IV & IM Ketamine Therapy in
Wilmington and Jacksonville, NC
Ketamine therapy offers new hope for individuals struggling with depression, PTSD, anxiety, and other difficult-to-treat conditions. Unlike traditional medications that can take weeks to work, ketamine often provides relief within hours to days — and creates an opportunity for lasting change when paired with therapy and ongoing support. At Seagrass Integrated Mental Health, we offer both IV and IM ketamine therapy in Wilmington and Jacksonville, NC for patients who are ready to try a different path.
What Is Ketamine?
IV and IM ketamine therapy represent one of the most important breakthroughs in mental health treatment in decades. As former National Institute of Mental Health director Dr. Thomas Insel described it, ketamine is "perhaps the most important advance in antidepressant treatment in decades."
Originally developed as an anesthetic, ketamine is now used off-label in carefully monitored, low doses to rapidly reduce symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, PTSD, and severe anxiety. Unlike traditional antidepressants that may take weeks to build up in your system, ketamine often provides meaningful relief within hours to days.
Research shows ketamine is particularly helpful for people who have not improved with other treatments. While not every patient responds, many experience rapid symptom reduction — creating a valuable window of hope and healing. Side effects are generally mild and short-lived, and every session at Seagrass is provided in a safe, supportive setting with close monitoring throughout.
How Does Ketamine Work?
Ketamine works differently from most psychiatric medications. Rather than acting on serotonin or norepinephrine like traditional antidepressants, ketamine blocks NMDA receptors for glutamate — the brain's primary excitatory neurotransmitter.
This unique mechanism increases the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and promotes neuroplasticity — the brain's ability to form new, healthier connections. For many patients, this creates a powerful "window of flexibility" where symptoms lift and therapy becomes more effective than it has ever been before.
Some patients notice improvement after just one session, while others benefit most from a series of treatments — commonly six sessions over 2–3 weeks. Effects are often felt within hours to days. While not everyone responds, many patients experience meaningful relief from depression, PTSD, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, offering new hope when other treatments have not helped.
IV and IM Ketamine — Two Paths to Relief
At Seagrass Integrated Mental Health we offer both intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM) ketamine — because the right delivery method should fit your needs, not the other way around.
IV Ketamine Infusion Ketamine is delivered directly into the bloodstream through a small IV catheter and infused slowly over approximately 40 minutes at a carefully calculated dose. IV administration allows for precise, real-time dosing adjustments and is considered the gold standard for ketamine therapy. Effects typically begin within minutes of the infusion starting. This is our most established treatment option and is ideal for patients seeking the most controlled and predictable experience.
IM Ketamine Injection Ketamine is administered as a single injection into a muscle — typically the shoulder or outer thigh. There is no IV line required. Onset of effects generally begins within 5–15 minutes and the overall experience typically lasts 45–75 minutes. IM ketamine is highly effective, well-studied, and often preferred by patients who are anxious about IV placement or who simply find the process more comfortable. Dosing is carefully calculated based on your weight and clinical presentation, and monitoring protocols are identical to IV treatment — your vital signs and mental status are tracked throughout the entire session.
Which is right for me? Both routes are clinically effective, thoroughly monitored, and offered in a calm private setting at both our Wilmington and Jacksonville locations. During your consultation, Tanya Fowler PMHNP-BC will discuss both options with you and make a recommendation based on your medical history, treatment goals, and personal preference. Some patients complete their induction series with one method and transition to the other for maintenance — we will guide you every step of the way.
What Happens During a Treatment?
Your comfort and safety are our top priorities at Seagrass. Each session takes place in a calm, private room designed to support healing.
Before we begin: We will review your current symptoms, check your vital signs, and answer any last questions. You are welcome to bring headphones and a playlist, a journal, or anything that helps you feel grounded and comfortable.
During your IV infusion: Ketamine is given through a small IV catheter over approximately 40 minutes. You may feel dreamlike, notice changes in perception, or feel gently detached from your surroundings — these experiences are normal and pass soon after treatment ends. Your blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels are monitored continuously throughout, and your provider remains present with you.
During your IM injection: Ketamine is injected into a muscle — most commonly the shoulder or outer thigh. Effects begin within 5–15 minutes and the experience typically lasts 45–75 minutes. The same vital sign monitoring and provider presence applies throughout your entire session.
After your session: You will rest comfortably for 30–45 minutes in recovery. Once you are alert and stable you will be released into the care of a trusted adult driver. Because ketamine temporarily affects coordination and judgment you will not be able to drive or work for the remainder of the day.
We schedule a follow-up check-in and integration session within 24–72 hours to help you process your experience and turn insights into lasting change. This can be coordinated with your existing therapist to ensure your care feels connected and supported.
What To Expect After Treatment
Most patients feel calm, relaxed, or reflective following a session. Some notice improved mood or a meaningful decrease in symptoms within hours, while for others it may take a day or two.
Short-term effects: Mild dizziness, blurred vision, or fatigue may occur but typically fade within a few hours. You will not be able to drive or return to work until the following day.
Recovery: After resting at Seagrass you will go home with a trusted driver and should plan a quiet, restful remainder of the day.
Integration: Within 24–72 hours we schedule a follow-up check-in and integration session to help you process the experience and translate insights into lasting change. This can be coordinated with your therapist for the best possible results.
Series of treatments: Some patients notice improvements after one session, but the best results typically come from a short series of sessions followed by individualized maintenance. Most patients complete six sessions over 2–3 weeks for induction, with maintenance sessions scheduled based on individual response.
At Seagrass we walk with you through each step — helping you not only feel better in the moment, but also build the foundation for lasting wellness.
Is Ketamine Right For Me?
Ketamine therapy may be an option if you are struggling with any of the following conditions that have not improved with traditional treatments:
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Treatment-resistant depression or Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
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PTSD or trauma-related symptoms
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Bipolar depression
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Severe anxiety
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OCD
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Chronic pain
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Anhedonia — the inability to feel pleasure, often associated with depression or PTSD
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Suicidal ideation
Many patients who have tried multiple medications without success find that ketamine offers a genuinely different path forward. Good candidates for ketamine therapy are adults with mood, anxiety, or pain conditions who have not responded fully to standard therapies and who can commit to integration and follow-up care.
Ketamine may not be appropriate if you have:
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Uncontrolled high blood pressure or serious heart disease
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A history of psychosis or untreated mania
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Active substance misuse
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Pregnancy or breastfeeding
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Severe liver disease
Every patient at Seagrass receives a comprehensive medical and psychiatric evaluation before starting treatment. This ensures ketamine is not only safe for you but also aligned with your personal goals for healing.
Why Choose Seagrass Integrated Mental Health
At Seagrass Integrated Mental Health you are never just a protocol — you are a whole person with unique needs, strengths, and goals.
Psychiatric Expertise Your care is guided by Tanya Fowler PMHNP-BC, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 25 years of clinical experience and a focus on depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. This level of psychiatric oversight is rarely found in ketamine clinics, where treatment is often managed by non-psychiatric providers.
Both IV and IM Options We offer both delivery methods so your treatment can be tailored to your comfort, your clinical needs, and your schedule — not limited to a one-size-fits-all approach.
Integration Support We schedule follow-up sessions within 24–72 hours of every session to help you process the experience and translate insights into meaningful, lasting change.
Collaboration With Your Therapist With your consent we coordinate directly with your existing therapist to align ketamine treatment with your ongoing therapy plan for the most cohesive care possible.
Concierge-Level Care Personalized dosing, careful monitoring, and a calm private environment designed for healing — at both our Wilmington and Jacksonville locations.
Whole-Person Approach We go beyond the session itself to support sleep, nutrition, movement, and overall wellness as part of your recovery.
Transparent, All-Inclusive Pricing
At Seagrass we believe you should know exactly what you're paying for with no surprise fees.
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IV Ketamine Infusion — $350 per session Includes your private treatment room, continuous medical monitoring, psychiatric oversight by Tanya Fowler PMHNP-BC, and a 30-minute integration follow-up session within 24–72 hours of treatment.
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IM Ketamine Injection — $275 per session Same monitoring, same psychiatric oversight, same integration support — delivered via intramuscular injection rather than IV. No IV line required.
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Package Pricing Most patients complete a series of six sessions over 2–3 weeks for best results.
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IV bundle: $1,785 for 6 sessions (save $315)
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IM bundle: $1,400 for 6 sessions (save $250)
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Insurance and Financing Ketamine therapy is not currently covered by insurance. We provide a superbill after each session for possible reimbursement. Affordable financing is available through Advance Care at 800-432-9470 or advancecarecard.com.
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🎖️ 25% Military and First Responder Discount We proudly offer 25% off all ketamine sessions for active duty military, veterans with DD-214, and first responders with badge. No session limit. It is our honor to serve those who have served us.
Serving Wilmington and Jacksonville, NC
Wilmington, NC Our Wilmington clinic is located at 313 Walnut Street Suite 18, Wilmington NC 28401. We offer in-person ketamine therapy Monday through Thursday, with telehealth psychiatric services available Monday through Friday for patients across North Carolina.
Jacksonville, NC We proudly serve the Jacksonville community and the Camp Lejeune military population with in-person ketamine therapy appointments. Jacksonville is home to one of the largest Marine Corps installations in the country, and we understand the unique mental health challenges faced by active duty service members, veterans, and their families — including treatment-resistant PTSD, depression, and moral injury. Our 25% military and first responder discount applies to every ketamine session at our Jacksonville location.
Not local to either area? Telehealth psychiatric services are available to patients throughout North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida. Call or text (910) 668-0268 to learn more.
Next Steps
If you are ready to learn whether ketamine therapy is right for you, the first step is a free 15-minute phone consultation. During this call we will:
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Review your symptoms and treatment history briefly
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Answer your initial questions about IV and IM ketamine
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Determine whether a full evaluation makes sense for your situation
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Outline what your personalized treatment plan could look like
From there we will guide you through scheduling your first session and coordinating integration and therapy support every step of the way.