What Does Ketamine Therapy Feel Like?

Inside the Ketamine Therapy Experience: What It’s Really Like

Ketamine therapy has evolved from an anesthetic used in operating rooms to one of today’s most promising breakthroughs in mental health care. For people navigating depression, anxiety, PTSD, or chronic pain, ketamine can create a unique “window” of relief, helping to rewire thought patterns and open new emotional pathways.

But what does ketamine therapy actually feel like? Understanding the sensations, mental shifts, and after-effects can help you approach your first treatment with confidence and clarity.

This section explores what to expect before and during treatment, along with the physical effects of ketamine therapy. For the deeper dive, covering the emotional experience, recovery process, treatment types, and tips to get the most from your sessions, you can download our Complete Ketamine Experience Guide below.

Inside the Ketamine Therapy Experience: What It’s Really Like

Before Your Ketamine Treatment

How the Ketamine Therapy Process Works

Before your first ketamine session, you’ll meet with a member of our team for a comprehensive medical and psychiatric screening. This ensures ketamine therapy is both safe and appropriate for you.

You’ll receive preparation guidelines, such as:

• Avoiding food for 3 hours before treatment
• Avoiding water for 1 hour before treatment
• Arranging transportation home afterward
• Setting clear intentions for your session

Sessions take place in a calm, supportive setting with medical monitoring throughout. Many clients find that the low lighting, soft music, and comfortable seating help them relax before treatment begins.

The Physical Experience During Ketamine Treatment

What Does a Ketamine Infusion Feel Like?

During an IV ketamine infusion, patients may notice the first effects within 5-10 minutes as the medication enters their system.

• Initial Sensations:

• A feeling of lightness or floating
• Warmth or tingling in the body
• A sense of deep relaxation
• Some patients have said they experience dizziness, but it passes quickly

• Peak Experience (20-40 minutes in):

• Altered perception of time and space
• Mild dissociation (a sense of detachment from the body)
• Deep relaxation or dreamlike state

• Common Physical Effects:

• Mild nausea (some clinics provide anti-nausea medication)
• Changes in vision or depth perception
• Temporary increase in blood pressure or heart rate

How Long Does a Ketamine Therapy Treatment Last?

• Ketamine IV infusions last 40-60 minutes, with a gradual return to baseline over 30-60 minutes post-infusion

Safety measures: Throughout the session, your vital signs are monitored, and your care team is present to ensure comfort and safety.

The Mental & Emotional Experience During Ketamine Treatment

• How altered states can open new perspectives
• Common emotional breakthroughs and therapeutic insights
• Why do some patients revisit memories with greater clarity and peace

The Post-Treatment Experience

• Recovery timeline and integration period
• How long can the benefits last
• Activities to support your mental and physical well-being afterward

Ketamine Treatment Types & Dosage Differences

• IV vs. intranasal vs. oral lozenge experiences
• How dosage is tailored to the condition and treatment goals

Tips for the Optimal Ketamine Experience

• Mindset and preparation techniques
• Support system best practices
• Integration tools for lasting results