Ketamine for PTSD
For the trauma that hasn’t responded to standard therapy.
IV ketamine and Spravato can reduce PTSD symptom severity rapidly, particularly when paired with trauma-informed integration. For veterans, first responders, and survivors who have plateaued in standard care.
When the body still keeps the score.
PTSD is not just intrusive memory, it is a sustained hyperactivation of the threat response. The amygdala stays on, the prefrontal cortex stays muted, and the body remains in fight-or-flight long after the event. SSRIs help some patients but rarely produce the kind of shift survivors are looking for.
IV ketamine acts on the glutamate system that underlies fear learning and extinction. Patients consistently describe a softening, an ability to think about what happened without the body collapsing into it. At Northwest Ketamine Clinics our team is trained in trauma-informed care, and KAP integration is available throughout the series.
How IV ketamine and Spravato work for PTSD.
IV ketamine is nearly 100% bioavailable to the brain, the gold-standard route, with the lowest effective dose and the most consistent therapeutic response. Spravato (esketamine) is the FDA-approved nasal form, available through our Northwest Healing & Wellness partnership at $99 per visit out-of-network.
Fear extinction
Ketamine facilitates fear extinction learning, the process by which the brain stops pairing safe cues with threat. The mechanism trauma therapy depends on.
Amygdala downregulation
fMRI evidence shows reduced amygdala hyperreactivity after ketamine, with restored prefrontal control over the threat response.
KAP integration
Optional ketamine-assisted psychotherapy with a licensed trauma-informed therapist. For many PTSD patients, this is where the durable change happens.
Spravato (esketamine)
FDA-approved nasal esketamine, available at $99/visit out-of-network through our Northwest Healing & Wellness partnership. Used by some patients as a maintenance option after the IV series.
The published research on ketamine for PTSD.
Efficacy of Intravenous Ketamine for Treatment of Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Mount Sinai randomized trial, single IV ketamine infusion produced rapid and significant PTSD symptom reduction.
View studyRepeated Ketamine Infusions for Chronic PTSD
Six-session IV ketamine series produced sustained reductions in PTSD severity for weeks after treatment.
View studyKetamine Use in the Treatment of PTSD in Veterans
Review of IV ketamine use in veteran populations, with notes on integration with VA-based trauma care.
View studyThe Pacific Northwest’s most experienced ketamine clinic.
Over 50,000 infusions delivered
Family-run since 2017, more IV ketamine experience than any other clinic in Washington State.
Three Washington locations
Seattle (First Hill), Bellevue (Eastside flagship), and Tacoma (South Sound). Patients can switch between clinics between sessions.
Whole-body continuum of care
Through our partnership with Northwest Healing & Wellness, Spravato, KAP, IV vitamin therapy, medication management, and supplements under one care plan.
ASKP3 & LegitScript certified
Recognized as a Seattle Met Top Doctors practice. Vetted by the national ketamine clinical standards body.
Trauma-informed, integration-ready
Our staff is trained in trauma-informed care, and KAP integration is available throughout your series.
Most patients start within a week
No referral required for adults. 30-minute intake call, $25 medical consult, then your first infusion.
Four pathways. The one we recommend for PTSD.
For PTSD, we typically recommend the Nervous System Calm Pathway. Six IV ketamine sessions paired with KAP integration, B12, hydration support, and the Emotion Balance supplement protocol, the somatic, trauma-informed combination that fits this work best.
See all Healing Pathways →
Mind & Mood Pathway
Six IV ketamine sessions paired with mood-supportive nutrient infusions, medication management consult, and three progress calls.
Nervous System Calm Pathway
Six IV ketamine sessions paired with KAP integration, B12 + hydration support, and the Emotion Balance supplement protocol.
Performance & Focus Pathway
Six IV ketamine sessions paired with a Myers’ Cocktail and IV hydration infusions to support energy, clarity, and recovery between sessions.
Reset + Recovery Pathway
Six IV ketamine sessions paired with glutathione, magnesium bisglycinate, signature blend, and hydration infusions.
Talk to one of our nurse practitioners about anxiety.
A 30-minute intake call, no pressure, no waitlist. We will reach out right away to confirm candidacy and walk through pathway options.
Common questions about PTSD treatment.
Will a ketamine infusion bring up traumatic memories?
Sometimes, but rarely in a destabilizing way. Most patients describe a sense of distance from difficult material, the ability to look at it without being inside it. Our staff is trauma-informed, present throughout, and we strongly recommend pairing the series with KAP integration so anything that surfaces is processed in a supported way.
Is ketamine recommended for active combat veterans or first responders?
Yes. We treat a number of veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders. The Nervous System Calm Pathway is well-suited to operational stress, moral injury, and trauma history. We can coordinate with VA providers and existing trauma therapists.
Can I do EMDR or trauma therapy alongside ketamine?
Absolutely, and we encourage it. Ketamine creates a window of neuroplasticity that makes trauma processing easier, not harder. Patients regularly work with outside EMDR or somatic therapists throughout their series.
What if I dissociate as a trauma response normally?
We discuss this carefully during intake. For some dissociative-prone patients, lower starting doses, eye-open protocols, and a therapist present in the suite (KAP) make the experience grounding rather than destabilizing. We tailor the approach.
Talk to a nurse practitioner, no pressure, no waitlist.
A 30-minute intake call confirms whether IV ketamine, Spravato, or another pathway is the right fit for your PTSD. Most patients begin treatment within a week.
(206) 309-2299