Pacific Mind Health Launches Ketamine Program for Persistent Grief

Joshua Flatow, founder and medical director of the practice, emphasizes that the goal is not to medicalize the grieving process. Instead, the program focuses on patients who remain trapped in a cycle of hopelessness that traditional psychotherapy and SSRI antidepressants fail to address within a standard timeframe. By targeting the brain’s glutamate system rather than serotonin, ketamine offers a pathway to relief that can manifest in hours or days rather than months.

This rapid response is the primary draw for clinicians dealing with high-acuity cases where waiting weeks for oral medication to take effect poses a significant risk to the patient. Every candidate undergoes a rigorous psychiatric evaluation to ensure the therapy is appropriate. For those who do not qualify, the practice continues to offer alternatives including transcranial magnetic stimulation and traditional medication management. Research cited by the clinic suggests that combining these sessions with ongoing psychotherapy often yields the most durable results for those struggling to return to daily functioning.