide relief on its own, and the mechanisms for this have been well studied. Even so, we feel strongly that its real potential, especially for people with chronic pain, comes when it is combined with psychotherapy. Therapy gives you space to process the experience and to build new psychological frameworks for handling both internal and external stimuli.

Pain is complex, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is not one-size-fits-all. Our treatment plan gives people with treatment-resistant chronic pain, and even those with opiate dependence, a chance to try a different approach. Because we treat both mental health and chronic pain conditions, we can look at the whole picture, since pain and mood often affect each other. To see how we approach this locally, visit our page on chronic pain treatment in Orange County.

Why Psychotherapy Is Part of Every Treatment Plan

You may have noticed the same idea in every answer above. We believe ketamine is an important tool in the healing process, and that an integrated psychotherapy program is just as important. Many ketamine clinics only recommend working with a therapist. We require it, and we give you access to experts in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

In practice, that means your care does not end when your treatment session does. After treatment, you meet with a psychotherapist, either your own or one we work with, to help process the experience. Our team also provides workbook exercises, free weekly Reset Sessions that focus on gratitude, meditation, and breathwork, and regular check-ins with our clinical team. If you want more support, we offer optional coaching programs. Everything is designed so that the relief you feel can become lasting change.

What Treatment Looks Like at Renew

It helps to know what to expect before you decide. Here is how it works:

1. A free exploration call. You speak with a specialized Renew team member about treatment options and eligibility and get your questions answered.
2. A virtual physician consultation. A specialty-trained Renew physician reviews your medical history, goes through a thorough medical evaluation, and builds an individualized treatment plan. We do not believe in giving everyone the same dose and the same number of treatment sessions.
3. Scheduling your sessions. For IV ketamine, treatment is typically 2 sessions a week for 3 weeks. Spravato follows its own FDA treatment guide.
4. Your treatment session. A nurse places a small IV in your arm, and the treatment runs over 40 minutes. You relax in a recliner in a private, spa-like setting with an eye mask, noise-canceling headphones, and a curated playlist. A staff member stays with you the entire time, and you can pause or stop at any point.
5. Integration. You meet with your psychotherapist and continue with the support described above.

Plan on about 1.5 to 2 hours for an IV ketamine visit and 2 to 2.5 hours for Spravato. You will need a ride home, because ketamine can leave you tired and affect your judgment and your ability to drive for the rest of the day. We recommend no food for 4 hours before treatment and only small sips of water within 2 hours. Most people return to normal activities the next day, though heightened emotions can last for a few days.

Many patients notice effects within hours, and those effects can last a month or more. Ketamine is well tolerated, but you may experience nausea, impaired coordination, dissociation, or confusion during treatment.

Is Ketamine Therapy Safe, and Who Should Not Receive It?

We consider ketamine safe for almost everyone, and it is a medicine that has been used widely and daily for its safety profile for pain control. Safety still depends on the right screening, which is why every patient has a physician evaluation first.

Ketamine is not right for people with uncontrolled blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, active substance abuse where withdrawal could be deadly (such as benzodiazepines or alcohol), a history of brain bleed, blood vessel aneurysm, or arteriovenous malformation, psychosis, active mania, delusions, or hallucinations, acute suicidal ideation, an allergy to ketamine, untreated thyroid disease, or glaucoma. If you are unsure whether something applies to you, ask us. We review your medications with you in detail, and most can be taken throughout the program.

We also take addiction and misuse seriously. The existing data does not show evidence of ketamine being addictive, and our staff monitors you throughout treatment. We only promote the therapeutic, safe, and legal use of ketamine under the supervision of our medical team.

What If Ketamine Does Not Work for Me?

We would rather tell you the truth than make a promise we cannot keep. Up to 20% of patients can be non-responders. To track your progress together, we encourage the use of mood assessment tools through Osmind, a platform we partner with. It also makes scheduling easier and lets you share your progress with your primary care providers if you choose.

If treatment is not helping, we work with you to find alternative care. You are never charged up front for sessions, only per session.

Your Next Step: Start With a Conversation

Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain can make it hard to believe that things can change. Ketamine therapy does not work for everyone, but for many people who have not found relief elsewhere, it opens a path that medication alone did not. The best way to find out whether it can help you is to talk with a physician who looks at your whole situation.

We offer a free exploration call and a free physician consultation, and we offer next-day or same-week intakes because we know that waiting is hard. Our team stays directly reachable between sessions. You can call us at (949) 503-1414 or email info@renewketamineinfusion.com. We are open Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am to 6:30 pm, or by appointment.

Schedule your free exploration call today, and let us help you take the next step toward renewing your outlook.

The post Ketamine Therapy for Depression, Anxiety, PTSD & Chronic Pain appeared first on Renew Ketamine Infusion.