IM KETAMINE TREATMENT • NORFOLK, VA
Ketamine treatment within a full service psychiatric practice.
Medically supervised ketamine treatment for eligible adults whose depression has not improved enough with medication or therapy. Evaluation, IM ketamine treatment, psychotherapy, medication management, TMS, and follow-up care can all be coordinated by one local team.
Already know you’d like to move forward? Request a clinical consultation ➤
The screening call is informational and is not a clinical evaluation
Transparent self-pay pricing
$300*
per monitored IM ketamine treatment
Private room • Clinician on site • Two-hour monitored session
*Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is billed separately from ketamine treatment. For patients using insurance, standard copays, coinsurance, and deductibles may apply. For self-pay patients, KAP is available for an additional $150 per treatment session.
Medically supervised
Private rooms
KAP-trained team
Consultations within 1 week
Norfolk, VA
How ketamine may help
——————
Works through the glutamate system. Ketamine affects NMDA and AMPA receptor signaling—a different pathway from the serotonin and norepinephrine systems targeted by many traditional antidepressants.
Supports neuroplasticity. These changes may activate pathways involved in neuroplasticity, helping brain cells strengthen and form new connections.
Can act more rapidly. Because ketamine influences synaptic signaling directly, some patients may experience improvement more quickly than with conventional antidepressants.
May improve communication in mood-related circuits. Imaging research suggests ketamine can alter activity in brain networks involved in mood, motivation, and reward.
Researchers are still studying exactly how ketamine produces its antidepressant effects, and individual responses vary.
At Southeast Virginia Psychiatry, ketamine is administered by intramuscular (IM) injection. For dosing, administration, safety precautions, and contraindications, our clinic follows best practices supported by mental health scientific literature and model protocols established by the American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists, and Practitioners (ASKP3) and Integrative Psychiatry Institute’s Ketamine Medical Provider Program.
The Treatment Process
Initial Consultation
We’ll discuss your goals for treatment and review what’s ahead in the treatment process.
Preparation Session
We’ll develop your individual treatment plan and prepare for the initiation of treatment.
Initiation
6 to 8 ketamine treatments over 3 to 4 weeks. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) may be incorporated when clinically appropriate and desired by the patient.
Maintenance
For patients who benefit from maintenance treatment, the interval is individualized based on response and clinical need.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Ketamine may be considered for adults whose depression has not improved adequately with standard treatments. We also evaluate selected patients with other psychiatric conditions when there is an appropriate clinical rationale. Because psychiatric ketamine is used off-label, every patient receives an individualized medical and psychiatric evaluation before treatment begins.
-
Ketamine is not appropriate for everyone. Certain cardiovascular conditions, uncontrolled high blood pressure, active psychosis, significant substance-use concerns, pregnancy, and some other medical or psychiatric conditions may affect whether treatment is appropriate. We review your medical history, medications, psychiatric history, and treatment goals before making a recommendation.
-
No. You may request a ketamine consultation directly. We encourage you to provide relevant records from your psychiatrist, therapist, or primary-care clinician when available. For some patients, we may recommend establishing ongoing medication management or psychotherapy before or during treatment. We are happy to coordinate with clinicians inside or outside SeVA Psychiatry.
-
To start, one of our medical assistants will take you back to your individual treatment room and obtain vitals (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation). Once finished, the provider will enter to discuss treatment. You will always see a provider before a session starts. You and your provider will agree upon a dosing plan and the provider will administer the ketamine via intramuscular (IM) injection. Treatment typically lasts about two hours. Your clinical team monitors vital signs during the visit, and your provider remains available throughout treatment. Although we aim to leave you to your experience, expect several vitals checks during your session. Medication will be offered on an as needed basis to manage side effects.
-
Experiences vary. Some patients prefer music, an eye mask, dim lighting, or quiet; others prefer less sensory restriction. Our private treatment rooms allow you to adjust the environment to what feels most comfortable, within the clinical requirements of treatment.
-
Your clinical team monitors you throughout treatment and can address common side effects such as nausea, anxiety, dizziness, changes in blood pressure, or discomfort. When appropriate, medications may be used before or during treatment to improve comfort and safety.
-
Abstain from alcohol and cannabis 24 hours before and after a treatment. Follow the medication and fasting instructions provided by your treatment team. If you are participating in KAP, your therapist may also help you identify an intention or area of focus before treatment. If possible, do not plan on any activities that have the potential to be intense or stressful before or after the treatment.
-
Most patients feel substantially more clear by the end of the monitoring period, although fatigue, dizziness, changes in perception, or other residual effects can persist afterward. We recommend planning to rest for the remainder of the day and following your treatment team's instructions before resuming normal activities.
-
This varies from client to client. Some people appreciate knowing their support person is right next to them if needed. Others find it easier to settle into the session without others in the room. Until you find your preference, you can start with whatever you think will work best for you. During the session, we can always ask your support person to leave or come back to the room as needed.
-
Yes. SeVA Psychiatry offers ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), which may include preparation before treatment, therapeutic support during selected sessions, and integration afterward.
In many cases, your established outside therapist may also participate in person or virtually with prior approval from your treatment team.
KAP is billed separately from ketamine treatment. When insurance is used, standard deductibles, copays, or coinsurance may apply. Self-pay KAP is available for an additional $150 per treatment session.
-
No. Ketamine can temporarily impair judgment, coordination, and reaction time. You must arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home after treatment and follow your treatment team's instructions regarding driving, operating machinery, and other potentially hazardous activities.
-
Each patient receives a private treatment room with a comfortable reclining chair. Blankets, eye masks, headphones, music, adjustable lighting, and projector lighting are available to help create a comfortable treatment environment.
-
Ketamine treatment at SeVA is self-pay and costs $300 per session. A typical six-treatment induction series is $1,800.
For patients who prefer to spread the cost over time, SeVA accepts CareCredit, which may offer promotional financing on qualifying purchases, subject to credit approval and applicable terms. CareCredit currently offers “no interest if paid in full” promotional periods on qualifying purchases of $200 or more; interest can apply from the purchase date if the promotional balance is not paid in full within the promotional period.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is optional and billed separately. When insurance is used for KAP, standard deductibles, copays, or coinsurance may apply. Self-pay KAP is an additional $150 per treatment session.
-
At $300 per session, SeVA’s ketamine pricing is lower than the publicly advertised $400+ per-session rates at several local specialty clinics.
Because ketamine is one part of a comprehensive psychiatric practice, our program is able to share clinical infrastructure, treatment space, and administrative resources across multiple services. This allows us to offer ketamine treatment at an accessible price while maintaining our established standards for medical evaluation, monitoring, and individualized treatment.
Ketamine is also part of a broader range of care available at SeVA, including medication management, psychotherapy, TMS, SPRAVATO®, and ongoing psychiatric treatment when appropriate.
More options if ketamine isn’t the answer.
Because Southeast Virginia Psychiatry also provides medication management, psychotherapy, SPRAVATO, conventional TMS, Deep TMS, and accelerated TMS, your evaluation is not limited to a single treatment. We will work with you to determine which approach—or combination of approaches—best fits your history and goals.
Ed Evard, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Ed Evard, PMHNP-BC, Interventional Psychiatry Director
Ed Evard, PMHNP-BC, is the Interventional Psychiatry Director at Southeast Virginia Psychiatry. A U.S. Army veteran and former combat medic who served in Afghanistan, he has worked across inpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient psychiatric settings. Before entering psychiatric practice, he worked in the Sentara Heart Hospital Cardiac ICU, caring for medically complex and hemodynamically unstable patients—experience that continues to inform his approach to safety and medical monitoring in interventional psychiatry. His clinical focus includes treatment for adults with difficult-to-treat depression, with an emphasis on individualized treatment planning and coordination with each patient’s broader psychiatric care. He completed advanced ketamine training through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute and is a member of the American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists, and Practitioners.
More options. One individualized treatment plan.
Ketamine may be an option for adults whose depression has not improved enough with standard treatment. Our team can help determine whether ketamine—or another approach—fits your needs and treatment history.
