Understanding Ketamine Therapy:
A Guide for Mental Health Providers
A Guide for Mental Health Providers
As a therapist, you know that healing is rarely linear—and that some clients need more support than talk therapy or medication alone can offer. At Golden Afternoon, we provide physician-led ketamine treatment designed to complement and enhance the work you’re already doing with your clients.
“Ketamine is not a replacement for therapy. It’s a tool that opens the door for therapy to go deeper.”
Originally developed as a surgical anesthetic, ketamine is now one of the most promising tools in psychiatry for clients with:
Unlike conventional antidepressants, which take weeks to work, ketamine can begin relieving symptoms within hours. More importantly, it can spark profound shifts in perspective—giving your clients the momentum they need to engage more fully in therapy and daily life.
Ketamine works differently from traditional antidepressants. Instead of targeting serotonin or dopamine, ketamine acts on the glutamate system—specifically the NMDA receptor. This leads to a cascade of effects, including:
This neurobiological reset is often what helps clients finally experience relief after years of struggle.
Evidence Highlights
We believe ketamine works best when integrated with strong therapeutic support. That’s why our care model is designed to partner with you.
What therapists can expect:
Whether you're new to ketamine or have referred before, our goal is to make the process smooth, respectful, and grounded in evidence.
Many of our referring therapists have noticed:
Clients often describe the experience as "a weight lifted"—giving them space to reframe, reset, and reconnect with their inner resources.
Clients may benefit from ketamine if they:
We do not treat clients with active psychosis, active or untreated mania, or unmanaged substance use, but we’re happy to consult if you're unsure.
Our safe and integrative IV Ketamine sessions can help re-wire your neurons and are a proven treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, mood disorders and chronic pain.
