Speak with a Mental Health Admissions Specialist
Your information is private and secure. No pressure to commit.
If you’ve tried medication after medication and still don’t feel like yourself, ketamine therapy may be the next step worth taking.
Colorado Mental Health Services offers IV ketamine infusion therapy for adults with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, OCD, and other conditions that haven’t responded adequately to conventional treatment.
This isn’t a last resort. It’s an evidence-based, clinically supervised treatment that works differently from anything you’ve probably tried before.
Ketamine is a medication that has been used safely in medical settings for decades. At sub-anesthetic doses, it works on the brain in a fundamentally different way than traditional antidepressants, targeting the glutamate system rather than serotonin, and triggering rapid changes in neural communication in areas that depression, trauma, and chronic stress have effectively shut down.
Where antidepressants can take weeks to produce any effect, and often produce none at all, ketamine frequently produces meaningful symptom relief within hours to days of the first infusion.
At Colorado Mental Health Services, ketamine is administered intravenously, the delivery method with the strongest clinical evidence base, the most precise dosing control, and the most direct pathway to the brain.
Sessions are conducted in a calm, medically supervised environment with continuous monitoring throughout.
Ketamine therapy at Colorado Mental Health Services is indicated for adults who have not achieved adequate relief from conventional treatments. Conditions we treat include:
For people who have tried two or more antidepressants without sufficient improvement, ketamine offers a clinically validated alternative. Its rapid mechanism of action makes it particularly relevant for people who have been managing depression for years without finding something that works.
Ketamine’s neuroplasticity-promoting effects make it a compelling option for PTSD and complex trauma — conditions where the brain’s threat-processing circuitry has become chronically dysregulated. Research supports its use in reducing PTSD symptom severity, particularly hyperarousal, avoidance, and intrusive symptoms.
Emerging evidence supports ketamine’s effectiveness for OCD, particularly in cases where SSRIs and behavioral therapy haven’t produced adequate results. Its glutamate-targeting mechanism addresses a neurological pathway that standard OCD treatments don’t directly reach.
For generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorder that have not responded to conventional pharmacotherapy, ketamine’s rapid anxiolytic effects offer a meaningful clinical option.
Ketamine has demonstrated rapid reduction in acute suicidal ideation — one of its most clinically significant and most underappreciated applications. For individuals in acute psychological distress, the speed of its effect is unlike anything else currently available.
01
Before any infusion begins, you meet with our clinical team for a comprehensive evaluation. We review your psychiatric history, current medications, previous treatment trials, and overall health to confirm that IV ketamine is appropriate for you and to establish your individualized dosing protocol.
02
You’ll receive detailed preparation instructions before your first infusion. Generally, this includes fasting for several hours beforehand, arranging transportation home (you cannot drive after a session), wearing comfortable clothing, and arriving without expectations about how the experience will feel.
03
You’re settled into a comfortable, low-stimulation environment. An IV line is placed, and the ketamine infusion begins, typically running 40 to 60 minutes at a carefully calibrated sub-anesthetic dose.
04
After the infusion, you rest in our facility for a brief observation period while the immediate effects wear off. Most people feel clear-headed within an hour, and a trusted person drives you home.
IV ketamine infusion therapy is not currently covered by most insurance plans as a standard benefit, though this is evolving as the evidence base grows. Colorado Mental Health Services offers transparent pricing and flexible payment options to make ketamine therapy as accessible as possible.
We recommend contacting our team directly to discuss costs and payment arrangements before your consultation, so there are no surprises.
If you’ve spent years trying to find something that works: different medications, therapists, and diagnoses — and you’re still not where you want to be, ketamine therapy is worth a conversation.
Colorado Mental Health Services is here to answer your questions, walk you through whether you’re a good candidate, and take the next step with you at whatever pace makes sense.
IV ketamine infusion delivers ketamine directly into the bloodstream through an intravenous line, allowing for precise dosing, rapid onset, and continuous monitoring throughout the session. It is the delivery method with the strongest clinical evidence base for psychiatric applications. Other forms — including Spravato (intranasal esketamine) and oral ketamine — exist but differ in bioavailability, dosing precision, and the clinical evidence supporting their use. IV infusion is considered the gold standard for treatment-resistant depression and related conditions.
Clinically administered ketamine is delivered at sub-anesthetic doses — approximately one-fifth the dose used for anesthesia — in a medically supervised environment with continuous vital sign monitoring. The dosing, setting, intention, and clinical oversight are fundamentally different from recreational use. The dissociative effects that occur recreationally at high doses are minimal or absent at therapeutic doses, and the entire experience is structured around clinical safety and therapeutic outcomes.
Ketamine’s most significant clinical advantage over conventional antidepressants is its speed. Many patients notice meaningful symptom relief within 24 to 48 hours of their first infusion — sometimes sooner. This rapid onset is particularly significant for people experiencing severe depression or suicidal ideation, where waiting weeks for a medication to take effect is not clinically acceptable.
The standard initial protocol for mental health conditions is six infusions delivered over two to three weeks. This series approach produces more durable relief than a single session. Following the initial series, some clients achieve lasting remission; others benefit from periodic maintenance infusions. Your clinical team will work with you to determine the right ongoing approach based on your response.
Experiences vary significantly between individuals and between sessions. Common descriptions include a floating or weightless sensation, altered perception of time and space, mild visual changes, and a sense of emotional distance from habitual thought patterns. Some people find the experience profound; others describe it as unremarkable. Most people feel clear-headed within an hour of the infusion ending. You are monitored and supported throughout — you are never alone during a session.
During the infusion, temporary side effects may include dissociation, dizziness, nausea, elevated blood pressure, and blurred vision. These effects are short-lived and resolve as the infusion ends. Rarely, some people experience anxiety or emotional intensity during the session — your clinical team is present throughout and trained to provide support if needed. Longer-term risks with repeated use include potential effects on bladder function and cognitive processing, which is why ketamine therapy at Colorado Mental Health Services is delivered in a structured, clinically supervised protocol rather than open-ended administration.
Ketamine therapy is not appropriate for everyone. Contraindications include a personal or family history of psychosis or schizophrenia, uncontrolled hypertension, active substance use disorder (particularly dissociative or stimulant substances), certain cardiovascular conditions, and pregnancy. A thorough clinical assessment before your first infusion exists precisely to identify these factors — your safety is the first priority.
IV ketamine for psychiatric use is currently prescribed off-label — meaning it is not FDA-approved specifically for depression or PTSD, though it is FDA-approved as an anesthetic. Off-label prescribing is standard and legal medical practice when supported by clinical evidence, and the evidence base for ketamine in treatment-resistant depression is substantial — including endorsement from the American Psychiatric Association. Spravato (esketamine nasal spray), a ketamine derivative, does carry FDA approval specifically for treatment-resistant depression.
Most commercial insurance plans do not currently cover IV ketamine infusions as a standard benefit, though coverage is expanding as the evidence base grows. Spravato (esketamine) has broader insurance coverage due to its FDA approval. Colorado Mental Health Services offers transparent pricing and flexible payment options — contact our team to discuss costs before your consultation.
Google Reviews
Colorado Mental Health services was a beacon of hope during one of the darkest times in my life. From the moment I arrived, the staff treated me with compassion, respect, and unwavering support. They truly understood what I was going through and provided not just a place to heal, but the tools and guidance I needed to rebuild my life.
The program at Colorado Mental Health services is structured yet deeply personal, offering a balance of therapy, education, and community that made all the difference in my recovery. They didn’t just help me get sober—they helped me rediscover myself, build resilience, and develop the confidence to move forward.
Now, a year later, I’m beyond grateful for the life I have today, and I owe so much of that to Colorado Mental Health services. If you or a loved one is struggling and looking for a place that truly cares, I can’t recommend Colorado Mental Health services highly enough. They don’t just offer treatment—they offer hope, healing, and a future worth fighting for.
I am grateful for Colorado Mental Health services. My experience into the world of recovery was with much apprehension. The staff at the inpatient facility, though PHP and IOP were extremely understanding and helpful while I came to a real understanding of what addiction is and how it has affected my life.
Nothing is like Colorado Mental Health services. It was the best choice I’ve ever made regarding my addiction & recovery. Caring, professional staff (many whom are in long term recovery themselves and understand), comprehensive program, group & 1 on 1 therapy, and activities like yoga, hiking, and gym in a comfortable atmosphere in the beautiful, nature-filled Morrson/Conifer area. There 4 stage program changed my life. Detox, residential treatment, PHP, & IOP. And then there’s the excellent alumni program with tons of support through meetings, events & activities. If you’re committed to fighting an addiction, this is the place to go.
This program saved my life and every day gives me the tools and resources to make it a life I want to live. Words fall far too short of the gratitude I have for this program and everything they have done for me. So many resources, spectacular staff, refreshingly authentic care and love in this program. I’ve never felt so supported and secure and safe. From my first phone call on through to the present, it’s been nothing but exceptional. My sanctuary, my recovery cocoon and somewhere I’ll feel at home throughout my recovery journey and life. I feel confident now that my recovery and future has begun. A life of freedom and opportunity. I was hopeless, discouraged and desperate. I never have to feel that way again. Thank you COLORADO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ~ FOREVER GRATEFUL
Colorado Mental Health services is an incredible rehab facility. I received amazing care all the way from in patient to outpatient treatment. All of the staff and nurses were so kind and understanding and willing to help with anything that I needed. The therapists were also very helpful and provided great insight into our sessions and were incredibly knowledgeable. Colorado Mental Health services really helped me to regain control over my life and be able to find a new path and direction to head into. I could not recommend this facility enough and the amazing staff you get to meet and work with. I had a really great experience with them!
Colorado Mental Health services is so much more than an addiction treatment program. This program and the incredible staff have allowed me to find a sense of purpose and a tight knit community. The skills and coping mechanisms taught during group therapy are so vital to my recovery and I continue to use them every day outside of treatment. The staff provided constant support and guidance every step of the way and continue to even after completing the program. Their unwavering support, deep knowledge, and compassion made the daunting journey of sobriety feel genuinely achievable and worthwhile. The uncertainty on the road to recovery can be overwhelming and may seem unfeasible at first. For anyone who is struggling with these fears and looking for some semblance of hope and meaningful connections this is your place.
our locations
Colorado Mental Health Services