For tele-ketamine providers, we list directory entries in a crude order of prominence. For example, Joyous is prominent because they are the most economical. Dr. Smith is prominent because he is a pioneer and has more state licenses (49!) than any other provider. Dr. Pruett is prominent because he is board-certified in psychiatry and will prescribe multiple psychiatric medications. And so forth.
We know more about these most prominent providers so we can say more about them. The reader can learn about the alternatives from this page, which will guide her to a more appropriate selection among as many alternatives available according to her state of residence (or states where she may readily sojourn).
In selecting a provider, the place to begin is the table of providers and the states they are licensed in appearing in a sister page under the major heading Provider Directory. No matter how prominent a provider might be, if it is not licensed in your state (or a state you can get to), that provider won’t be available to you.
Joyous – Joyous.Team is the price leader in tele-ketamine. They charge $129/month for consultation and ketamine. ($89/month for three months with financial assistance). Joyous is unusual in that they begin titrating patients with very low doses and dose daily. A patient who is squeamish about taking psycho-active drugs might prefer Joyous’ gentle protocol.
Joyous’ customer service has been uneven. Many happy patients, many satisfied patients, and many disappointed patients. Joyous’ operational problems notwithstanding, we applaud their approach to making ketamine affordable to the economically challenged.
Joyous’ maximum dose is 120 mg/day sublingual. That is comparable to Dr. Smith’s maximum dose of 400 mg every third day. (3 * 120 = 360 ~ 400). Whether daily vs. periodic dosing (e.g., every three days) is preferable, we offer no opinion.
After the initial evaluation appointment, follow-up is almost entirely on-line via patient-submitted questionnaires and text messages/email. Minimizing personnel time is Joyous’ means of cost control to keep their prices as low as possible
Appointment availability for dates within a week or two seems to be typical.
Joyous is hesitant to treat bipolar patients. When they sense a patient likely has a bipolar diagnosis, they ask for a referral from the patient’s psychiatrist.
Smith – Note, Dr Smith’s practice has been suspended by the DEA until further notice (indefinitely). Please see Dr Pruett for the closest service offering.
Scott Smith, MD (SmithFamilyMD.com) is an outstanding leader in the tele-ketamine field. He is a Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine doctor. Now his practice is entirely concentrated on ketamine. He will also prescribe one additional conventional anti-depressant.
The Smith practice model is unusual because a patient sees Dr. Smith just once for the initial consultation. Thereafter, the patient sees a ketamine coach in the Smith practice. These coaches provide ongoing guidance in using ketamine. They are very well-trained.
Patients must have a monthly consultation for 12 months. Assuming the patient’s dosage is stable, only quarterly consultations are required after the first year. So, while Dr. Smith is more than double Joyous for the first year, he is only 3% higher than Joyous in the second and following years.
Dr. Smith’s reviews in r/TherapeuticKetamine are consistently outstanding. Even so, his practice is stretched thin, and there are occasional reports of service problems.
Appointment availability is typically several months into the future. If one is interested in ketamine and is inclined toward the Smith practice, make an appointment and look aggressively for an opening likely occasioned by a cancellation.
Pruett – Adam Pruett, MD (TaconicPsychiatry.com) is another leader in tele-ketamine. He is a board-certified psychiatrist and will also prescribe multiple psychiatric medications. Dr. Pruett sees each patient personally throughout treatment and provides psychotherapy services and tele-ketamine.
After 8 – 10 months of monthly consultations, Dr. Pruett is apt to change the schedule to bi-monthly.
His practice includes psychotherapy services for patients residing in some states.
Dr Pruett is licensed in all states but SC, AR, and PA.
Mindbloom – (Mindbloom.com) Their course of treatment begins with six sessions. They offer unlimited access to virtual integration circles (support groups). You are assigned a “Mindbloom Guide” who works with you one-on-one. (It seems analogous to Smith’s “ketamine coaches,” albeit the Mindbloom Guides appear to have a more intense and extensive involvement with patients than do Smith’s ketamine coaches).
Your Mindbloom Guide will be on a zoom conference for your first few doses. Thereafter, Mindbloom expects you to have a sitter present when you dose. “To ensure safe, powerful, and effective healing sessions, you are required to have Peer-Treatment Monitor (PTM) present in your physical location for each dosing session.” This sitter requirement is a prerequisite that some patients can’t accommodate. As such, it may rule-out Mindbloom as a provider.
Mindbloom is distinctive in that they prescribe relatively high doses (e.g., 1,000 mg sublingual); however, the amount quantity the patient actually absorbers is very limited because Mindbloom instructs its patients to spit the lozenge after a very short holding period, such as 6 minutes.
Mindbloom’s pricing is at the high end of the range of providers we have identified. Nevertheless, this pricing may be very well justified by their intensive Guide services plus their bundled integration services that may obviate the patient’s need for independent psychotherapy costing much more. “As a Mindbloom client, you have unlimited access to Integration Circles, support groups designed to help you get the most out of your therapy.”
ISHA – (https://www.isha.health/) offers a monthly package with an add-on integration service. When this description was composed, there were positive, albeit limited, reviews on r/TherapeuticKetamine. Consequently, we don’t have enough additional information to editorialize a summary of their program or patient opinion. Readers should search that subReddit for current patient reviews when considering ISHA Health.
Better U – (https://www.betterucare.com/) offers two packages: an “Introduction” with 4 sessions; and a “Transformation” with 8 sessions. When this description was composed, there were limited reviews on r/TherapeuticKetamine. Consequently, we don’t have enough additional information to editorialize a summary of their program or patient opinion. Readers should search that subReddit for current patient reviews when considering Better U.
Field Trip – (https://www.fieldtriphealth.com/) offers both in-office and at-home services. When this description was composed, there were limited reviews on r/TherapeuticKetamine. Those reviews available seemed uneven. Consequently, we don’t have enough additional information to editorialize a summary of their program or patient opinion. Readers should search that subReddit for current patient reviews when considering Field Trip.
Impact – (https://www.impactpsychedelics.com/) Matthew Habib MD at Impact Psychedelics. When this description was composed, there were limited reviews on r/TherapeuticKetamine. Consequently, we don’t have enough additional information to editorialize a summary of their program or patient opinion. Readers should search that subReddit for current patient reviews when considering Impact Psychedelics.
Safe Haven Health (www.safehavenhealth.co/ketamine-treatment support@safehavenhealth.co) Giovanni Pierre is a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. His virtual mental health clinic specializes in at-home ketamine treatment for depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. He offers two plans:
- Macrodose plan, which consists of two larger doses of ketamine weekly, and,
- Microdose plan, which includes a lower daily dose of ketamine.
Both plans prescribe a 30-day supply of ketamine (medication cost separate). Both programs include a monthly consultation, coaching, and daily access to your provider for assistance.