This Doctor is Revolutionizing Mental Health with Ketamine

If you think ketamine is just some party drug or heavy-duty horse anesthetic, think again. It’s actually revolutionizing the mental health world by helping people battle depression, anxiety, PTSD, and a whole lot more. How? By boosting neuroplasticity and essentially giving the brain what it needs to rewire itself, so it can open up new neural pathways for healing and growth.

One of the people leading this charge is Dr. Sam Zand. He’s the Founder & CEO of Anywhere Clinic and Calm Clinic, as well as a psychiatrist and professor of psychedelic medicine. But perhaps most importantly, he’s making ketamine therapy safer, more accessible, and honestly, way less intimidating.

What Ketamine Therapy Really Is (and Isn’t)

Ketamine therapy is real, evidence-based medicine that’s changing lives. And the more people open their minds to new treatment options, the more they’re realizing that mental health care isn’t just for those in crisis—it’s for anyone who wants to optimize their well-being. “People are finally realizing it’s okay to see a psychiatrist just to be the best version of themselves,” Dr. Zand says. And unlike antidepressants, which can take weeks (or never) to work, ketamine therapy can provide relief within hours.

While Anywhere Clinic has in-clinic treatment, they specialize in at-home ketamine therapy, which means you get all the benefits of treatment without having to be bound to an unfamiliar location and costly bills. And, unlike shady street ketamine, you don’t have to worry about what’s in it or a mystery dosage. Ketamine therapy is all doctor-prescribed, carefully monitored, and totally legit. Oh, and it’s covered by insurance.

Prepping for Your Mind-Altering Journey

Of course, ketamine isn’t some magic button you press for instant happiness. You have to put in the work. “It’s not just taking a pill and hoping for the best,” Dr. Zand explains. That’s why preparation is such a critical part of the process. With both a personal approach and an online patient portal, the clinic guides patients on how to prime their minds and bodies before treatment with things like good sleep, hydration, exercise, breathwork, and journaling.

For at-home treatment, patients get prescriptions from a licensed compound pharmacist, which can come in the form of troches (lozenges), dissolvable tablets (RDTs), injections, infusions, or even a topical option for pain relief. Your prescription can even be shipped straight to your door in any of the 30 states Anywhere Clinic operates. On dosing day, a psychiatrist checks in with you, and because you’re encouraged to have a trusted person with you for your session, Anywhere Clinic will train them up on how to best support you.

How I Prep for a Session

When I do an at-home session, here’s how I like to prepare. I go into my bedroom and lock the door (so that I’m not disturbed by bored puppies, mischievous kittens, or a hungry husband). I make sure I have a ton of water with me, as well as an eye mask, and a playlist full of music I don’t have any deep emotional ties to. This last part is inspired by Michael Pollan’s “fresh snow” analogy, which is all about allowing psychedelics to reset your thought patterns and create new neural pathways, instead of defaulting to the old “grooves in the snow”.

Think about how scents, sounds, and even specific songs can instantly transport you to a past memory—sometimes one you’d rather not revisit. The smell of fresh-baked cookies at an open house is designed to make you feel at home, and that one breakup song can send you spiraling back into heartache. When undergoing ketamine therapy, the goal is to create a neutral, open mental space, free from triggers that could pull you back into old emotional loops. That’s why it’s recommended to listen to music without lyrics and without strong personal associations. The idea is to let your brain explore new pathways without being guided by familiar emotional imprints.

If you need a good playlist, Dr. Zand recommends heading to Anywhere Clinic’s Spotify page, where they’ve curated four playlists called Heal, Love, Grow, and Transcend.

After your session, integration is everything. I journal, reflect, and make sure to actually apply what I’ve learned. “Therapy is only as good as what you do with it,” Dr. Zand reminds me. That’s why Anywhere Clinic focuses on community and support, so you’re not left alone wondering, “Well… now what?”

The Metamorphosis Retreat

If you really want to dive deep, Dr. Zand also runs Metamorphosis, a completely immersive retreat in Puerto Rico. I was lucky enough to be invited to such a retreat, and I can confirm that it is a profound experience, one that requires you to get away from your usual patterns—no cell service, no distractions. They use breath work, sound baths, Reiki, and guided ketamine sessions to provide a complete reset.

For most of us, jetting off to an island isn’t in the budget, but don’t worry. You can capture the same kind of transformative experience in the comfort of your own home with the right mindset and preparation.

Accessible Psychedelic Therapy That Works

Mental health treatment has always been expensive. But Dr. Zand and his team are working to change that. “What used to cost thousands of dollars is now significantly more affordable,” he explains. A psychiatric consultation at Anywhere Clinic is about $150, and a Physician’s Assistant visit is $120. Ketamine treatments range from $30 to $50, depending on dosage and quantity.

At the end of the day, it isn’t just about medicine. It’s about empowering people to be their own therapist and navigate their healing in a way that feels right for them. Dr. Zand is proving that mental health care doesn’t have to be clinical, cold, or unattainable. With holistic approaches, accessible treatments, and a community-driven mindset, he’s making healing more accessible and teaching people how to take control of their own mental well-being.

To learn more about Anywhere Clinic or ketamine therapy, visit anywhereclinic.com.