IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy has the potential to revolutionize treatment for serious and debilitating mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and PTSD, as well as chronic pain. And to achieve successful outcomes with ketamine—as with all medical procedures—it is absolutely critical that this treatment only be administered by an experienced physician or psychiatrist. Yet selecting the “right” provider—one whom you can trust with your most valuable asset, your mental health—can be a challenging process. To help guide you through the process of selecting a qualified ketamine provider, we have created a relatively simple list of important questions you should ask yourself—and your chosen provider—when doing your research and during your initial consultation.
Does your provider have demonstrated expertise backed by a medical degree?
Ketamine Therapy can be properly administered by either an anesthesiologist or a psychiatrist. At a minimum, be sure to select someone with a medical degree from a recognized medical school. When possible, it would be best to choose someone who is “Board certified” in their field, as this means they have passed the highest possible qualifying standards in the United States.
Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles is relatively unique in the field of IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy. The founder and President of Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles—Dr. Steven L. Mandel—is a board certified Anesthesiologist with a masters degree in psychology with over 35 years of experience. Therefore, he is uniquely qualified to understand the benefits of ketamine from both a medical and a psychological perspective.
Is your practitioner open and honest with you?
Ketamine is an exciting and promising new treatment but it is not a miracle cure. Depression, anxiety, and PTSD are long-term issues that cannot be “fixed” in a day. It is important to find a provider who will ensure that you understand how IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy may work for you, as well as the risks associated with it.
Patient education is a key element in the treatment approach at Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles. We believe that you are your own best advocate, but only if you truly understand the challenges you are facing and the treatment options available to you. In other words, we believe that an educated and empowered patient is the very best ally in fighting for good mental health.
Is your provider open to a team approach?
As noted above, treating mood disorders, mental illness, and chronic pain is not something that can be done in a day, and it’s not something that can be done alone. The best outcomes involve a team of people all working together to develop a comprehensive treatment approach. It is important that this team communicate with each other, so they are working with each other, not at cross purposes, to help you achieve a healthier state of mind.
At Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles, we realize that most patients who come to us are already working with one or more doctors or medical providers to address their concerns. We deeply respect those relationships and, assuming we have your permission to do so, will work closely with your team of providers, ensuring we are accessible and collaborative, and are adding value to your other existing therapies and treatment programs.
Does your practitioner offer personalized, tailored care?
Everybody is unique and different, and their mental health issues are as well. A “cookie-cutter” approach is simply not appropriate. At Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles, we believe that each and every IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy treatment must be tailored to the unique needs of each individual, at that specific time. Finding the right treatment approach might seem slow at first, as we take the time to get to know you, your concerns, and your medical history. But achieving successful, long-lasting outcomes requires a customized process which cannot, and should not, be rushed.
Do you feel safe and comfortable?
This is perhaps the most important question of all: do you feel safe, comfortable, welcome, and supported? At Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles, ensuring that you feel safe is our top priority. Throughout your entire treatment process, we listen to you and we strive to always be 100% responsive to your questions, requests, and concerns—and we are always just a phone call or email away, even after hours. Because whichever treatment you choose to secure your best mental health simply won’t work if you don’t feel safe, comfortable, and supported right from the start.
Contact Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles
If you or someone you love is seeking help for depression, PTSD, or another form of mood disorder, or coping with chronic pain, we encourage you to contact Dr. Steven L. Mandel at Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles immediately to find out if IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy may offer a solution.
For more information about Ketamine Infusion Therapy treatments for depression, bipolar, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), fibromyalgia, pain syndromes and other conditions contact us at Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles in Southern California (Orange County) by clicking here or calling 310-270-0625.
