Ketamine Treatment
in Santa Barbara

Ketamine, originally developed as an anesthetic, has emerged as a promising treatment for various psychiatric disorders. A multitude of recent studies, including one from BMC Psychiatry, have shown its potential in treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions.

For those who have tried traditional treatments repeatedly but still haven't found relief, Ketamine offers a promising alternative. It's not just about alleviating symptoms but about fundamentally transforming the way the brain processes emotions and experiences.

How Does Ketamine Treatment Work?

Ketamine acts on the NMDA receptors in the brain, promoting neuroplasticity and enhancing the brain's ability to form new, positive connections. This mechanism is believed to be responsible for its rapid antidepressant effects, often observed within hours of administration. Studies show that ketamine triggers glutamate production, prompting the brain to form new neural connections, making it more adaptable and allowing patients to develop more positive thoughts and behaviors.

Is Ketamine Treatment Right for Me?

Ketamine is a transformative option, especially for individuals experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It's especially beneficial for those who haven't found relief from traditional treatments.

As with any treatment, it's essential to consult with your therapist and healthcare professionals to determine if ketamine treatment is suitable for you. At Sun Psychiatry, our team is here to guide you through the process, ensuring you receive the best care tailored to your needs.

Benefits of Ketamine Treatment

Rapid Onset 

Unlike many antidepressants that can take weeks to show effects, ketamine often provides relief within hours.

 Breaks Through Treatment-Resistant Depression

Ketamine offers hope for those who haven't responded to traditional antidepressant treatments.

Short Treatment Duration

A series of infusions over a few weeks can lead to sustained relief for months, years, or even permanently. Typically, the treatment involves 2 injections a week for 6 weeks, totaling 12 sessions. After the initial 12 sessions, follow-up or "booster" treatments are scheduled as needed.

Patient Requirements

Regular Psychotherapy

You must have a psychotherapist whom you trust and see on a regular basis, and let them know of your intention to engage in ketamine treatment. If they have advice for you, be sure to listen to it.

Dedicated Care

Establish your clinician-patient relationship with your provider at Sun Psychiatry for all psychiatric care.

Honesty & Integrity

Provide both your therapist and our team with an honest history of psychotropic use (if any), both past and present.

Recurring Therapy Session

After each ketamine treatment session it is required that you have a scheduled appointment with your dedicated therapist before embarking on the next session with us.

Respect Yourself & Respect the Process

The journey towards mental well-being is as important as the treatment itself. We typically recommend 2 injections a week for 6 weeks, for a total of 12 sessions. After this initial course, follow-up treatments are scheduled as needed.

To ensure that you derive the maximum benefit from your ketamine treatment, we've outlined some helpful guidelines for before and after your sessions. Read them with the respect your truest self deserves.

Before Your Treatment

Set Clear Intentions

Understand why you're undergoing this treatment. Are you seeking relief from a specific symptom or hoping to gain a deeper understanding of yourself? Setting clear intentions can guide your experience.

Prepare Mentally

Approach the treatment with an open mind. Remember, every individual's experience with ketamine is unique. If you have never practiced meditation and the art of "letting go", we highly recommend integrating that into your daily routine. Start small with just a minute a day, and build from there.

Stay Informed

Familiarize yourself with the potential sensations and experiences you might encounter. This can help reduce anxiety and set clear expectations.

Trust the Process

Remember that you're in the hands of compassionate and skilled practitioners at Sun Psychiatry. We're here to guide and support you in this journey. No matter what comes up during your experience, you are safe, and you are being cared for by those with a great deal of experience.

Aftercare

Take in the Moment

After your session, give yourself time to process the experience. Avoid jumping back into your daily routine immediately. Plan ahead to relax the rest of the day as much as possible, and try not to indulge any urges to explain to your friends or family the experience you had right away. Any questions or answers that may come up for you will make more sense over time.

Journal Your Experience

Journaling can help you unpack and make sense of the emotions and insights that arise during your treatment. Note down what you felt, any revelations you had, and how you perceive these insights in the context of your daily life.

Take Time to Reflect

Over the next few days, revisit your journal. Reflecting on your experience can help integrate the insights into your daily life.

Harness the Power of Neuroplasticity

Ketamine treatment boosts neuroplasticity, making it an opportune time to form new habits and mindsets. Use this period to work on positive habits that support your mental well-being.

Stay Connected

After spending some time reflecting internally on your journey, be sure to share your experience, as well as any insights or questions that came up during your journey, first and foremost with your therapist. This can provide additional perspectives and support as you navigate your mental health journey. 

It can also be helpful to talk things over with other trusted individuals in your life. However, keep in mind that some of them may not be fully able to understand - it could beyond what many people are capable of comprehending without experiencing it themselves.

Prepare for the Next Session

If you have multiple sessions planned, use the time between them to reflect on your previous experience and set intentions for the next one.

Look Toward Your Future

Remember, the benefits of ketamine treatment extend beyond the session itself. By actively engaging in the before and aftercare process, you're setting yourself up for long-term success and well-being.

 Cost and Affordability

A typical course of treatment ranges from 6 to 12 sessions – either once or twice weekly – the scheduling of which would be assessed after a thorough evaluation with our providers, and potentially adjusted over the course of the program if deemed the most beneficial for your healing process by our practitioners.

We highly recommend purchasing pre-paid packages due to the discounts available to you by paying in advance for session bundles.

Pre-paid Packages
$1,250 for 3 (save $250)

$2,500 for 6 ($500 off)

$3,750 for 9 ($750 off)

$5,000 for 12 ($1000 off)

Pay Per-Treatment*

$500.00 per Session

These "per-session" treatments are generally recommended for patients who have already undergone a full course of ketamine injection treatments. 

Many times, clients find that the full course of their initial treatment program was enough to break through their ingrained patterns and achieve a higher state of mental wellness going forward. However, some clients find that an additional "booster" dose one or two times a year can be helpful in maintaining and improving upon the gains they've made.

*Keep in Mind: We do not recommend "trying out" a ketamine treatment by simply purchasing one session. As mentioned on this page, some experiences may be intense and confusing – this is both entirely safe and common, and why it is so important to have a regular treatment schedule that includes both our continued supervision and guidance, as well as follow-up visits with your dedicated therapist. 

This medicine can help unlock your own innate healing abilities, but it requires your intention, dedication, and commitment. While it is undoubtedly a transformative experience, it is not a "one-and-done" solution. 

Of further concern is the possibility that you might base your decision on whether to continue purchasing the next treatment on whether or not the previous session was "pleasant." You will not truly break through the internal walls we all build to "protect" ourselves if you simply decide to stop the recommended course because you encountered something emotionally challenging or conceptually overwhelming during your journey. 

Please understand, the experiences you undergo will be both directly and symbolically related to the specific intentions you bring into them as part of your healing. Often, this means addressing and experiencing some of your most challenging issues in what only can be described as a transcendental way. 

What's fascinating about ketamine is its ability to help (over the recommended course of treatment) to disassociate you from being mentally-anchored into the source of those challenges within your mind, and that it increases neuroplasticity, encouraging your brain to form new connections. In connection with journaling, introspection, counseling, and taking advantage of this enhanced mental state, you can more readily discharge patterns that haven't been serving your wellness and more easily start and stick to new habits that truly benefit you.

 Ketamine Treatments & Insurance

Ketamine treatments for behavioral/mental health services are often not covered by most insurers at this point in time (in part or in full), but we recommend checking directly with your insurance provider in advance to confirm their specific policies, as this transformative approach is rapidly evolving across the mental health field. 

In any event, we would be glad to provide a Superbill upon your request that you may be able to submit toward your out-of-network benefits.

Experience Your Transformation

Ketamine treatment is more than just another medication option. It's a transformative journey that offers hope to those who might feel they've exhausted traditional treatments. At Sun Psychiatry, our compassionate and skilled practitioners are here to ensure that your experience is both safe and effective.

Our Other Offerings