Ketamine therapy can be remarkably effective for people with treatment-resistant depression. That said, many people have first heard about ketamine in the context of its use as an anesthetic agent or its misuse in recreational settings. Learning that ketamine and its derivative esketamine (Spravato) can treat depression can raise an eyebrow.
A growing body of literature beginning in 2000 has shown that ketamine, in the right dose, can address some of the neurology associated with depression. Over the past 25 years, there has been a steadily growing body of evidence that ketamine, when used in the right dose, under medical supervision, can treat symptoms of depression.
Lumin Health is built around responsible, evidence-based, medically supervised care, all in a setting that highlights comfort and the human side of treatment.
Why Setting Matters
You may have seen information about ketamine treatment online, but not every setting is the same.
Some programs operate remotely, while others, like Lumin Health, take a very different approach: psychiatrist-led, clinic-based care where each treatment is personalized, medically monitored, and integrated into a broader plan for recovery.
Why does that matter? Because ketamine is a powerful medicine. It briefly alters how the brain processes perception and emotion, and during that time people can feel relaxed, reflective, or temporarily detached. Having trained clinicians nearby — people who understand what’s happening and can guide the process safely — turns that experience from uncertain to therapeutic.
In every Lumin Health session, a licensed mental health practitioner is available, monitoring vital signs such as blood pressure, and making sure each patient feels comfortable and supported throughout.
What Medical Oversight Looks Like in Practice
At Lumin Health, oversight doesn’t start the day of treatment — it begins long before that.
Every patient goes through a comprehensive evaluation with one of our academically-affiliated psychiatrists (schools like Harvard Medical School, Tufts Medical School) or expert mental health practitioners. This includes a detailed medical and psychiatric history, review of current medications, and discussion of treatment goals and concerns.
Some people who inquire about ketamine therapy discover it’s not the right fit for them right now — and that’s okay. For others, we coordinate with their external care team to ensure continuity of care.
Once treatment begins, we follow a structured protocol:
- Each patient is welcomed into a private, comfortable room with continuous access to staff.
- Vitals are monitored before, during, and after dosing.
- Recovery periods last roughly two hours, allowing full supervision until it’s safe to leave.
- Patients receive guidance afterward, including optional debriefing and coordination with outside therapists.
This combination of structure and compassion creates an environment where people can experience the benefits of ketamine safely, with confidence and peace of mind.
Esketamine (Spravato): Built-In Safety at Every Step
Lumin Health is also certified to provide esketamine (Spravato) — the FDA-approved form of ketamine for treatment-resistant depression.
Spravato treatments follow even stricter national safety standards under the REMS certification, which ensures the medication is used only in approved clinics by trained providers.
Each Spravato session involves:
- A clinician-observed nasal administration
- Continuous monitoring for two hours afterward
- A companion or arranged ride home
This model is one of the most carefully regulated in psychiatry today — and for good reason. It ensures that the treatment is not only effective, but predictably safe.
The Human Side of Safety
At Lumin Health, safety isn’t just about medical protocols — it’s also about a safe place to work through intense emotional experiences. For some people, ketamine brings up vivid imagery or memories. For others, it creates a sense of deep calm or distance from their usual thoughts. Having clinicians who understand these states — and who can help make sense of them — turns the experience from something strange into something meaningful.
Our staff is trained not just in psychiatry, but in empathy. Every person who walks through our doors is treated with respect, patience, and dignity.
As one patient reflected on our website, “I never felt alone or unsure of what was happening. The team was calm, attentive, and explained every step.”
That kind of reassurance can make all the difference — especially for people who are trying something new after years of frustration with traditional treatments.
Transparency Is the First Safety Measure
We believe that good medicine starts with clear information.
During consultation, our clinicians walk patients through what to expect before, during, and after each treatment. We discuss possible side effects (such as dizziness or nausea), the short-term changes in perception that may occur during dosing, and the aftercare plan to ensure rest and recovery afterward.
No question is too small. No answer is rushed.
Our goal isn’t to convince anyone to start treatment — it’s to help people understand it well enough to decide for themselves.
Why Expertise Matters
Lumin Health’s clinical team is led by academically-affiliated psychiatrists with extensive experience in both traditional and interventional mental health care.
That expertise means our clinicians don’t see ketamine as an isolated procedure — they see it as one potential tool within a broader framework of psychiatric practice.
We understand how to evaluate whether ketamine is appropriate, how to adjust treatment plans as patients progress, and when to pause or transition to other forms of care. That balance of scientific rigor and clinical intuition is what keeps our patients safe — and it’s what defines responsible innovation.
When your treatment is supervised by experts who understand the medicine, the mind, and the person in front of them, safety isn’t a question — it’s the foundation.
Redefining Safety in Modern Mental Health Care
At Lumin Health, safety is the framework everything else depends on. Every step, starting at medical screening all the way to recovery, is designed to protect patients physically and emotionally while giving them the best chance to benefit from care.
We believe that innovation in psychiatry should always move at the pace of safety. That means clear communication, strong medical oversight, and consistent follow-up. It means patients know what to expect — and who will be there with them through it.
For people exploring ketamine therapy, that structure can make all the difference. It transforms a new and unfamiliar treatment into a guided, transparent process built on trust.
Responsible care doesn’t just deliver results, it earns confidence. And that’s what we do — one patient, one treatment, one steady step at a time.
📍 Lumin Health Ketamine & Spravato Clinic
300 Tradecenter Drive, Suite 3400, Woburn, MA
☎️ 617-863-8810 | 🌐 www.lumin.health
Harvard-trained psychiatrists | Insurance accepted | Complimentary consultation available