Access to specialized psychiatric care remains one of the greatest unresolved challenges in mental health treatment, and for patients living outside of major metropolitan areas, traveling to a ketamine clinic is often genuinely prohibitive. We recognized this early in the development of our practice, which is why Albany Ketamine Infusions offers at-home ketamine treatments in Albany, NY and across New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Texas. This is not a compromise on the standard of care—it is an expansion of it, designed for patients who are medically appropriate for home-based treatment and who want physician oversight without the logistical burden of repeated travel.
How At-Home Ketamine Therapy Differs From IV Infusions
IV ketamine infusions are administered intravenously in a clinical setting and represent the most direct form of delivery—ketamine enters the bloodstream immediately, and dosing can be adjusted in real time. At-home ketamine therapy uses a different route of administration: typically sublingual troches (lozenges that dissolve under the tongue) or other formulations that are absorbed through the mucous membranes. These forms have a lower and slower bioavailability than IV, which affects the nature and intensity of the experience.
The practical implications are meaningful. At-home sessions tend to produce a gentler perceptual experience than IV infusions—patients often describe it as more introspective and less intense than the IV route. This can be an advantage for certain patients, particularly those with anxiety around the dissociative aspects of IV ketamine. It also means the at-home format is particularly well-suited to patients who are combining ketamine with psychotherapy, since the milder altered state can facilitate therapeutic processing in a more controlled way. For a deeper look at how ketamine interacts with brain chemistry, see our overview of what ketamine infusion therapy does to your brain.
What remains constant across formats is physician oversight. Dr. Hansen reviews every patient’s history before prescribing at-home ketamine, conducts virtual check-ins before and after sessions, and monitors progress throughout the program. We do not dispatch prescriptions without a thorough consultation and ongoing clinical engagement. The at-home format is telehealth-enabled, not unsupervised.
Who Is a Good Candidate for At-Home Ketamine?
Not every patient is appropriate for at-home ketamine. Medical suitability depends on several factors including your overall health, psychiatric history, prior response to medications, and your living environment. Patients with complex medical conditions, a history of psychosis, severe dissociative disorders, or certain cardiac issues may be better served by in-office IV treatment, which allows for direct monitoring throughout the session.
Patients we commonly work with in at-home programs include those treating treatment-resistant depression (TRD), major depressive disorder (MDD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, and OCD—conditions for which the clinical evidence base for ketamine is meaningful. We also see patients who have completed an in-office IV loading series and are looking for a more accessible format for maintenance treatment. For them, at-home ketamine can extend the benefit of their initial course without repeated trips to Albany. Our blog post on how long ketamine treatment lasts explains what maintenance care typically looks like.
Geographic reach matters here too. Our at-home program serves patients in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Texas—states where our telehealth infrastructure and Dr. Hansen’s medical licensure allow us to operate legally and safely. If you are in one of these states and traveling to Albany is not realistic for you, at-home ketamine is worth discussing with us directly.
The Session Itself: What to Prepare
Setting matters for at-home ketamine. We spend time before the program begins coaching patients on how to prepare their environment—comfortable seating or a place to lie down, reduced lighting, music that supports a contemplative state, and having a trusted adult present or nearby. We send written preparation materials and discuss expectations during the virtual pre-session check-in.
During the session, patients place the prescribed lozenge under the tongue, allow it to dissolve, and typically rest in a reclined position for 45 to 60 minutes. The perceptual effects begin gradually and fade after the session. We ask patients not to make any significant decisions, operate vehicles, or engage in demanding work on session days. After the session concludes, patients participate in a brief virtual check-in with our team to report on the experience and address any questions.
We recommend that patients engaged in psychotherapy schedule their at-home sessions in coordination with their therapist, ideally close to a scheduled therapy appointment so that any insights or emotional material from the session can be processed in a supported context. Learn more about how therapy and ketamine work together on our ketamine assisted psychotherapy page.
Addressing the Barrier of Geographic Access
One barrier we address directly with at-home ketamine is the reality that mental health care is not equally distributed across the regions we serve. Rural patients in New York, patients in suburban New Jersey without easy access to a ketamine clinic, and patients in Texas whose closest provider is hours away—these are real people whose treatment options have historically been limited by geography. We believe ketamine therapy should not be exclusively available to those who live near a major city and can take a half-day off work, arrange transportation, and navigate the logistics of repeat clinical visits.
The second barrier worth addressing is the sense that at-home treatment is somehow less legitimate or less safe than clinic-based treatment. We understand why this perception exists, but we want to be clear: every prescription in our at-home program is physician-supervised, every patient is individually evaluated, and we are available for support throughout the process. The regulatory frameworks governing telehealth ketamine require careful medical oversight, and we take those requirements seriously.
FAQ
Is at-home ketamine as effective as IV infusions?
The IV route has the most robust research evidence and produces the most immediate and intense neurobiological effects. At-home sublingual ketamine has a different bioavailability and produces a gentler experience, which some patients find more accessible. Both approaches can produce meaningful benefit for appropriate patients. Results vary by individual, and we discuss the right approach during your consultation.
How do I get the medication for at-home ketamine therapy?
After a thorough consultation and intake evaluation, Dr. Hansen writes a prescription for an appropriate ketamine formulation, which is dispensed by a licensed compounding pharmacy. The pharmacy ships directly to your address. We coordinate this process and ensure you receive the prescription only after we have completed a thorough clinical evaluation.
What states does Albany Ketamine Infusions serve through telehealth?
We currently serve patients in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Texas through our at-home telehealth ketamine program. Dr. Hansen holds medical licensure in these states and our telehealth infrastructure complies with applicable state and federal regulations.
Is at-home ketamine covered by insurance?
At-home ketamine therapy for psychiatric conditions is generally not covered by standard insurance plans. We provide transparent information about costs during the consultation. Many patients use health savings accounts or flexible spending accounts. Discuss with your provider what makes sense for your financial situation.
Do I need to be an existing in-office patient to access at-home ketamine?
No. New patients can begin with the at-home program if they are medically appropriate after a thorough telehealth consultation. Some patients choose to start in-office and transition to at-home for maintenance; others begin and continue entirely through the telehealth program. Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more details about how our programs work.
Key Takeaways
- At-home telehealth ketamine uses sublingual formulations and produces a gentler experience than IV, with physician oversight maintained throughout.
- Albany Ketamine Infusions serves patients in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Texas through its at-home program.
- Not every patient is an appropriate candidate for at-home treatment; a thorough telehealth consultation determines suitability.
- Setting preparation, a trusted adult nearby, and coordination with psychotherapy support the best outcomes from at-home sessions.
- Results vary by individual, and patients are encouraged to discuss the right treatment format with their provider.
Conclusion
For patients who cannot easily travel to our Albany clinic—whether because of geography, work schedules, or physical limitations—at-home ketamine therapy represents a genuine option, not a second-tier substitute. We are careful about who we accept into this program because physician oversight is not something we compromise on. If you are in New York, New Jersey, Florida, or Texas and want to explore whether you are a candidate, we welcome you to schedule a telehealth consultation with Dr. Hansen. Discuss with your provider what treatment path is appropriate given your full medical history and circumstances.
About Dr. Philip Hansen
Dr. Philip Hansen is a board-certified anesthesiologist who trained at Albany Medical Center. He established Albany Ketamine Infusions in partnership with Dr. Brooks, building on his training at NY Ketamine Infusions. Dr. Hansen graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and holds membership in the American Society of Anesthesia, the American Medical Association, and the New York State Society of Anesthesiologists. He provides medical oversight for both in-office IV ketamine infusions and at-home telehealth ketamine programs for patients across New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Texas.
References
American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists & Practitioners (ASKP3) — https://www.askp3.org
National Institutes of Health — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7029466/
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health
American Telemedicine Association — https://www.americantelemed.org
Medical Disclaimer
This content is provided by Albany Ketamine Infusions for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. At-home ketamine therapy involves off-label psychiatric uses of ketamine. Individual results vary, and not all patients will respond to treatment. This information should not replace consultation with a qualified medical provider. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room.