In this Post
- What Are Ketamine Infusions—and Why Preparation Matters
- Maximizing Benefits of Your Ketamine Infusion
- Setting Intentions Before Ketamine Therapy
- Processing the Experience Afterward
- How to Maximize Treatment for Depression and Low Motivation
- Is Ketamine Therapy the Right Choice?
Ketamine therapy offers a powerful opportunity to shift entrenched mental health patterns and find relief from depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain. But like any treatment, the benefits grow deeper with intentionality, preparation, and support.
Many patients walk into their first ketamine infusion unsure of what to expect. Some feel nervous about the unknowns, while others arrive with hope but little direction. What can you do to make the most out of each session? How can you set yourself up for the best possible results?
This guide shares practical insights and reflections—many drawn from real Avesta Ketamine and Wellness patients—designed to help you get the most out of your ketamine infusions.
What Are Ketamine Infusions—and Why Preparation Matters
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with psychedelic properties that, at moderate doses in clinical settings, offers fast-acting relief for mental health and chronic pain conditions. The dissociative effects allow you to detach from your normal thinking patterns and distressing emotions. The dose-dependent psychedelic effects can help you reframe those long-held beliefs into new perspectives.
Ketamine itself does much of the neurological “heavy lifting” to rapidly improve your mood, shift your thoughts, and reduce pain. However, your mindset, preparation, and in-session support are crucial in how the experience unfolds and whether the improvements translate into lasting change.
Maximizing Benefits of Your Ketamine Infusion
Every ketamine infusion offers a new opportunity to feel better and explore your inner world. The more intention and care you bring into the experience, the more benefits you can carry forward after the treatment.
Establish a calm setting
Take time to prepare your physical space before the infusion. Many patients bring meaningful items to sessions, including:
- A favorite blanket
- A small trinket that holds personal value
- Noise-canceling headphones with calming music
- Weighted blanket
- Eye mask
- Aromatherapy
You don’t need to overthink it. Just create a comforting environment that signals to your nervous system that you’re safe.
Learning to let go
Once the session begins, try to let go of control. Trust your ketamine care team. Providers will check on you periodically and are always available if you need them. Permit yourself to release expectations. You’ll feel calm and joyful, or you might feel overwhelmed with emotion. Both are valid. Even challenging sessions can be productive.
One Avesta ketamine patient reported having only a single challenging infusion after years of treatment. But that experience didn’t derail their progress experience. It led to meaningful breakthroughs in therapy.
To ease into the experience, Avesta patients suggest pondering:
- Moments of gratitude. What are you thankful for, and what inspires those feelings?
- Your vision for the future. What are your goals, hopes, or dreams? What might become possible with healing?
- Emotionally charged topics. Consider thoughts or memories you usually avoid—ketamine’s dissociative effect can create a safe space to explore them without becoming overwhelmed.
- Activities you’ve enjoyed. Reflect on past moments of joy or fulfillment. What made those experiences meaningful?
- A grounding mantra. Choose a calming word or phrase—like “relax” or “let go”—that you can return to during the session to stay centered.
If you do feel discomfort, know you can ask for help at any point. You’re not alone. Your provider is there to support you and can adjust the ketamine dose in real time to make the experience more comfortable.
Setting Intentions Before Ketamine Therapy
Setting intentions is one of the most effective ways to help you navigate the ketamine experience. Think of your intention as a gentle compass. It doesn’t dictate your entire experience but gives your mind a direction to follow.
You might set an intention to:
- Reconnect with gratitude.
- Envision your life without anxiety or depression.
- Reflect on a relationship or personal challenge.
- Explore a part of yourself that’s been buried or silenced.
Keep it simple and meaningful to you. You may start a session with one goal in mind and end up somewhere else entirely. That’s more than ok. Ketamine infusions naturally promote insights. Let them arise.
Pre-Infusion Journaling Prompts
Journaling before a ketamine session can help you clarify your intentions and set a tone for the experience. Try reflecting on the following questions:
What feelings am I bringing into this session?
→ Example: “I feel nervous but hopeful. I’m tired of feeling stuck.”
What do I want to explore or reflect on today?
→ Example: “I want to understand why I’ve been avoiding joy.”
What would healing look like to me right now?
→ Example: “Being able to wake up and feel motivated again.”
What do I want to let go of?
→ Example: “The guilt I’ve been holding about my past.”
Processing the Experience Afterward
The ketamine experience doesn’t end when the IV stops. In fact, some of the most meaningful shifts occur during the integration period that follows. After your session, take time to reflect on what came up, whether it was emotional, physical, or abstract.
Because ketamine can act as a mild amnestic, you may forget some parts of your session. That’s why journaling immediately afterward is so powerful. Treat it like recording a dream. Write freely without editing.
Other ketamine integration practices include:
- Talking with a therapist or coach about your insights.
- Writing about images, feelings, or thoughts that arose.
- Creating art or movement to express what you experienced.
- Revisiting your initial intention and noticing how it evolved.
- Give yourself downtime. Avoid rushing back into work or stress.
Post-Infusion Journaling Prompts
Consider using these prompts to help process and retain your ketamine therapy experience:
What stood out to me during the session?
→ Example: “I felt like I was floating in warmth. I saw myself as a child again.”
Did anything surprise me or make me feel emotional?
→ Example: “I cried when I thought about forgiving my mom.”
How do I feel now—physically, emotionally, mentally?
→ Example: “I feel lighter and a little sleepy but calm.”
Is there anything I want to bring into my next session?
→ Example: “I want to stay with that feeling of connection.”
How to Maximize Treatment for Depression and Low Motivation
Depression is one of the most common reasons patients visit ketamine clinics. This condition often comes with fatigue, apathy, and anhedonia, the inability to feel pleasure. Ketamine therapy helps create space from those patterned emotions and sensations. It opens a window into what it feels like to be energized and emotionally alive.
Before
If you’re struggling with depression, consider these patient-driven tips to prepare for ketamine therapy.
- Write down a situation where depression holds you back. Maybe it’s skipping meals, isolating from friends, or ignoring tasks you used to enjoy.
- Name the emotions you feel around it. Is it sadness? Shame? Numbness?
- Recall a time—if possible—when you felt the opposite. When did you feel motivated, excited, or proud?
- If no memory comes to mind, envision it. Picture yourself doing that same activity with energy and enthusiasm. Imagine how good it might feel to enjoy it again.
During
As the infusion begins, reflect on the gap between how things feel now and how they could feel. Let yourself sit with that contrast without judgment—just curiosity. Simply remembering or imagining a different reality can stir hope. And that sliver of hope can be a powerful catalyst in healing.
After
After the infusion, reflect on the process through journaling. You might ask yourself:
- What shifted for me today?
- Did I notice any changes in my emotions or energy?
- What did I remember—or imagine—that felt meaningful?
- Is there one small step I feel ready to take?
Is Ketamine Therapy the Right Choice?
Ketamine therapy can be a life-changing option if you’re struggling with treatment-resistant conditions. It’s especially effective for:
- Major depressive disorder
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Suicidal ideation
- Chronic pain and CRPS
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
However, ketamine therapy may not be right for everyone. You may not be eligible for ketamine if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, active psychosis, or a history of substance misuse that isn’t well-managed. That’s why your first step is always a detailed consultation with a trusted provider like Avesta.
The Bottom Line: Ketamine at Avesta
We don’t just administer infusions at Avesta. Our Maryland, Virginia, and DC clinicians, including experienced providers like Sam Griffith, guide you through every step of the process with care, professionalism, and deep respect.
We create space for meaningful connection, encourage collaboration with your outside providers, and offer services like integration coaching and small-group circles to support you between sessions. You’re also welcome to bring a trusted loved one or therapist to your sessions—for comfort, presence, and perspective.
With locations in Washington, DC; Bethesda, MD; McLean, VA; and Columbia, MD, our team is here to help you discover what healing can look like for you.
Contact us today for a free phone consultation with one of our experienced care providers. We’ll walk you through the process and help you decide if ketamine is the right path forward.
