Golden Afternoon is Los Angeles’s only personalized, physician-operated, boutique IV ketamine clinic. Breakthrough relief for post-traumatic stress disorder — in a safe, compassionate, spa-like setting in Santa Monica, CA.
Book a Free Phone ScreeningPTSD rewires the brain — keeping trauma responses locked in an endless loop long after the original event has passed. Traditional treatments like SSRIs and prolonged exposure therapy help many people, but for those with treatment-resistant PTSD, relief can feel out of reach.
IV ketamine works differently. By targeting the brain’s glutamate system and promoting rapid neuroplasticity, ketamine can interrupt the trauma loops embedded in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex — creating a window of neural flexibility that patients can use, with therapeutic support, to begin processing and healing. Clinical studies show significant reductions in PTSD symptom severity, often within hours of the first infusion.
Ketamine rapidly quiets the hyperactive fear circuitry that drives PTSD symptoms — flashbacks, hypervigilance, nightmares — giving the brain a chance to reset and heal.
IV ketamine triggers the growth of new synaptic connections, restoring flexibility to brain circuits that trauma has made rigid. This is the biological foundation of recovery.
The neuroplastic state ketamine induces creates an opportunity for deeper integration work with a therapist — making the combination of ketamine and therapy especially powerful for PTSD.
We understand that for people with PTSD, safety and trust are everything. Golden Afternoon was built from the ground up to be the most supportive, private, and carefully overseen ketamine experience in Los Angeles.
Dr. Jenn designed our clinical protocols and is usually present — and our experienced Nurse Practitioners are trained to the same standards she set. You will always have skilled, compassionate medical support throughout your care.
Fully private rooms, zero-gravity chairs, curated lighting and bespoke playlists designed to create a sense of safety and calm. For PTSD patients, a trauma-informed environment is not optional — it’s essential.
IV ketamine allows Dr. Jenn to control dosing in real time throughout your infusion, making adjustments based on your experience. This level of oversight is especially important for PTSD patients navigating difficult memories.
We partner with a curated network of KAP-trained therapists who specialize in trauma integration. Ketamine opens the door — therapy helps you walk through it and sustain what you gain.
We move at your pace, with Dr. Jenn alongside you every step of the way.
Start with a no-cost, no-pressure call with our care team. We’ll discuss your PTSD history, what treatments you’ve tried, and whether IV ketamine therapy is the right next step for you.
Our care team will work with you before and after your first infusion — setting your intention, ensuring you feel safe and supported, and helping you process your experience afterward. The environment is entirely private.
Most PTSD patients complete a series of 6 IV ketamine infusions over 2–3 weeks. Dr. Jenn then builds a personalized maintenance plan, and we can connect you with an integration therapist to deepen and sustain your healing.
All 5-star reviews across Google, Yelp, and Reddit.
“This was a life-altering experience. Dr. Jenn and her staff are top-notch. I can’t say enough or fully articulate what a truly safe, healing experience and journey this was. Everyone in the world needs this!”
“The results of her care have reshaped my view on family, work and play where all other courses of treatment for depression and anxiety haven’t made a dent. Go here.”
“Dr. Jenn and the whole staff provide the best care and make sure the experience is safe, rewarding, and delivers a positive impact for patients. My life has changed for the better because of them.”
“She actually sits with you before and after your sessions to talk things out. Fully private rooms, never busy… They are all so incredibly nice, and I’ve been to three places so far and Golden Afternoon is the absolute best.”
Is ketamine approved for PTSD?
IV ketamine is used off-label for PTSD, with a growing body of clinical research demonstrating meaningful symptom reduction — including reductions in flashbacks, hypervigilance, avoidance, and emotional numbing. Multiple clinical trials are underway, and many leading trauma specialists now consider ketamine a valuable tool for treatment-resistant PTSD.
How does ketamine help with PTSD specifically?
PTSD involves entrenched trauma memories and hyperactive fear responses rooted in the amygdala. IV ketamine promotes rapid neuroplasticity — essentially loosening those rigid neural patterns — and reduces the emotional intensity of traumatic memories. This creates a window where patients can begin processing trauma more effectively, especially in combination with integration therapy.
Is IV ketamine safe for people with trauma histories?
Yes, with proper medical oversight. At Golden Afternoon, every infusion is conducted under physician-designed protocols, with real-time monitoring and the ability to adjust dosing immediately. We also take great care with the environment — private rooms, calming sensory design — to ensure you feel safe throughout your session. We will discuss your full history before recommending treatment.
Should I combine ketamine with therapy for PTSD?
For PTSD in particular, we strongly encourage pairing IV ketamine with integration therapy. The neuroplastic state ketamine creates is a powerful window for trauma processing. We have a curated network of KAP-trained therapists we can connect you with, who specialize in working with the ketamine experience to support lasting healing.
How many infusions will I need?
Most patients begin with a series of 6 IV infusions over 2–3 weeks. After completing your initial series, Dr. Jenn will create a personalized maintenance plan. Some PTSD patients benefit from periodic booster infusions, especially when combined with ongoing integration therapy work.
Does insurance cover ketamine for PTSD?
IV ketamine infusions are generally not covered by insurance, but we can provide superbills for potential out-of-network reimbursement. We are happy to walk you through costs and options during your free phone screening — we want to make sure you have all the information you need before committing to anything.
A free 15-minute phone screening is the first step. Talk with our care team at Golden Afternoon — no pressure, no commitment — and find out if IV ketamine therapy can help you heal from PTSD.
Book Your Free Phone ScreeningOr call us at 310-310-8031 · Located in Santa Monica, CA
Our safe and integrative IV and intranasal Ketamine sessions can help re-wire your neurons and are a proven treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, mood disorders and chronic pain.
Golden Afternoon is a dba of Jennifer A Ellice MD PC
