Home-La

Home-LA is a ketamine therapy and integrative mental health clinic on Sixth Street in Santa Monica, California, founded by the addiction psychiatrist Dr Eva Altobelli. It brings psychiatry, psychotherapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and body-based care together in one practice.

Approach

Dr Altobelli has more than 25 years of clinical experience focused on trauma, complex PTSD and integrative care. Her team includes a psychiatric nurse practitioner who prescribes, psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists and bodyworkers. Ketamine is given by intramuscular injection or orally, at a lower, conversational psycholytic dose or a higher psychedelic one, within a sequence of assessment, preparation, a medically supervised session and integration. Sessions come with music, optional eye masks and a clinician present throughout, and the clinic avoids fixed protocols. Other services include medication management, couples therapy, Chinese medicine and massage, outpatient detox, a trauma recovery programme combining these, and experiential ketamine training for clinicians.

Who it is for

The clinic says ketamine-assisted psychotherapy may suit people who feel stuck despite therapy and want deeper emotional access. It also works with depression and trauma, and supports people through addiction and recovery.

Practical details

The clinic is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and some appointments can be held virtually. A ketamine-assisted session by injection costs $975 to $1,350, a low-dose session $750 and a two-hour session with the nurse practitioner $700; couples sessions run $800 to $1,500. Psychotherapy sessions cost $350 to $425 and an initial psychiatric evaluation $350 to $850. The clinicians are out of network, but the clinic provides superbills.

Care and safety

Before a first ketamine session, every client needs medical clearance from one of the psychiatric providers, at $400 to $800, then a $350 intake and preparation session. Each ketamine session is medically supervised.