Multiple forms of ketamine treatment under one psychiatric practice
At Washington Interventional Psychiatry (WIP), ketamine is used to treat depression, PTSD, anxiety, bipolar depression, and other conditions that have not responded adequately to standard treatment. Ketamine is most often considered for patients who have tried multiple antidepressants without sufficient improvement — what’s commonly called treatment-resistant depression — though it has applications in other psychiatric conditions as well.
WIP offers several forms of ketamine treatment. Which one is appropriate depends on diagnosis, treatment history, insurance situation, and clinical goals — a question worked through during the initial psychiatric evaluation.
Forms of ketamine treatment at WIP
- IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy. The most common and best-studied form. Administered as a controlled infusion over approximately 40 minutes under continuous medical monitoring. IV delivery provides precise dose control and consistent bioavailability, which is why it’s the form most often used for the initial treatment course
- Spravato (Esketamine). FDA-approved nasal esketamine for treatment-resistant depression. Covered by most insurance plans, which is often the determining factor for patients where insurance coverage matters most.
- Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). Ketamine integrated with active psychotherapy in structured sessions with a licensed therapist. Used to support psychological exploration around trauma, internal conflict, and patterns of distress. Different in goal and structure from standard IV ketamine.
Intramuscular ketamine and ketamine troches are used in select clinical contexts when appropriate.
Ketamine within psychiatric care
Most clinics offering ketamine in Washington, DC operate as standalone ketamine clinics — patients are evaluated for ketamine, treated, and that’s the extent of the relationship. The patient’s broader psychiatric care happens elsewhere, with a separate provider.
WIP is structured differently. We are a psychiatry practice that operates its own ketamine treatments. The psychiatrist who evaluates you is qualified to provide your ongoing psychiatric care, and the decision about whether ketamine is appropriate, which form is right, and how it fits into your broader treatment is made within a real clinical relationship.
For patients who already have an established outside psychiatrist, this structure is preserved: we provide the interventional treatment and coordinate directly with the referring clinician. For patients who prefer a single provider managing both their interventional treatment and ongoing care, that’s available too.
Safety
All ketamine treatments at WIP are conducted under continuous medical supervision by trained clinical staff. Pre-treatment psychiatric and medical screening is required before any ketamine treatment, and a post-treatment recovery period is part of every session. Potential side effects include dissociation, nausea, transient elevation of blood pressure, and short-term confusion; these are reviewed in detail during your evaluation. Patients cannot drive themselves home after ketamine treatment.
Scheduling
If you’re considering ketamine therapy, the next step is an initial psychiatric evaluation. A WIP psychiatrist will review your treatment history, evaluate whether ketamine is appropriate, and discuss which form of ketamine — IV, IM, Spravato, or troches with KAP — fits your situation best. Initial consultations are complimentary.
Our flagship clinic is located in Spring Valley, Washington, DC, near Tenleytown and American University. A second clinic opens in Rockville, Maryland this fall. We see patients across DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.