Is ketamine supposed to be fun? In this episode, Your Ketamine Coach Anna Krishtal unpacks a most common (and misunderstood) questions she gets—especially from newcomers and conference audiences. She shares what “fun” actually means in the context of psychedelics, what non-specific amplifiers are (and why they matter), and how fun and healing don't have to be mutually exclusive when it comes to healing with ketamine.

You’ll also hear shout-outs to the Psychedelic Institute of Los Angeles, where Anna recently spoke, and an invite to her free webinar, “Is Ketamine Right for Me?” happening November 6.

🔗 Links Mentioned

• 🧠 The Psychedelic Institute of Los Angeles 
• 🎟 Free Webinar (“Is Ketamine Right for Me?” — Nov 6) → 
• 💫 Ketamine Starter Portal (KSP) 

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

Have you ever followed every rule, checked every box, done everything right—and still ended up exhausted, unfulfilled, or wondering why it isn’t working?

In this deeply honest conversation, Anna Krishtal sits down with Josh Terry to talk about the moment high-achieving people hit a wall and realize more effort isn’t the answer. Josh shares his personal story of following the rules into full-blown burnout—literally sitting in an ice bath until his body turned black and blue—and how that experience changed everything about the way he lives, works, and coaches others today.

Together they unpack:

• 💡 The real definition of burnout: “Continually taking on tasks that require more energy than they give—until there’s nothing left.”
• 🧠 How overdoing becomes a coping pattern for smart, motivated people—and why it feels so righteous.
• 🔄 Josh’s antidote: doing what’s possible, not what’s “necessary,” and recognizing yourself as the variable in your success equation.
• 🪞 Why burnout is really a crisis of hope—and how hope rebuilds when you honor your capacity.
• 🌿 How altered states like ketamine (and other tools for state change) can create the awareness needed to rewrite your story.
• ✨ The mindset shift from adding more to strategically removing what’s not working so your system can thrive again.

If you’ve ever been the person who prides themselves on pushing through, this episode is your permission slip to slow down, recalibrate, and start doing what’s truly possible.

 Resources & Links

• Josh Terry: @JoshTerryPlays | joshterryplays.com
• Free Class → Is Ketamine Right for You? Register for the live session on Nov 6 👉 https://www.yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready
• Download The Ketamine Starter Portal: Your free library of prep guides, integration tools & resources → https://www.yourketaminecoach.com/offers/a5piQPRz/checkout
• Work with Anna: The Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP)
  — a structured course to prepare your mind and nervous system for ketamine’s transformative potential - https://www.annakrishtal.com/kpp

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

We talk a lot about how to prepare for ketamine on this show… but what about what happens after?

In this episode, I’m breaking down the top three things to avoid after your ketamine session, and what to do instead. Because while ketamine can open the door to change, you decide what happens once you walk through it.

You’ll learn how to protect your insights, integrate them intentionally, and avoid the common pitfalls that slow your transformation.

Whether you’re fresh out of a session or you’ve done multiple rounds, this one will help you stay grounded, curious, and connected to your process.

Listen if you want to:

✨ Understand what integration really looks like
✨ Keep your transformation grounded and sustainable
✨ Avoid impulsive moves and spiritual whiplash
✨ Stay connected to your healing journey long after the session

Mentioned in this episode:

💫 Join the Ketamine Starter Portal (free)

🎧 Learn more about the Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP)

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

In part two of my conversation with Dr. Austin Harris, we dig into the how of ketamine therapy, including why protocols matter, what makes results stick, and where the field is heading.

Dr. Harris shares why his clinic NeuroRelief uses longer two-hour infusions and real-time titration instead of cookie-cutter dosing, and I bring in my own lens as a hypnotherapist and ketamine coach drawing connections between subconscious programming, integration, and what clients actually need to sustain change.

Together, we explore:

• Why two-hour infusions open doors shorter sessions often miss
• How real-time dosing keeps the journey effective all the way through
• Why six sessions is the “sweet spot” for lasting neuroplastic change (and how I’ve seen that same number show up in hypnosis work)
• The role of compassionate care and how kindness itself can shift outcomes
• My take on at-home ketamine vs. in-clinic: why leaving the house matters
• The Spravato effect: how pharma recognition shifted mainstream awareness

If you’ve ever wondered why some people walk away from ketamine therapy transformed while others don’t, this conversation will give you a deeper look into the protocols, mindset, and support that make all the difference.

🔑 If you missed Part 1, go back to last week’s episode where we covered integration, discomfort as medicine, and how ketamine interrupts old patterns.

🔗 Ready to prepare for your ketamine journey the right way? 

All you need to prepare for ketamine: 👉 Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP)

Free Resource: Ketamine Starter Portal (KSP)

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

Ketamine alone isn’t the transformation—the real change happens afterward.

In part one of my conversation with Dr. Austin Harris, we explore why integration is the most important part of ketamine therapy. We talk about the “snow globe” effect of psychedelics, why avoiding discomfort blocks healing, and how ketamine helps expand your window of tolerance so you can access more joy and freedom.

You’ll learn:

• Why integration is the key to making ketamine therapy stick
• The “snow globe” metaphor for breaking old patterns
• Why discomfort is medicine—and how to stay with it
• How anxiety can become a practiced state (and how to unlearn it)
• Why processing emotions is about feeling, not just thinking

👉 This is Part 1 of our conversation. Next week in Part 2, we’ll dive into Dr. Harris’s unique two-hour infusion protocol, the six-session gold standard, and how compassionate care changes outcomes.

🔗 Ready to prepare for your ketamine journey the right way? 

Check out the: 

😀 Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP)
😀 Ketamine Starter Portal (KSP)
.

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

That feeling of “Am I ready?” before ketamine? It’s normal. Your subconscious mind is wired to cling to the familiar, even if the familiar isn’t working. In this pep talk episode of Ketamine Connections, Anna Krishtal (Your Ketamine Coach) speaks directly to the nerves, doubts, and questions that come up before your first session.

Inspired by a client who said, “This isn’t going to be easy,” Anna reminds you: “Yeah, and you wouldn’t want it if it were easy.” Hard things are hard, and they’re also what make transformation real.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why the voice in your head saying “not ready” is just your subconscious resisting change.
• How stepping into the unknown is actually a skill you’re building.
• Why research can only take you so far and how ketamine is about lived experience, not theory.
• A powerful truth you may not want to hear: the version of you on the other side of ketamine already has the answers you’re looking for.

If you’re standing at the edge of your first ketamine journey, this pep talk is here to walk with you through the nerves and into the bravery of showing up for yourself.

✨ Ready for more support? The Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP)
gives you structured guidance to feel confident, prepared, and supported every step of the way.

✨ Looking for tools, guides, and resources in one place? The Ketamine Starter Portal (KSP)
is your hub for everything you’ve heard Anna talk about on the show.

You don’t need to have all the answers going in, you just need the courage to begin. This pep talk will help you get there.

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

What’s the difference between at-home ketamine and in-clinic ketamine therapy? In this episode of Ketamine Connections, I sit down with Jeff Kaplan, CEO of DaytrypRx, to explore the growing world of at-home ketamine treatment.  Jeff started as a ketamine patient in 2022, and became so passionate about its healing potential that he's made it his career. 

We talk about:

• Jeff’s personal healing journey from depression and PTSD through ketamine
• How at-home ketamine works (lozenges, nasal spray, and even a NEW ketamine patch)
• Cost, comfort, and safety differences between clinic ketamine and at-home ketamine
• Why intention-setting is the #1 rule for any psychedelic or ketamine journey
• The importance of integration and how working with a guide can make your results last

If you’ve ever wondered whether ketamine therapy for depression or anxiety is best at home or in a clinic, this episode will give you clarity, hope, and practical steps for your healing journey.

👉👉 Link to try at home Ketamine with DaytrypRx👈👈

✨ Ready to prepare for your own ketamine journey?
 Check out my Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP) here → https://www.annakrishtal.com/kpp

✨ Get all my free resources inside the Ketamine Starter Portal (clinic vetting guide, hypnosis tracks, difficult trip guide + more) → https://www.yourketaminecoach.com/offers/a5piQPRz/checkout

🎧 Subscribe to Ketamine Connections for weekly conversations about ketamine therapy, psychedelic healing, and integration.

#KetamineTherapy #AtHomeKetamine #KetamineForDepression #DaytripRx #KetamineIntegration

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

If you’ve ever Googled “what does ketamine feel like?”  this episode is for you!

In today’s solo episode, Your Ketamine Coach Anna Krishtal breaks down one of the most common questions I hear from clients and curious listeners: what ketamine actually feels like during a journey. The truth? It’s different for everyone, and it can even change from one session to the next. But there are some common threads worth knowing before you go in.

We’ll cover:

• The most common ways people describe the ketamine experience (floating, vastness, dreamlike states, or pure stillness).
• Why your dominant sense (think: sight, sound, touch, knowing) shape your experience.
• How ketamine interacts with your subconscious mind to create feelings of spaciousness, oneness, or even deep rest.
• Why the meaning you make from the experience matters more than the sensations themselves.
• A bonus mini-hypnosis at the end to help you drop into calm and clarity right now.

Whether you’re preparing for your first session, supporting a loved one, or simply curious, this episode will give you grounded, compassionate insight into the world of ketamine therapy.

✨ Resources mentioned:

• Ketamine Starter Portal
  – free guides, checklists, and hypnosis tracks.
• Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP)
  – the complete 3-step program to prepare your mind and body for ketamine.
• Episode 3 l The One Thing To NOT Do Before Ketamine

If this episode resonates, share it with someone who’s considering ketamine or leave a review—it helps the KC Crew grow!

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

What happens when your entire life is built on doing more and running away? For Nathania Stambouli, founder of Yogi Flight School and SoulTribe Adventures, ketamine was the turning point that forced her to stop overworking and finally face her lifelong pattern of avoiding intimacy. In this episode of Ketamine Connections, Anna and Nathania explore how ketamine pulled her out of old stories, gave her contrast she couldn’t ignore, and helped her step into a whole new way of leading, loving, and living.

✨ In this conversation, we cover:

• How all addiction, including workaholism often masks fear and trauma, and how ketamine disrupts that cycle
• Why running from relationships feels safer until ketamine shows the deeper pattern underneath
• The illusion of control, and how surrender in medicine work rewires our nervous system
• Why intention matters (and why you don’t always get what you think you’re asking for)
• The truth about ketamine safety: you’ll never see what you can’t handle
• Why “once you see it, you can’t unsee it” and how integration turns that awareness into transformation

🌿 If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in cycles of overwork, overachieving, or pushing love away, this episode offers both inspiration and a roadmap. Ketamine brings relief, AND restores choice to help you break lifelong patterns with clarity and compassion.

📌 Resources & Links Mentioned

• Connect with Nathania: Instagram
  | Yogi Flight School
  
  
• Free Ketamine Starter Portal: Download here
  
  
• Explore the Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP): structured support for safe, transformative journeys

🔑 Keywords for SEO

Ketamine therapy and workaholism, psychedelics for relationship healing, avoiding intimacy and ketamine, overachiever burnout recovery, psychedelic integration for love, breaking patterns with ketamine, surrender and control in psychedelic therapy.

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

When it comes to ketamine therapy, there’s one piece almost nobody talks about—and yet it can completely shape your journey: music.

I can’t tell you how many clients have shared stories of bringing all sorts of music into their sessions—everything from spa tracks to heavy metal. (Nothing against heavy metal, but deep dissonance and aggressive lyrics can actually work against the coherence your brain is trying to create in a psychedelic state.)

In this episode of Ketamine Connections, Your Ketamine Coach Anna Krishtal breaks down:
✨ Why music is more than just background noise—it’s a co-facilitator of your journey
✨ The neuroscience of how music influences brainwave states, coherence, and emotional processing
✨ Best practices for choosing music that supports your ketamine experience (spoiler: ambient, lyric-free, seamless playlists are your friend)
✨ The dangers of commercials, dissonant sounds, or sharp instrumentals mid-journey
✨ How subliminal tracks can supercharge your results by planting affirmations directly into the subconscious

💡 Pro tip: The music you listen to during your journey can also support integration. Playing the same tracks later in meditation, nature walks, or quiet reflection can help re-anchor you to the insights and states you touched in your session.

🌟 Free Resource for You

If you want to experience this firsthand, I’ve created a free 10-minute subliminal track designed to support your subconscious during ketamine and integration. You’ll find it inside my Ketamine Starter Portal—along with every freebie I’ve ever shared on this podcast.

👉 Grab your free subliminal + the entire portal here: yourketaminecoach.com/offers/a5piQPRz

Keywords to Boost SEO

ketamine music playlist, ketamine therapy preparation, psychedelic music, ketamine journey tips, ketamine subliminal, subconscious reprogramming ketamine, best music for ketamine, psychedelic playlist, ketamine integration

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

In this expansive conversation, Anna sits down with Alli Waddell, wellness expert and co-founder of Illumma, Austin’s leading ketamine infusion clinic. With two decades of experience in healing and over 14,000 ketamine infusions under her belt, Alli shares what she’s learned about who ketamine really works for, and who might not be ready.

Whether you’re considering ketamine therapy or supporting others on their psychedelic path, this episode breaks down the patterns that lead to success, the red flags of avoidance, and how to approach this work from a place of radical honesty, preparation, and deep self-trust.

You’ll hear:

• How to know if you’re ready for ketamine therapy
• Why “just showing up” isn’t enough (and what to do instead)
• The most common patterns in clients who thrive
• What gets in the way of deep transformation
• How your relationships, mindset, and daily habits influence your healing
• Why ketamine isn’t the work—it’s the catalyst

If you’re feeling unsure, not-quite-ready, or just overwhelmed by all the options...you’re not alone. And you’re in the right place.

💊 Want to Feel Truly Ready for Ketamine?

The Ketamine Preparation Protocol was designed to help you prepare mentally, emotionally, and energetically for a life-changing ketamine journey.

Whether you’ve already booked your sessions or you’re still deciding if this path is for you, KPP will help you:

✅ Clarify your intention
✅ Understand what ketamine can (and can’t) do
✅ Rewire your subconscious patterns
✅ Avoid the most common mistakes
✅ Feel supported before, during, and after your sessions

🌀 Learn more: annakrishtal.com/kpp

🧠 About Alli Waddell

Alli Waddell is a respected wellness expert with 20+ years of experience and a fierce commitment to radical honesty and self-love as core components of healing. As co-founder and CEO of Illumma, she’s helped shape Austin’s most trusted ketamine infusion clinic. Her vision for the psychedelic space is rooted in ethical, sustainable, and consciously led business.

Connect with Alli:
 🌐 illumma.com
📸 @alliwaddell
📸 @illummaclinic

🔗 Links + Resources

• Illumma Ketamine Clinic: illumma.com
• Follow Alli on Instagram: @alliwaddell
• Follow Illumma: @illummaclinic
• Ketamine Preparation Protocol: annakrishtal.com/kpp

💬 Loved this episode?

Please leave a review, share it with a friend, or tag us on Instagram with your biggest takeaway!
 And make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a moment of ketamine wisdom.

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

Relief, rewiring, and why the real work is never done.

Have you ever wondered if it’s okay to go back for another ketamine session, even if you’re no longer in crisis? Are you afraid that your relief is fading and that something went “wrong”? Or maybe you’re asking the big question: Did the ketamine even work if it didn’t last?

In this powerful listener-inspired episode, Anna answers a nuanced and common question:

“Is it okay to return to ketamine even if my depression is under control?”

This episode breaks down what it really means when ketamine “stops working,” and what you can do to deepen, sustain, and build on the relief you’ve already experienced.

You’ll learn:

• Why some people feel better after 1 session, while others need 6+
• The difference between temporary relief and lasting change
• What upregulated neuroplasticity really means (and how long it lasts)
• The psychedelic model of healing vs. the psychiatric model
• How contrast (even fleeting lightness) is actually a crucial breakthrough
• Why wanting a ketamine booster isn’t “abuse” and how to decide if it’s right for you
• What it means to heal in layers, and how to know when you’re ready for the next one
• Why preparation + integration are what make the ketamine experience transformational

✨ Plus: Anna shares personal stories of moving from white-knuckle survival to joyful permission, and reclaims the radical truth that feeling good is a legitimate reason.

🔗 Resources & Links

📘 Referenced Episodes:

• 🎙 Episode 12 – Ketamine Integration vs. Psychedelic Integration
• 🎙 Episode 15 – I Didn't Expect This After My First Psychedelic Ceremony - Here's What Happened
• 🎙Episode 28 – Should You Go Solo or Have a Trip Sitter? Pros and Cons of Ketamine Journeys
• 🎙 Episode 36 – How to Choose a Ketamine Clinic: Questions to Ask Before You Book
• 🎙 Episode 39 – Ketamine & Astrology: A Psychedelic Integration Convo with Danielle Mercurio

🧠 Explore the Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP):
Ready to prepare deeply, or return to the medicine with clarity? KPP is for you.
→ Join the Ketamine Preparation Protocol: https://www.annakrishtal.com/kpp

📖 Book Mentioned:

• Drug Use for Grown-Ups by Dr. Carl Hart

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

Ever look back and realize just how far you’ve come… but at the time, you couldn’t see it at all?
That’s what we’re talking about today with the lovely Dr. Ashley Irizarry, functional medicine doctor, ketamine therapy advocate, and co-founder of New Wave Medicine up in the Seattle area in Burien and Renton, WA.

This episode is one big pep talk, and explains why that's important.

We talk about that oh-so-human habit of being so focused on the next goal that we forget to witness our own becoming, about how ketamine has a funny way of bringing us face-to-face with who we really are, and helping us build the courage to step toward it, one small, scared, beautiful step at a time.

Inside this conversation:

• Why it’s totally normal to feel scared before ketamine, and why that’s not a sign you’re doing it wrong
• The real magic of ketamine retreats (yes, time and space do matter)
• How functional medicine and ketamine work together to create lasting change
• The power of choosing yourself again and again, especially when it’s hard
• Why “stuck” isn’t actually real (it just feels very, very real)
• What integration looks like beyond the journal and into your life

If you’re in a season of questioning, transitioning, or low-key wrestling with your comfort zone… this one’s for you.

🔗 Resources & Links

• Explore Ashley’s work + retreats: www.newwavewa.com
• Upcoming retreat: October 23–26, 2025 – Cle Elum, WA (mention Ketamine Connections for 10% off!)
• Follow Ashley: @dr.ashley.irizarry | @newwavemed

Ready to prepare for ketamine with intention? Learn about my signature guide: Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP) https://www.annakrishtal.com/kpp

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

Welcome back to Ketamine Connections! 🎉 We're celebrating 51 episodes with a casual fireside-style chat about one of the most powerful forces shaping your life: your brain, aka your subconscious mind.

🧠 In this episode, Anna dives into:

• What the subconscious mind actually is (and why it makes up 95% of your brain)
• Why rewiring your subconscious instead of relying on willpower is the key to real transformation
• The science behind neuroplasticity and how the brain stays malleable at every age
• A powerful client story that shows how belief change can feel so natural you forget you ever struggled
• A tree analogy to help you understand the roots of subconscious patterns
• Why trying to change your life with conscious effort alone often leads to burnout
• A simple toothbrush trick to start retraining your brain tonight

✨ If you've ever wondered:

• “Can I actually rewire my brain?”
• “Why do I keep falling back into the same habits?”
• “Is it possible to feel ease instead of effort when making changes?”

…this episode is for you.

🔥 Want more tools to work with your subconscious? Join the Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP) to go deeper into subconscious reprogramming, psychedelic prep, and monthly live support. 

✨ Join the Ketamine Preparation Protocol

Keywords for SEO: subconscious mind, rewire your brain, neuroplasticity, subconscious reprogramming, ketamine therapy, psychedelic preparation, ketamine coach, willpower vs subconscious, change beliefs, nervous system healing, KPP, Ketamine Preparation Protocol, belief rewiring

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

What if the thing you’ve been hoping for in your healing journey is actually possible?

In this rich and heart-centered conversation, I’m joined by Justin Lubin, founder of Perspective Wellness in Milwaukee, Wisconsin: a nonprofit ketamine clinic pioneering a low-and-slow facilitation model designed to make ketamine therapy more accessible, affordable, and effective.

We explore:

• Why feeling “stuck” is often a symptom of a missing direction (and how ketamine can reintroduce momentum)
• The difference between facilitation and therapy in psychedelic healing
• How low-dose intramuscular ketamine protocols can reliably deliver feelings of safety, comfort, and okay-ness
• The “Big Five” emotional breakthroughs clients often experience on their journeys
• Why integration is more than a buzzword, it’s how we shape neuroplasticity into lasting change
• The risks of psychedelic overuse and chasing “the one big insight”
• How grief, trauma, and old emotional patterns surface during ketamine work, and how to hold them with care
• The difference between creating meaning vs. trying to decode messages from a trip
• Justin’s training program for facilitators seeking practical, client-centered psychedelic skills

Whether you’re a practitioner, someone curious about ketamine therapy, or deep in your own healing process, this episode will leave you feeling more grounded, more human, and more hopeful.

🌐 Learn more about Perspective Wellness:
Perspective Wellness Ketamine Services
Facilitator Training Info

🌟 Want to do Ketamine right?  Preparation is the key!

If you're new to the world of ketamine and feeling unsure where to start, my Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP) was made for you. It’s a self-paced guide designed to help you reduce anxiety, set powerful intentions, and get the most out of your ketamine experience.

Whether you’re working with a clinic, using at-home ketamine, or exploring for the first time, KPP helps you prepare mentally, emotionally, and practically so ketamine isn't just another thing you try,but rather THE thing that transforms your life.

🎓 Learn more or enroll here → annakrishtal.com/kpp

🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review or share this episode with a friend who’s curious about ketamine therapy.

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

In this episode of Ketamine Connections, Anna sits down with Melanie Yost, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Brain Health Coach, and co-owner of Complete Ketamine Solutions in Destin, FL, to explore what real transformation looks like—and why it might leave you literally unrecognizable.

Together, they dive into:

• Why Melanie says “you won’t recognize yourself” after ketamine (and why Anna’s Face ID agreed)
• How ketamine helped Melanie’s best friend survive the unthinkable loss of her son
• What happens when you bring compassion and kindness into the clinical setting—and why it shouldn’t be radical
• The real cost of high-functioning anxiety and how ketamine can finally offer relief
• Why their clinic sometimes interrupts a “bad trip”—and why that might be the kindest option
• Why IV ketamine is their method of choice (and the difference it makes)
• The importance of preparation and how skipping it could set you back

Whether you’re preparing for your first ketamine journey or guiding others through theirs, this episode will leave you feeling clearer, braver, and way more seen.

About the Guest:

 Melanie Yost is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Personal Development Coach for stressed-out business owners and high achievers, and the owner of Be Well Solutions and Complete Ketamine Solutions in Destin, FL. She is a Certified Brain Health Coach and Certified HeartMath Practitioner with over 30 years of experience helping people identify the belief patterns keeping them stuck and empowering them with tools to reconnect with themselves and create lives on their own terms.

🔗 Website
📸 Instagram
📘 Facebook

Featured Resource: 

The Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP)

This episode touches on one of the biggest truths in the ketamine space: ketamine is powerful—but only if you know how to work with it.

The Ketamine Preparation Protocol is your step-by-step guide to make sure ketamine actually works for you. Inside, you’ll get:

• Proven tools to calm pre-journey anxiety
• Scripts to set powerful intentions
• The neuroscience behind how to rewire your brain
• What to do with what comes up after your session

✨ Whether you're days away from your first treatment or supporting a loved one on their journey, KPP gives you the clarity and confidence to get the most out of your investment.

👉 Explore the Ketamine Preparation Protocol here

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

In this episode, Anna breaks down why your pre-journey environment, mindset, and nervous system state matter just as much as the medicine itself.

Whether it’s your first ketamine session or your fifteenth, this episode covers exactly what to avoid, what to do, and how to set yourself up for a powerful, grounded experience.

Plus, Anna shares lessons from the 2025 MAPS Psychedelic Science Conference and how prep is finally getting the spotlight it deserves.

🔍 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the hours before ketamine impact the depth of your journey
• What your subconscious mind is doing before you even take the medicine
• 3 things to absolutely avoid the day of your session (hint: it includes your phone)
• 3 ways to support yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally before ketamine
• Why hypnosis, movement, and intention setting can make all the difference

🌿 Resources Mentioned:

• 🧠 Free Hypnosis Library: Nervous system-regulating tracks to calm your mind before your journey
• ✨ Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP): The complete system to prepare for your ketamine experience—mind, body, and soul
• 🧘‍♀️ Nervous System Reset Yoga: Available free on the Ketamine Connections YouTube channel

🎧 Love this episode? You might also enjoy:

• Episode 3: The One Thing To NOT Do Before Ketamine
• Episode 31: When Should I Start Preparing for My Ketamine Journey?
• Episode 42: 3 Things Most People Miss When Preparing for Ketamine

🔗 Stay in the loop: Join Anna’s Email List to hear about live events, free calls, and upcoming workshops. (No social media? No problem.)

📩 Questions or thoughts about this episode? Email Anna directly via the contact form.

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

What if the quietest place on earth could unlock the loudest transformation of your life?

In this episode, Anna sits down with long-time friend and floatation therapy evangelist Alissa Bestwick, aka @floatgirlofficial, to explore how float tanks (aka sensory deprivation tanks) offer one of the most effective, overlooked tools for ketamine integration and subconscious healing.

You’ll hear how Alissa found floating during one of the hardest chapters of her life and how it became a portal for personal transformation, creativity, trauma resolution, and nervous system reset. If you’ve ever wondered what float tanks are, how they work, or why they matter for people healing through psychedelics, this one’s for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• How floating mimics psychedelic states (without substances)
• What to expect during your first float and and how to get the most out of it
• Floating as a powerful tool for ketamine integration
• How float tanks can help with trauma, anxiety, chronic pain, and creativity
• Why sensory deprivation is anything but boring
• Float tanks + psychedelics: could this be the future of healing spaces?
• Tips for overcoming discomfort and building stillness tolerance

Guest Spotlight: Alissa Bestwick (@floatgirlofficial)

Alissa is a wellness enthusiast, writer, and the voice behind Float Girl, a platform dedicated to making floatation therapy more accessible and understood. Based in Austin, TX, she documents float spas across the country and uplifts the stories of transformation that emerge from these sacred saltwater spaces.

✨ Ready for Your Ketamine Journey?

Introducing the Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP) your go-to guide for preparing your mind, body, and nervous system before your first (or next) ketamine experience.

🧠 Built by integration expert Anna Krishtal
 💛 Designed to maximize transformation and minimize confusion
 📅 Self-paced, structured, and accessible

🎧 Loved this episode? Then KPP is your next step.
 👉 Join the Ketamine Preparation Protocol here 

Links & Resources:

• 🌊 Explore Float Girl: www.floatgirl.com
• 📸 Follow Alissa on Instagram: @floatgirlofficial
• 💌 Join Anna's newsletter 

Try everything twice. Especially floating.
Let your body rest. Let your subconscious speak. Let the healing begin.

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

Most ketamine clinics talk about meds, diet, and sleep—but no one talks about this.

In this special two-part episode of Ketamine Connections, I (Anna, your favorite Ketamine Coach) reflect on one full year off social media, and what it has taught me about subconscious programming, nervous system regulation, and why your phone might be sabotaging your ketamine journey.

If you’re prepping for a psychedelic experience (ketamine or otherwise), this episode is a must-listen. I dive deep into how media, including apps like Instagram, TikTok, dating platforms, even Spotify can affect your subconscious mind, attention span, and ability to integrate your experience. And I share personal insights from both one month and one year off social media, including how it impacted my business, mental health, and connection to my purpose.

🔑 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why social media is the #1 ketamine preparation step no one is talking about
• How media inputs shape your subconscious mind (and what that means for integration)
• My top three tools for reducing compulsive app use
• How a year off social gave me back my attention span, creativity, and presence
• The real reason I stayed off (hint: MAJOR censorship + nervous system clarity)

Whether you’re about to start ketamine therapy or already in it, this episode offers grounded insight, practical tips, and inspiration to help you get the most out of your journey.

✨ Resources mentioned:

• Ketamine Preparation Protocol – Your step-by-step guide to preparing for ketamine
• GetBrick App – The lockout tool I used to take back control 
• Free Monthly Mental Hygiene Moments – Zoom link (next call: June 23)

🎧 Listen if you’ve ever thought:

• “Why do I feel off after scrolling?”
• “I want ketamine to actually help me—not just be another experience”
• “How do I make my prep phase more intentional and effective?”

💌 Stay Connected:
Want more behind-the-scenes stories, tools, and guidance? Join my email list for real talk and real support: Sign up here.

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

In this heartfelt and eye-opening conversation, I sit down with Victoria Webster, founder of Golden Afternoon, a stunning ketamine clinic in Los Angeles—and someone with one of the most powerful personal journeys I’ve ever heard.

From being a 19-year-old in inpatient rehab prescribed a cocktail of eight medications (including anti-psychotics)… to walking away from it all and finding her way through amino acids, meditation, and eventually ketamine—Victoria shares her story with unflinching honesty and compassion.

💡 This episode is especially for you if:

• You're curious what ketamine feels like
• You’ve ever felt like psychiatric meds didn’t work for you
• You’ve been afraid to try ketamine because of past bad trips or fear of losing control
• You want to understand how to prepare for ketamine in a way that makes your nervous system feel safe

We also talk about:

• What the “guardian of the mind” is and why it matters in ketamine work
• How ketamine can actually help people get off meds safely (with prescriber support)
• The subtle but massive impact of setting, music, and emotional safety
• Her exact journey from skepticism to opening her own clinic
• And the pink molecule experience that changed her forever 💗

🌿 Victoria is a mother of three, a former sitcom writer, and a somatic therapist who now runs a clinic where people come not just to feel better—but to feel transformed. And her insights? Truly medicine.

🔗 Links + Resources:

• 🌿 Golden Afternoon Clinic – Los Angeles, CA:
  www.goldenafternoon.clinic
• 📩 Connect with Victoria: victoria@goldenafternoon.clinic
• 🏥 Want help choosing a ketamine clinic?
  Listen to 
• Episdoe 36 l How to Choose a Ketamine Clinic: Questions to Ask Before You Book
• 
   → And grab the free guide to vet your options:
   Download the Ketamine Clinic Vetting Guide
• 🎧 LOVING THIS PODCAST?
  Ready to have a ketamine journey that actually works?
  I created the Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP) for people just like you—the curious, the cautious, the ones who’ve tried “everything else” and are finally ready for something real.
  ✨ Learn more or enroll here → https://www.annakrishtal.com/kpp

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

Have you ever been told you’re too sensitive, too emotional, or just too much? In this powerful episode of Ketamine Connections, I sit down with Kristen Ott, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and founder of White Light Wellness, to explore how she turned that “too much” wound into a source of wisdom—and how her first ketamine journey helped rewire her relationship to it.

This conversation goes way beyond ketamine. We dive deep into the work that surrounds the journey: the repatterning of the subconscious mind, the intelligence of emotions, and what integration actually looks like in real life.

We talk about:

• Reclaiming emotional sensitivity as a gift, not a curse
• How Kristen’s first ketamine session opened the door to deeper integration
• The truth about self-sabotage: it’s not failure, it’s protection
• Why digital breaks, praying naked, and washing your hands with intention are all valid forms of integration
• How to loosen the grip of perfectionism and find healing in small, daily “touch points”
• The “witch wound” and what it really means to reclaim your power

If you’re carrying stories of being “too much” or “not enough,” this episode is an invitation to soften, to trust yourself, and to meet your healing with curiosity and compassion.

🎧 Tune in and discover how integration isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing things differently.

👤 About Kristen Ott, MA, LMFT

Kristen Ott is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, the founder of White Light Wellness, LLC, and a Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapist at Philadelphia Integrative Psychiatry. She specializes in trauma healing through a systemic, strength-based approach that blends somatic awareness with experiential practices. With 15 years of experience in clinical settings, Kristen’s work bridges psychotherapy, psychedelic integration, and group healing experiences.

She offers individual, couples, and family therapy, as well as Equine-Assisted Therapy, group integration circles, and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) sessions—both 1:1 and in groups.

🔗 Website: whitelightwellnessllc.org
📍 Based in Devon, PA
📲 Social: linktr.ee/whitelightwellnes

🛠️ Special Offers from Kristen

• Free 15-min consultation for Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
• Free trial for online Collective Healing Groups
• Discounted $175 coaching session on self-guided integration
• 10% off Ketamine Protocol at Philadelphia Integrative Psychiatry

🌿 Want to Feel Ready for Your Ketamine Journey?

Whether you’re preparing for your first session or looking for ways to better integrate what’s already come up—the Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP) is here to support you. This 3-step process helps you feel grounded, clear, and confident so that your journey isn’t left up to chance.

If this episode resonated with you, and you're ready to prepare your mind, body, and subconscious for deep transformation, learn more and join us at:

 👉 JOIN the Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP)

🌱 Mentioned in This Episode:
– Ketamine Preparati

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

What happens when your ketamine provider has walked the same healing path you’re on? In this warm and eye-opening episode of Ketamine Connections, Anna speaks with Dr. Evan Husted—an emergency physician turned ketamine practitioner who combines deep clinical experience with personal insight into the psychedelic healing process.

They explore how lived experience shapes provider care, why preparation and integration are just as vital as the ketamine itself, and how anxiety and control often intersect in psychedelic journeys. From differentiating dosing styles to building therapeutic support beyond the medicine, this episode is rich with grounded wisdom and practical encouragement.

If you’ve ever wondered what real support in the ketamine space can look like—or what healing with integrity feels like—you’ll want to listen in.

🎧 Listen if you’re curious about:

• How anxiety and control show up in ketamine work
• Why more providers are choosing to experience the medicine firsthand
• The difference between psycholytic vs. psychedelic dosing
• Building a strong support system around your journey
• The importance of preparation, integration, and rest
• How the pandemic catalyzed a new era in mental health care
• What it looks like when a provider is truly walking the talk

👨‍⚕️ About Dr. Evan Husted:
Dr. Evan Husted, M.D., MPH, is a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician and the founder of Mindstream Medicine in Philadelphia—a private practice providing psychedelic-assisted therapy through ketamine infusion and injection. With a BA in Psychology focused on Neuropharmacology, an MD from George Washington University, and an MPH from Jefferson College of Population Health, Dr. Husted brings both academic rigor and personal experience to his work. After years in emergency and urgent care, he now focuses on helping others find relief from anxiety and depression with the support of psychedelic medicine and intentional care.

📍Resources & Links:

• 💻 Visit: https://mindstreammedicine.com
• 📨 Subscribe to Evan’s newsletter: Join Here
• 🌿 Ready to prepare for your own ketamine experience? Check out the Ketamine Preparation Protocol
• 📄 How to Choose a Ketamine Clinic FREE Guide: Download Now

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

Think preparation just means not eating before your ketamine appointment? Think again.

In this episode of Ketamine Connections, Anna breaks down 3 of the most common (and costly) mistakes people make when preparing for ketamine therapy—and how to avoid them. If you're looking for deeper transformation, stronger integration, and real results from your ketamine experience, this is the must-listen prep guide you didn't know you needed.

You'll learn:

• Why a vague intention like “I just want to feel better” sets you up for a fuzzy journey
• The ideal ketamine preparation window (and why it starts earlier than you think)
• How going it alone actually slows your healing—and what to do instead
• A behind-the-scenes look at the Ketamine Preparation Protocol and how it supports real transformation

Whether your first session is days away or you’re already a few journeys in, this episode gives you actionable tools to prepare your mind, body, and subconscious for deep, lasting change.

What You'll Learn

🔹 The difference between wishful thinking and a subconscious-anchored intention
 🔹 Why preparation is not just logistical—it’s emotional, energetic, and spiritual
🔹 How ketamine activates neuroplasticity and why that matters for integration
🔹 The role of community and why solo prep may be holding you back
🔹 Real client stories of how post-facto preparation shifted their whole ketamine journey

Links + Resources

✨ Ready to prep the right way? Join the Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP)

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

If you’ve ever wondered whether ketamine therapy really works—or how to find a reputable clinic—this episode is your guide. Anna sits down with Sam Mandel, co-founder and CEO of Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles, one of the first IV ketamine clinics in the world. With over 35,000 infusions under their belt and an 83% treatment success rate, Sam shares the lessons he’s learned about healing, compassionate care, and what actually makes ketamine treatment effective.

Sam has been featured in Entrepreneur as one of the Top 10 Inspiring Healthcare Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2023, earned two 2024 Stevie Awards for Best Entrepreneur and Thought Leader, and continues to raise the bar in psychedelic-assisted mental health care.

We get into:

• The real reason some clinics get better results (hint: it's not just the ketamine)
• The gold standard of ketamine administration (and why IV might be worth traveling for)
• How Big Pharma’s involvement changed the conversation around ketamine
• What people still get wrong about ketamine therapy
• The truth about dosage, neuroplasticity, and personalized protocols
• Why kindness, care, and clinic culture matter more than you think
• A few fun tangents involving monkeys and the "stoned ape theory" 🐒

This is an honest, behind-the-scenes look at how ketamine treatment has evolved—and where it's going next. Whether you're preparing for your first infusion or exploring integration, you’ll walk away with powerful insights.

🧠 Resources & Mentions:

• Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles
• Ketamine Infusion Therapy
• Episode 5: How Can I Take Ketamine? (IV, IM, lozenges, nasal, etc.)
• Sam Mandel on Entrepreneur and MSN
• Stoned Ape Theory
• 100th Monkey Theory

🎁 Special Offer from Sam: Mention Ketamine Connections to receive a free consultation + $400 off a series of ketamine infusions at Ketamine Clinics LA.

✨ Want to make the most of your ketamine journey?
The Ketamine Preparation Protocol is now available as a self-paced course—and we’re hosting a LIVE group call on May 22 to support you in integrating the material, asking questions, and connecting with others on the path.

🎁 When you enroll before May 22, you’ll get immediate access to the full course + a special invite to the call.
 👉 www.annakrishtal.com/kpp

Keywords:
ketamine therapy, ketamine clinics, IV ketamine, ketamine for depression, ketamine for PTSD, ketamine infusion Los Angeles, Sam Mandel, Ketamine Clinics LA, psychedelic therapy, neuroplasticity, ketamine success rate, personalized ketamine protocol, ketamine preparation course, integration after ketamine

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready

In this raw, heartfelt solo episode of Ketamine Connections, Anna shares a deeply personal reflection inspired by a recent peak experience—and how it ties into one of the most common (and nerve-wracking) questions she hears: What if ketamine is the best I'll ever feel?

We dive into:

• How peak experiences (on ketamine and in life) open new pathways in the brain
• Why integration is the real secret to lasting transformation
• Anna’s behind-the-scenes of attending a regional Burning Man and how it deepened her understanding of presence and embodiment
• The natural cycles of expansion and contraction—and what to do when the inevitable post-peak dip hits
• How subconscious reprogramming helps raise not just your ceiling but also your baseline

Plus, Anna opens up about her own growth edge and shares actionable wisdom to keep you grounded in your ketamine journey (or any personal healing work).

✨ Ready to prepare your mind and body for ketamine therapy?

 The Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP) is live! This self-paced course is designed for anyone who wants ketamine to actually work—whether you’re just starting your journey or already in treatment. Learn how to set yourself up for success, work with your subconscious mind, and avoid common pitfalls that can limit ketamine’s potential.

>> [Join the Ketamine Preparation Protocol here] <<

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Get on Anna’s newsletter for energetic updates and free resources: [link]
• Explore hypnosis audios + reprogramming tools: [link]
• Join the next Mental Hygiene Moments group hypnosis session: [link]
• Listen to Dr. Austin Harris on ketamine therapy [link to episode]
• Connect via email (best way to get a reply!): [link]

If you’ve ever wondered how to hold onto the breakthroughs ketamine offers—or feared the crash that can come after a peak—this is your episode. 💫

Wondering if ketamine is actually right for you? If you’ve been researching ketamine, but still don’t feel sure it’s right for you — this is for you.  Join Anna Krishtal for Is Ketamine Right for Me? and learn how to tell when you’re truly ready (or not).  👉 Sign up free → yourketaminecoach.com/ketamine-ready