February Innerbloom Newsletter
Feb 12, 2026 1:01 pm
February 2026
February can be a challenging time for mental health, as many people find that symptoms of depression and anxiety feel heavier in the winter months. At Innerbloom, we’re here to offer hope, healing, and evidence-based care through ketamine and Spravato treatments.
Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions we hear from patients, ketamine-related news, and, as always, some of my recommendations beyond ketamine therapy.
Innerbloom Ketamine Therapy | 100 Casa Street, San Luis Obispo, CA
⁉️ Frequently Asked Questions
A big part of our role at Innerbloom is education. We believe that no one should begin ketamine or Spravato treatment without fully understanding the process, the science, and what to expect along the way. Our goal is always to ensure that you feel informed, supported, and completely comfortable before moving forward. Below are five of the most common questions we hear from newcomers:
1. How soon will I start to feel better?
Many patients notice improvements within the first few treatments — feeling lighter, gaining emotional resilience, and experiencing a boost in mood. For others, changes happen more gradually over the full treatment series.
Ketamine and Spravato can work faster than traditional antidepressants (days instead of weeks), but everyone’s timeline is different.
The PHQ-9 assessment measures depression severity, with higher scores reflecting more severe depression. Here, one Spravato patient demonstrates significant symptom improvement within the first month of care.
2. Is ketamine or Spravato covered by insurance?
Ketamine infusions are not covered by insurance, though many patients pursue this treatment option for its strong effectiveness and ability to treat conditions beyond depression, including anxiety, PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and chronic pain.
Spravato is FDA-approved solely for treatment-resistant depression, and many insurance plans (including Medicare, Aetna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield) provide coverage. Once a patient’s deductible is met, costs are sometimes limited to a small copay per visit — and often there is no out-of-pocket expense at all.
3. How do ketamine and Spravato differ from traditional antidepressants?
Traditional antidepressants work by adjusting neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, often taking weeks to months to have an effect.
Ketamine and Spravato work differently, targeting the brain’s glutamate system and promoting neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to form new connections. They focus on addressing the root cause instead of just treating symptoms. By helping the brain break out of rigid depressive patterns, these treatments can create an opportunity for faster and more lasting healing.
4. What qualifies me for Spravato?
Spravato is reserved for adults with treatment-resistant depression, meaning symptoms have not improved despite trying at least two different antidepressant medications within the past five years.
Appropriate candidates require a referral from a primary care provider or psychiatrist and are screened during an in-person consultation at Innerbloom. This visit reviews medical history, current medications, and overall health to determine whether Spravato is an appropriate option.
Inside one of Innerbloom’s treatment rooms
5. Is ketamine safe? Is it addictive?
This is an important question — and one we take very seriously.
Ketamine has been used safely in medicine for over six decades, including in anesthesia and emergency care. In a monitored clinical setting, at therapeutic doses, it is considered very safe for appropriate candidates.
The risk of addiction is extremely low when ketamine is used responsibly under medical supervision, rather than recreationally, at home, or without proper structure.
At Innerbloom, every treatment is carefully monitored in-clinic (no at-home use), individualized, and paired with integration support to ensure both safety and long-term benefit.
🗞️ News
Ketamine Access is Growing Worldwide
Norway has become the first European country to introduce nationwide reimbursement for off-label generic IV ketamine for treatment-resistant depression. Norway’s model also emphasizes pairing ketamine treatment with psychotherapy to support longer-lasting outcomes and minimize misuse.
While Norway’s healthcare system is unique, this marks an important precedent: governments may begin creating structured, publicly funded pathways for ketamine therapy based on clinical value and cost-effectiveness. It also raises the question of whether the U.S. could eventually move toward broader insurance coverage for ketamine beyond Spravato, especially as evidence and demand continue to grow.
💡Innerbloom Recommendations
Vytal Health: Functional Medicine
Vytal Health is a telehealth integrative and functional medicine service that takes a whole-body approach, rather than focusing only on symptoms. They begin with extensive testing to understand how your body systems are functioning and what needs support.
Over the past few months, I’ve worked with Vytal Health personally, and they identified imbalances in my gut health and hormones. With Dr. Seema Afsari's guidance on targeted nutrition, supplements, and medications, I feel significantly better — and follow-up blood work has confirmed the improvement.
I have no affiliation with Vytal Health, but after asking nicely 😊, they were happy to share a special offer with my readers. Anyone who enrolls in their Longevity Program and mentions this newsletter as their referral will receive a complimentary continuous glucose monitor.
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About Newy
A supplement formulated by Dr. Rivas for enhanced brain and mood support. The formula pairs especially well with ketamine therapy by helping extend and enhance the neuroplasticity effects. That said, the ingredients are equally effective on their own, so it’s a supportive option whether or not someone is undergoing ketamine treatment.
Thank You!
I appreciate your continued support and for taking the time to read! If you have questions, feedback, or topics you'd like to see covered, reply to this email. I would love to hear from you!
Warmly,
Ray Rivas, MD
Innerbloom Ketamine Therapy, PC
San Luis Obispo, CA
(805) 321-8471
