Many clinicians tell us at Lumin Health they feel the impetus to discuss ketamine therapy or Spravato treatment with patients who may benefit from its fast-acting and meaningful impact on some — but hesitate: Is it too soon to broach the subject? How do I address stigma? What if I’m not an expert? How do I bring this up in conversation? How do I talk about it?
At Lumin Health, we see the conversations between patient and ongoing care provider as an act of clinical stewardship: hold uncertainty and hope at the same time, invite and encourage patient-centric agency, and collaborate closely so patients stay anchored to their existing care. That’s Lumin Health’s consultative model with referring providers — clear notifications, regular updates, and aligned decisions rather than “hand-offs.”,
Orientation: Speak with calm curiosity. Name uncertainty without retreating into jargon. Protect your alliance with your patient by framing ketamine therapy or esketamine (Spravato) treatment as an option we can explore together, not a hand‑off.
Plain‑Language Scripts Clinicians Can Use
The scripts below are meant to produce some guidance as to how we at Lumin Health have seen successful conversations between patient and primary provider. We encourage you to edit these freely when in conversation with your patients; we recommend retaining the cadence of how you actually talk in the room.
When to raise the option of ketamine therapy / ketamine treatment
If the room feels stuck (TRD history, persistent severity):
“We’ve worked hard and you’re still carrying so much. There’s another path we can consider — ketamine therapy, which is on the rise for use in mental health contexts. They act on a different brain system than typical antidepressants and, in some people, that difference matters. We’d only move forward if it feels right to you, and we’d keep safety at the center.”
If urgency is rising (e.g., depressive crisis):
“When suffering is this intense, waiting months for a medication shift can feel impossible. There’s a new medication that’s come to market recently called Spravato — which is the brand name for esketamine, a derivative of ketamine. Dosing happens in‑clinic with monitoring and is FDA‑approved for treatment‑resistant depression in adults, and for major depression with suicidal thoughts. If you’d like, we can explore whether this fits you — carefully.”
If you’re the referrer (and want to protect the alliance):
“If we explore this with Lumin Health, they’ll handle screening and dosing in their Spravato clinic. They’ll also keep me in the loop with concise updates, and send you back to our ongoing work. This should feel like an extension of our plan, not a detour.”
If a patient asks, “Am I a candidate?”
“Possibly. Lumin Health will look at your medical and psychiatric history, current medications, and supports. Some situations — like certain medical conditions and psychiatric conditions — require extra caution or a different approach. The goal is to choose a path that’s safe and honestly helpful.”
The “brain as forest” analogy
Patients want to know how this works — translating research into understanble elements.
60‑second story you can say out loud:
“Imagine your brain as a forest. Over time and repetition, depression can wear a deep, rutted path — same thoughts, same loops, no room to move. Ketamine for depression briefly shifts the glutamate system — the brain’s green‑light signal — so new footpaths can form. For a few days after a session, the brain may be more flexible. That’s when psychotherapy and small, doable changes can matter more.”
Gentle qualifier to keep it honest:
“This doesn’t ‘fix’ everything. It may create conditions for relief, and we’ll use that window thoughtfully — on your terms.”
Safety & supervision in clinic
Stigma softens when safety is concrete and visible.
If discussing esketamine (Spravato):
“Spravato treatment is done only in a REMS‑certified Spravato clinic - this means the clinic is trained and the providers have expertise in Spravato. You should be in a comfortable treatment area; vitals signs should be checked; privacy should be maintained. Many people find the setting — quiet, predictable, one‑to‑one — helps the experience feel contained.”
If discussing off‑label ketamine routes:
“Some clinics also offer IV or intramuscular ketamine treatment. Logistics differ, but the principle is the same: careful screening, observed sessions, and clear follow‑up. Route choice depends on your medical picture, goals, and access. A clinic should be conscientious of out-of-pocket costs and how to deliver care with respect to its expense.”
If the patient fears a “bad trip”:
“Feeling altered is expected and temporary. Think of the medicine as a co‑pilot — you’re not powerless; you’re supported. If the experience feels too intense, we ground, we adjust the dose next time, or we pause.”
If safety means ‘not now’:
“If there are medical or psychiatric conditions that make treatment especially risky,, we’ll protect you by holding off — or by shoring up supports first.”
Setting grounded expectations
Give shape to hope. Leave room for variability.
Timelines (what patients can expect to feel and when):
“People respond on different timelines. A few notice shifts within days while others may feel changes in weeks one to three, some later, and some not at all. We’ll check in regularly and pivot if it isn’t helping.”
What early change can feel like:
“Early signs are often small but meaningful — mornings a bit lighter, thoughts less heavy, more willingness to reach out. That’s our cue to meet for psychotherapy, try one or two tiny experiments that matter to you, or think more deeply about your medication regimen.”
Medications & coordination (keep it collaborative):
“Most antidepressants can continue. We’ll all work together to optimize the medication regimen to make sure you are best supported at each step.”
Routes, access, and insurance (set expectations plainly):
“Esketamine (Spravato) is FDA‑approved and typically insurance‑covered. t’s always administered in‑clinic. Other ketamine for depression routes (IM/IV) are often out‑of‑pocket. We’ll match options to your needs and circumstances.”
A pocket card you can copy into your notes
- Open: “We can explore ketamine therapy/esketamine (Spravato) — a supervised, in‑clinic option that works differently from standard antidepressant medications. No pressure, we decide together.”
- Explain: “Think brain as forest: ketamine may open new paths briefly; we’ll use that window with psychotherapy and small choices that matter to you.”
- Assure safety: “REMS‑certified Spravato clinic, private rooms, vitals monitored, staff present; for other routes, similar monitoring and clear follow‑up.”
- Set expectations: “Timelines vary — days to weeks for many; not everyone benefits. We’ll reassess honestly and pivot if needed.”
- Coordinate meds: “We’ll review current meds and coordinate with your prescribers.”
- Protect the alliance: “Lumin Health handles dosing and updates; we stay together and connected in your care.”
For referrers: how Lumin Health will work with you
- Collaboration over capture: We send timely, concise updates (after evaluation and key intervals - every other month or more frequently as treatment requires), co‑manage safety, and return patients to your ongoing care.
- Setting matters: Our Spravato clinic model emphasizes private rooms, predictable monitoring, mental health expertise, medical familiarity, and hospitality that supports safety and emotional containment — because the environment isn’t cosmetic, it’s a part of the clinical protocol.
- Shared language reduces stigma: Adopting some of the ideas,above, aligns what patients may think about in your with what they’ll hear in ours — lowering fear and confusion around ketamine treatment and Spravato treatment.
Related resources to link on your page (internal)
- How Ketamine Works → glutamate, AMPA/NMDA, and the “forest” metaphor.
- Neuroplasticity Window → what to do in the days after dosing.
- Spravato vs Off‑Label → indications, logistics, access.
- Therapy + Ketamine (psychotherapy/behavioral support timing).
- Routes & Bioavailability → IV/IM/intranasal basics.
Returning to the room you share with your patient
When you introduce ketamine therapy or esketamine (Spravato), you’re not pitching a product — you’re offering another way to try, together. Many providers told us they need language that stays tender with the pain in front of them and still makes space for hope. That’s what the ideas above are designed to do: reduce stigma, honor safety, and keep you — the trusted clinician — at the center of the plan. If your patient chooses to move forward, our role at Lumin Health is to be the careful partner beside you: supervised dosing, clean communication, and predictable returns to your care. That’s how ketamine for depression becomes not a detour, but a shared path.
