PTSD & Trauma

Processing the past, restoring the present

For generalized anxiety, social anxiety disorder, and treatment-resistant anxiety that hasn’t responded to conventional therapies, ketamine offers a new therapeutic pathway with a growing evidence base.

Significant

PTSD symptom reduction (Feder et al., JAMA 2021)

Rapid

Reduction in intrusive symptoms

High

Co-morbid depression response rate

PTSD affects veterans, first responders, survivors of abuse, accidents, medical trauma, and adverse childhood experiences. Its hallmarks — intrusive memories, hypervigilance, emotional numbing, and avoidance — can be debilitating and persistent.

First-line treatments including SSRIs and trauma-focused CBT help many patients, but a substantial proportion — particularly those with complex or chronic PTSD — experience incomplete recovery. Dropout rates in trauma-focused therapy are high, in part because reactivating traumatic memories can feel intolerable.

Ketamine offers a different entry point. It may reduce the emotional charge attached to traumatic memories, making subsequent therapeutic processing more accessible — and it produces rapid relief from the depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation that frequently co-occur with PTSD.

How ketamine helps with ptsd & trauma

The neurobiology of PTSD involves hyperactivation of the amygdala, impaired prefrontal regulation, and dysregulated fear-memory consolidation. Ketamine’s NMDA receptor antagonism interferes with the reconsolidation of fear memories when they are retrieved — a process called “memory reconsolidation blockade.” It also promotes rapid synaptogenesis in prefrontal circuits that regulate fear responses, and reduces amygdala hyperreactivity. These effects may explain why ketamine can quickly reduce the emotional intensity of traumatic memories.

Book an Appointment

What to expect — your treatment path

Trauma-informed clinical assessment and PTSD symptom baseline (PCL-5, CAPS)

Coordination with your existing trauma therapist where possible

Initial course of 6 infusions — PTSD often requires the full course

Many patients report reduced nightmare frequency and emotional reactivity early in treatment

Integration sessions with a psychotherapist between or after infusions are encouraged

Ongoing maintenance and monitoring of PTSD symptoms

The evidence base

Emerging research supports ketamine’s anxiolytic effects. Studies have demonstrated rapid reductions in anxiety symptoms in GAD and SAD, with effects often persisting for days to weeks post-infusion. The anxiolytic effect appears to be at least partially independent of its antidepressant action, suggesting a distinct mechanism relevant to anxiety pathways.

Common questions about ketamine for treatment-resistant depression

Does ketamine erase traumatic memories?

No. Ketamine does not erase memories. It may reduce the emotional intensity and intrusiveness of traumatic memories, potentially making them easier to process with a therapist. The goal is to reduce suffering, not eliminate history.

Should I continue my trauma therapy during ketamine treatment?

Yes — we strongly encourage it. Ketamine and trauma-focused psychotherapy appear to work synergistically. Ketamine may create a therapeutic window in which trauma processing is more accessible. Coordinating both approaches is the gold standard.

Is this appropriate for veterans and first responders?

Is this appropriate for veterans and first responders? Yes. We are experienced in working with this population and understand the particular clinical complexities, including occupational trauma, moral injury, and stigma around help-seeking. All inquiries are held in strict confidence.

Ready to explore treatment for ptsd & trauma?

Our clinical team will review your history and answer your questions — confidentially and with no obligation.