Some people feel stuck in the same patterns of anxiety, depression or emotional guardedness no matter what they try. For carefully selected patients, Hill Family Medicine offers ketamine-assisted psychotherapy as part of Sacred Medicine, our program for deeper emotional healing.
What ketamine is
Ketamine has been used as an anesthetic for decades. In much lower doses, it is now studied and used in mental health care. One related medicine, esketamine (Spravato), is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine itself is not FDA-approved for mental health conditions, so its use in this setting is off-label and decided case by case.
Why researchers are interested: beyond serotonin
Most common antidepressants, such as SSRIs, work mainly on serotonin and often take several weeks to help. Ketamine works on a different system: glutamate, the brain’s most abundant signaling chemical, through a receptor called NMDA. Research suggests this may support neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new connections. Some studies have found mood improvements within hours to days, though results vary and the effects are not always lasting. This remains an active, evolving field.
How it works at Hill Family Medicine
At our clinic, ketamine is never a stand-alone treatment. It is part of Sacred Medicine, a larger framework for transformation with Dr. Hill as your guide: a process for revealing who you truly are while shedding what is false. Within that work, ketamine creates a temporary state of openness, so patients can look at old protective patterns with less fear, shame or resistance. The focus is integration: carrying those insights into healthier ways of thinking, feeling and relating after the session.
What to expect:
- A medical review first, including your health history, current medications and goals
- A guided session in our clinic, with our clinical team monitoring your vital signs and response throughout. Ketamine is given by injection, either into the muscle (intramuscular) or under the skin (subcutaneous). No IV is needed. The effects wear off within a few hours
- Integration work afterward to apply what you noticed to daily life
- A responsible adult to drive you home. Do not drive until the following day, after a full night’s sleep
Who it may help, and who it is not for
It may help adults who feel stuck in chronic anxiety, depressive loops, trauma-related avoidance or rigid coping patterns. It is not appropriate for everyone. Certain heart, blood pressure and psychiatric conditions, pregnancy and some medications can rule it out, which is why the medical review comes first. Ketamine can cause side effects such as dissociation, nausea, raised blood pressure and dizziness, and it carries a risk of misuse.
Ketamine sessions are part of the Sacred Medicine program. Read what to expect during your ketamine session, or learn more about Sacred Medicine.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy does not replace emergency care, ongoing therapy or standard treatment. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911.
Take the next step
If you feel stuck in patterns that no longer serve you, book a visit or call (512) 428-5764 to see whether this approach is right for you.
