In the spring of 2026, Paula Ebben, Felicity Obrien, and the team at WBZ-TV / CBS News Boston visited Lumin Health to talk about something more people in the Boston area deserve to know about. Ketamine therapy and esketamine (Spravato, FDA-approved) are real, evidence-based options for adults whose depression has not responded to conventional treatment. We were grateful for the invitation. We were grateful that the story made room for a patient's voice, a clinician's voice, and the clinical reality of what this work actually looks like.
If you missed the segment, you can watch the on-air piece on CBS News Boston or read the written companion. What follows is what we hoped every viewer would take away.
The Misconception Worth Naming About Ketamine Therapy
Speaking with WBZ, our Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder, Dr. Ben Yudkoff, named the most common framing he hears from patients and providers.
"The biggest misconception is that ketamine is either purely a biologic or purely this thing that's meant to give you a trip."
— Dr. Ben Yudkoff, Chief Medical Officer, Lumin Health, speaking with WBZ-TV
The reality lives in the middle. Ketamine and esketamine (Spravato) appear to work through the glutamate system. They are associated with what neuroscientists call neuroplasticity. Your brain isn't broken. It may just be stuck. The medicine helps to create a window in which it becomes easier to lay down new connections. That window matters most when it is paired with thoughtful, medically supervised care.
That is the work we do every day at Lumin Health. Spravato treatment is delivered in our REMS-certified medical practice, with vital signs like blood pressure and the oxygen saturation of your blood monitored throughout, and with two hours or more of post-administration observation. Off-label ketamine therapy, when clinically appropriate, is delivered intramuscularly within psychiatrist-led protocols. There are no IV drips. There is no recreational reframing. There is a quiet room, built for reflection and care, and a team that helps you ground, slow your breathing, and speak with you through whatever the session brings.
Wondering if this could be a fit?
If you are in Massachusetts or the greater Washington DC and Maryland area, our team is here to help you sort through your options. Book a free 20-minute intro call. No commitment, no pressure.
Available in Massachusetts and the greater Washington DC and Maryland area.
What Ketamine Treatment Patients Actually Experience
Dr. Aakash Sathappan, Medical Director at our Brookline location, told WBZ what we tell every person who calls us for an intake.
"In general, the treatment is well tolerated. There are some time-limited side effects. Most people feel a little bit tired, a little bit drowsy, perhaps a bit dizzy after treatment."
— Dr. Aakash Sathappan, Medical Director, Lumin Health, speaking with WBZ-TV
Side effects are real, and they are time-limited. We monitor for them. We talk patients through them. You cannot drive home the day of treatment. Most people feel themselves again within a few hours, though some feel a bit fatigued into the next day. None of this is a surprise to us. It should not be a surprise to you, either.
The harder thing to put into words is what can happen on the other side of those first few sessions. Dr. Sathappan tried.
"It allows people to reconnect with a version of themselves that's often lost with depression."
— Dr. Aakash Sathappan, Medical Director, Lumin Health, speaking with WBZ-TV
The patient WBZ featured described it in her own way. Many patients we work with describe something similar. We are careful not to promise a particular outcome. We are also careful not to understate the change some people experience. In clinical practice, it is common to see softer mood, quieter intrusive thoughts, and a willingness to do small things again that depression had made feel pointless. Sometimes those changes are categorically positive. Sometimes they are subtle. Sometimes, despite a good effort, the treatment does not give a person the relief they were hoping for, and we talk honestly about next steps. We do not sell. We walk patients through the options.
Who Ketamine Therapy and Spravato May Be For
Esketamine (Spravato, FDA-approved, sponsored by Janssen / Johnson & Johnson) is indicated for adults with treatment-resistant depression, and for adults with major depressive disorder who are experiencing acute suicidal ideation or behavior. If you have been on antidepressants and the treatment has not worked, that does not mean you have failed. It often means the treatment has failed the patient. A different approach is worth considering.
Off-label ketamine therapy, delivered within a psychiatrist-led framework, is another evidence-informed option for adults whose depression has not responded to conventional medications. Eligibility is something we screen for carefully. We talk through your medical history, your mood history, and the medications you are already on. Some people are not a fit, and we tell them so.
Where We Are, And How To Begin Ketamine Treatment
Lumin Health is based in the Boston Metro area, with four locations: Newton, Cambridge, Brookline, and Woburn. Our Bethesda location serves the greater Washington DC and Maryland area. Most insurance plans in Massachusetts cover Spravato treatment, and we verify benefits up front so most patients pay a standard office-visit co-pay, typically $10 to $25, rather than the sticker price. You can check your insurance here.
If WBZ's story made you wonder whether this could be a fit for you, or for someone you love, we would be honored to talk. A consultation is free, takes about 20 minutes, and you leave with information, not pressure.
If you are in crisis, please reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. NAMI Massachusetts is also available at 617-580-8541.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Lumin Health on WBZ-TV in Boston?
Yes. Lumin Health was featured on WBZ-TV / CBS News Boston on May 16, 2026, in a segment reported by Paula Ebben on how ketamine therapy and esketamine (Spravato) are being used for depression that has not responded to conventional treatment. The on-air segment and written companion piece are linked above.
Is ketamine therapy a "trip"?
That framing misses the point. As Dr. Yudkoff told WBZ, treating ketamine as "purely this thing that's meant to give you a trip" is one of the most common misconceptions. Ketamine and esketamine (Spravato) are medications with a known mechanism of action in the glutamate system. There is an experiential component that we prepare patients for, and that we hold within a medically supervised setting. There is no recreational reframing in the work we do.
Does insurance cover Spravato treatment at Lumin Health?
Most major commercial insurers in Massachusetts cover esketamine (Spravato) for its FDA-approved indications. Co-pays for many patients fall in the $10 to $25 range, instead of the typical $800 or more out-of-pocket cost. You can check your insurance here.
Where is Lumin Health located?
Lumin Health has four locations in the Boston Metro area (Newton, Cambridge, Brookline, and Woburn) and one location in Bethesda, serving the greater Washington DC and Maryland area.
Take the first step today.
If you or someone you love is exhausted by depression that has not responded to conventional treatment, our team is ready to help you understand whether ketamine therapy or Spravato treatment may be a fit. Book a free 20-minute consultation. There is no pressure, and the information is yours to keep.
Available in Massachusetts and the greater Washington DC and Maryland area.
