Brittany didn’t arrive as a beginner. She had already done the work – therapy, medications, structured programs, countless appointments. Still, parts of her felt out of reach. Ketamine therapy wasn’t a whim. It was a question she lived with for almost two years. Now, after starting it, she can safely say:
“It’s enhanced every single thing about my life.” – Brittany, Lumin Health patient
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Join this exploration of Brittany’s story, through a conversation with Dr. Matt Mosquera (Psychiatrist and Regional Medical Director at Lumin Health)
The long decision to start ketamine therapy at Lumin Health
Relief was the goal. Not a shortcut, not a new identity like can be conflated with the 'psychedelic' style of experience – relief from depression and mental health struggles. Brittany spent years with more traditional care, then gave herself time to consider ketamine treatment and Spravato treatment. She read primary research, brought questions to her PCP, and talked with her support circle. The choice wasn’t made in isolation. It was patient and careful.
She also named a common worry for people in long‑term recovery: introducing something new. She describes herself as risk‑averse. Day‑of, there wasn’t fear, but leading up to the first ketamine experience, there was some latent anxiety. That honest ambivalence mattered as she moved toward a decision that felt like her own.
Walking into Lumin Health for the first time
Her first visit to Lumin Health set a tone that followed her throughout the rest of her sessions.
“When I walked into Lumin the first time, I was like, oh my God, they did it right in here… it was comfortable… and it didn’t feel too clinical… but clinical enough to feel legitimate. The aesthetics were welcoming… and the staff – each person brings their own special sauce.”
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“It felt like home,” she told us – comfortable, welcoming, and clinical enough to feel legitimate. The details weren’t window dressing. Art and books within reach. A snack cart that went beyond the basics. Most of all, a team that showed up with presence. “Everyone brings their own special sauce,” she said. That helped safety land in the body, not only on paper.
What ketamine therapy feels like to Brittany
Brittany expected excavation, but what she found was spaciousness.
She describes sessions that were peaceful and life‑affirming, more about being filled up than digging through the past. Music became central to her ketamine treatment ritual. Each week she built a playlist that fit her mood – sometimes big bass and tribal, sometimes acoustic. She used an eye covering. She kept a sketch pad nearby and wrote what surfaced. She saved every page.
She paired dosing days with psychotherapy afterward. Lumin Health helped her line up schedules so she could leave the Spravato clinic and log on to therapy at home. She calls that rhythm “seamless.”
Inside the chair, she often felt her body fully at ease – safe, relaxed, and open. More than once she left feeling simply elated. No negative surprises.
A mindset shift: “Pour more good in”
The biggest change was how she took care of herself between appointments. Instead of trying to fix every negative thing, she started pouring more good in – small choices that matched who she is and who she wants to be. She says she feels more in resonance with herself most days, and that feeling touches work, family, and friendships.
- Energy and mood: more excitement for daily life.
- Boundaries and clarity: the confidence to leave a relationship that was hurting her family; the whole household is doing better now.
- Connection: a growing friend group and a stronger support network.
- Reflections from others: comments like, “Oh, Brittany’s back.”
Safety, stigma, and what helped her decide to start ketamine therapy
“Day of, no fear… leading up, yes. Anytime I mix something new into the equation there’s a little ‘mental static’ – that’s normal – and then you adjust.”
On stigma:
“I get so much positive feedback when I talk to people about it… it gives people space to exhale – ‘if she’s doing it, maybe I could look into it.’”
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Brittany hears curiosity from people who might not have pictured themselves trying ketamine for depression. When someone they trust shares their experience, it gives others room to exhale. Her advice to anyone on the fence: trust your process. There’s a difference between stretching yourself through healthy fear and pushing through immobilizing fear. If it feels immobilizing, take your time. Nothing is written in stone.
Before and after ketamine therapy, in her words
Before Lumin Health, Brittany describes herself as capable but stuck – well‑educated and experienced, yet still confused. After beginning Spravato treatment and ketamine therapy at our Spravato clinic, she noticed “good things spreading out” into her life. When friends ask how she’s doing, she often answers, “Good” because that is the honest answer. Sometimes she feels almost self‑conscious naming how well she’s doing when others are having a hard day. That contrast helps her see movement she couldn’t see before.
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What Brittany hopes people hear when considering ketamine treatment for depression
“Try it on for size,” she says. “Keep following whatever’s knocking at your heart’s door… follow the breadcrumbs – they’re there for a reason.”
Brittany’s story is her own. It doesn’t promise a cure, but it's designed to show what care can look like when ketamine therapy or Spravato treatment is delivered thoughtfully, and when a patient brings intention to the work. If you’re exploring ketamine for depression, Lumin Health will meet you with clear information, steady care, and room to decide what feels possible next.
