Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in the United States. They can affect sleep, work, relationships, physical comfort, and the everyday decisions that shape a person’s life.
For many people, psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two provides meaningful relief. For others, symptoms remain disruptive despite careful treatment. Some people improve only partially. Others struggle with side effects, recurring symptoms, or a growing sense that they are cycling through options without understanding why relief has remained out of reach.
At Thrive Center for Health, we work with patients in Grand Rapids and across Michigan who have reached this point. We do not view an incomplete response to treatment as a personal failure. We see it as a reason to examine the full clinical picture and determine which options may still be appropriate.
Understanding Anxiety Disorders and First-Line Care
Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias. Although these conditions do not look identical, they can all involve persistent fear, worry, avoidance, or physical symptoms that interfere with daily functioning.
First-line care commonly includes psychotherapy, medication, or both. Cognitive behavioral therapy, often called CBT, is one of the most established forms of psychotherapy for anxiety. It helps patients identify patterns of thinking and behavior that reinforce fear and develop more effective ways to respond.
Medication options frequently include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, better known as SSRIs and SNRIs. Clinicians may also consider buspirone or other medications depending on the diagnosis, symptoms, medical history, and previous response to treatment.
Benzodiazepines may reduce certain anxiety symptoms quickly, but they are generally used more cautiously and for shorter periods because tolerance and dependence can develop with ongoing use.
These treatments help many people. However, an established first-line treatment is not automatically the right long-term answer for every patient who tries it.
When Medication Helps, but Not Enough
An incomplete response to anxiety treatment can take several forms. A medication may reduce symptoms without restoring day-to-day functioning. It may work initially and become less helpful over time. Side effects may outweigh the benefit, or symptoms may continue despite multiple appropriately managed trials.
Psychotherapy also requires time, consistency, and an approach suited to the specific anxiety disorder. Even when patients are fully engaged, progress may be limited by unresolved trauma, depression, sleep problems, medical concerns, or another condition that has not yet been recognized.
When someone comes to us after several unsuccessful treatment attempts, we do not assume that the next step is simply another medication. We review what has already been tried, whether the dose and duration were adequate, which symptoms changed, which symptoms remained, and whether the original diagnosis still explains the full experience.
Our approach to anxiety treatment in Grand Rapids begins with that deeper review.
Why We Reassess the Full Clinical Picture
Anxiety rarely exists in a vacuum. It may occur alongside depression, PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder, chronic pain, sleep disruption, or medical conditions that influence how symptoms are experienced and treated.
For example, someone describing constant anxiety may also be dealing with a trauma response that has not been fully addressed. Another patient may have mood symptoms that change how a medication should be selected or monitored. Physical symptoms attributed to anxiety may also require medical evaluation before a psychiatric treatment plan is changed.
This is why we focus on more than the symptom label. We want to understand when the anxiety began, what triggers it, how it affects daily life, which treatments have been attempted, and what else may be contributing.
For patients considering ketamine therapy, our medical screening process includes both psychiatric and medical evaluation. Treatment does not begin until we have reviewed the factors that may affect candidacy, safety, and the structure of an individualized plan.
How IV Ketamine May Fit Into an Anxiety Treatment Plan
Most commonly prescribed antidepressants for anxiety influence serotonin or norepinephrine signaling. Ketamine works differently. It interacts with NMDA receptors and influences glutamate signaling, which has led researchers to study whether it may help some people whose symptoms have not responded adequately to conventional care.
Small clinical trials and systematic reviews have reported short-term reductions in certain anxiety symptoms, including symptoms associated with social anxiety and other treatment-refractory anxiety presentations. These findings are encouraging, but the evidence base remains limited.
Studies have included relatively small groups of participants, different diagnoses, different dosing approaches, and varying follow-up periods. Long-term benefits are not yet as well established, and the research on anxiety is less developed than the research on ketamine for depression.
IV ketamine for anxiety is an off-label use. It has not been approved specifically as an anxiety treatment, it is not appropriate for everyone, and no individual outcome can be guaranteed.
When anxiety occurs alongside depression or PTSD, we assess the entire diagnostic and treatment history rather than assuming that one intervention will address every symptom. Ketamine may be one part of a broader plan, but it does not replace careful evaluation, psychotherapy, medication oversight, or ongoing mental health care when those services are needed. You can learn more about what ketamine infusion therapy is and how it differs from other treatment approaches.
How We Evaluate Treatment Options at Thrive
Our approach begins with an evaluation, not a promise of treatment.
We review your symptoms, medical and psychiatric history, current medications, previous treatment trials, side effects, goals, and concerns. We also assess whether another diagnosis or health factor may need attention before ketamine is considered.
For some patients, the most appropriate next step may involve changes to an existing medication plan. We provide psychiatric medication management for anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, and bipolar disorder. This can include reviewing previous medication responses, monitoring progress, adjusting prescriptions when appropriate, and coordinating medication care with other services.
Some patients work with us for medication management independently of ketamine therapy. Others receive both services as parts of a coordinated plan. We determine that collaboratively rather than assuming that every patient needs the same combination.
When IV ketamine is clinically appropriate, we explain the process, possible effects, safety considerations, and realistic limitations before treatment begins. Patients can also review what to expect during a first ketamine infusion before deciding whether they are ready to move forward.
How Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy May Differ
We also offer ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, commonly called KAP. This approach combines ketamine treatment with psychotherapeutic preparation and integration.
The psychotherapy component is intended to help patients prepare for the experience, explore material that arises, and consider how insights may translate into everyday life. However, KAP is not automatically a better choice than a standard infusion or conventional psychotherapy.
Research on KAP is still developing. Published studies use different treatment structures, medication routes, therapy methods, and patient populations, which makes it difficult to define one standard protocol or predict which patients are most likely to benefit.
When we discuss KAP, we explain these limitations and evaluate whether the approach fits the patient’s clinical needs, treatment history, and goals. Our overview of how ketamine-assisted psychotherapy works provides additional information about the service available at our clinic.
We Can Work Alongside Your Existing Care Team
Beginning treatment at Thrive does not automatically mean ending your relationship with your current therapist, psychiatrist, or primary care provider.
Many patients come to us while continuing established care elsewhere. With the patient’s permission and when coordination is clinically appropriate, we can communicate with existing providers so that treatment decisions are made with a clearer understanding of the full care plan.
Our role is not to disrupt helpful relationships. We provide specialized evaluation and treatment options while supporting continuity whenever possible.
Patients should never stop an anxiety medication or change a dose without guidance from the prescribing provider. Some medications may require additional review before ketamine treatment, but many patients continue parts of their existing regimen. Those decisions must be individualized.
If you are wondering how medication management fits into a broader mental health plan, our post on how medication management supports long-term mental wellness offers helpful context.
Building a Welcoming Place to Ask for Help
We understand that seeking specialized psychiatric treatment can be difficult. Some patients arrive after years of disappointing treatment experiences. Others have delayed seeking help because of stigma, fear of being judged, or concern that their symptoms will not be taken seriously.
We have built our culture around compassionate, approachable, and honest care. We want patients to feel comfortable asking questions, discussing difficult experiences, and telling us when something is not working.
Our support also extends beyond individual appointments. We offer monthly support group meetings at no charge to our patients as part of our commitment to patient support beyond the infusion room.
Community support does not replace clinical treatment, but it can help patients feel less isolated while navigating a complex care journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of anxiety disorders may be considered for ketamine therapy?
Research has examined ketamine in people with social anxiety and other treatment-refractory anxiety presentations. However, a diagnosis alone does not determine whether someone is a candidate.
We evaluate symptom severity, previous treatment, co-occurring conditions, current medications, medical history, and potential safety concerns before recommending any ketamine treatment. IV ketamine for anxiety remains an off-label use.
How is ketamine different from SSRIs and SNRIs?
SSRIs and SNRIs primarily affect serotonin or norepinephrine signaling and may take several weeks to produce their full effect. Ketamine influences the glutamate system through pathways that include NMDA receptors.
Some small studies have observed anxiety symptom changes relatively soon after ketamine administration. That does not mean every patient will experience a rapid response, and the limited research does not establish ketamine as a replacement for established anxiety treatments.
Will starting ketamine therapy mean stopping my current medications?
Not necessarily. We review each patient’s medication regimen as part of the intake and clearance process.
Some medications may require additional consideration or temporary adjustment, while others may be continued. Never stop or change a medication without speaking with the prescribing provider and our clinical team.
Is ketamine-assisted psychotherapy appropriate for anxiety disorders?
It may be considered for some patients, but the decision is individualized. KAP combines ketamine treatment with psychotherapeutic preparation and integration, and the research supporting this model is still emerging.
We discuss whether conventional psychotherapy, medication management, IV ketamine, KAP, or another care pathway is the most appropriate next step. We do not assume that KAP is right for everyone with anxiety.
Does Thrive offer medication management for anxiety separately from ketamine therapy?
Yes. We provide psychiatric medication management for anxiety and several other mental health conditions.
Patients may use this service independently of ketamine therapy or as one part of a broader treatment plan. We review previous medications, monitor response and side effects, and make adjustments when clinically appropriate.
Key Takeaways
- Anxiety disorders can interfere with work, relationships, sleep, physical comfort, and everyday functioning.
- CBT, SSRIs, and SNRIs are established treatments, but individual responses vary.
- When treatment has not provided enough relief, a careful reassessment may identify co-occurring conditions, medication concerns, or options that have not yet been considered.
- IV ketamine for anxiety is an off-label treatment supported by promising but still limited research.
- Ketamine therapy and KAP are not appropriate for every patient and should follow thorough psychiatric and medical screening.
- We provide individualized evaluation, psychiatric medication management, and ketamine treatment options when clinically appropriate.
- Existing medications should never be stopped or changed without guidance from a qualified prescribing provider.
When You Are Ready to Explore What Comes Next
Anxiety that has not responded adequately to standard treatment does not mean that you have failed or that no other options remain. It means your care may require a closer look at your symptoms, diagnosis, treatment history, and individual needs.
At our Grand Rapids clinic, we offer thoughtful evaluations and evidence-informed options for patients who need more than a one-size-fits-all approach. Depending on your clinical situation, those options may include psychiatric medication management, IV ketamine therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, or coordination with the providers who already know your history.
We will answer your questions honestly, explain what the current evidence can and cannot tell us, and help you determine whether a consultation is a reasonable next step. When you are ready, you can contact our Grand Rapids team.
About Thrive Center for Health
At Thrive Center for Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan, we care for patients with complex mental health and chronic pain conditions, including people who have not found adequate relief through standard treatment.
Our clinic at 847 Parchment Drive SE, Suite 105, includes private treatment rooms, soft music, and continuous clinical monitoring. We have designed our environment and our care process around five values: compassionate, approachable, inspiring, dedicated, and authentic.
We provide ketamine therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, psychiatric medication management, and complementary patient support. We are committed to honest communication, individualized care, and a respectful, affirming experience from the first conversation through each stage of treatment.
Medical Disclaimer
This content is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or an individualized treatment recommendation. IV ketamine therapy for anxiety is an off-label use and may not be appropriate for every patient. Individual results vary, and no outcome can be guaranteed. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment or medication.
Works Cited
Drozdz, S. J., Goel, A., McGarr, M. W., Katz, J., Ritvo, P., Mattina, G. F., Bhat, V., Diep, C., & Ladha, K. S. (2022). Ketamine assisted psychotherapy: A systematic narrative review of the literature. Journal of Pain Research, 15, 1691–1706.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2020). Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults: Management (Clinical Guideline CG113).
National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Any anxiety disorder. National Institutes of Health.
National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Generalized anxiety disorder: What you need to know. National Institutes of Health.
National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Mental health medications. National Institutes of Health.
Taylor, J. H., Landeros-Weisenberger, A., Coughlin, C., Mulqueen, J., Johnson, J. A., Gabriel, D., Reed, M. O., Jakubovski, E., & Bloch, M. H. (2018). Ketamine for social anxiety disorder: A randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Neuropsychopharmacology, 43(2), 325–333.
Tully, J. L., Dahlén, A. D., Haggarty, C. J., Schiöth, H. B., & Brooks, S. (2022). Ketamine treatment for refractory anxiety: A systematic review. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 88(10), 4412–4426.