An Introduction to Mindbloom Guides

Medically reviewed by

Chelsea Tersavich, PA-C

Published on

December 7, 2022

Updated on

Summary

Mindbloom guides are a direct point of contact throughout your program.
They are experts in supporting ketamine therapy with a variety of educational backgrounds.
From preparation through integration, your guide is with you each step of the way.

This article provides a complete overview of Mindbloom guides, the roles they perform, how they are trained, and how they can uniquely benefit you and your healing journey.

What are Mindbloom guides?

Your Mindbloom guides serve to support and literally ‘guide’ you throughout your Mindbloom program. You will select a guide at the beginning of your program, and they will be with you each step of the way.

You will meet with them multiple times during your program via Zoom and have direct access to them via text messaging throughout your program.

They can address any questions or concerns you have, help provide useful resources, and can help you unpack your experiences to help you achieve lasting results.

All guides are experts in ketamine therapy facilitation, and have a variety of additional training, experience, and certification in healing/coaching capacities. They are the front line of your support system and care team throughout your program.

What are guides trained to do?

First and foremost, guides are selected and trained for their expertise and ability to help clients move through the ketamine therapy experience.

They are trained to help you prepare for safe and effective healing, facilitating sessions, and answer questions you have regarding the ketamine therapy process, integration, or administering treatment.

Guides must complete a comprehensive training protocol before working with Mindbloom clients. Guide training involves reviewing historical client calls, studying our standard operating procedures, completing practice client sessions, and attending open-discussion trainings around different client calls and contexts.

Some of our most experienced guides have worked in the ketamine therapy field for 10 years and have supported over 300 clients individually.

Around 75% of guides have at least 2 certifications in relevant and complementary fields. These might include: transformational coaching, addiction recovery, trauma healing, suicide prevention, music therapy, somatic techniques, just to name a few. Guides are not medical providers.

You will have the opportunity to select your guide based on their strengths and interests, as well as gender.

How are guides Involved in your program?

Guides are with you each step of the way throughout your program. They work alongside Clinicians as part of your Mindbloom Care Team.

They will help you prepare for your first session, check your vitals, help you clarify your intention, and work on unpacking and integrating your experience afterward. As always, they are there to address any questions you have along the way.

In between your sessions, during your integration windows, you will also have direct access to your guide if you have any questions, would like some recommendations, or need some support for any reason.

Why are Mindbloom guides unique?

Mindbloom guides are a unique part of your ketamine treatment program for a number of reasons. A few factors that make them especially helpful for your healing journey include:

Experts in supporting ketamine therapy: Mindbloom guides are intimately familiar, and directly experienced, with ketamine therapy and the healing process. From preparation through integration, they are a wealth of knowledge and experience to help you get the most out of your program.
Liaise with clinicians to ensure your safety: Guides work with our clinical care teams to ensure you are safe, that your program is on track, and that everything is working to provide you with safe, powerful, and effective medicine sessions.
Wide variety of backgrounds, tailored just for you: Given the diversity of guides, you are encouraged to find a guide that fits you. Whether there’s a specific issue you want to address (trauma, grief, etc.) or a certain flavor of approach (psychology, spiritual, emotional, somatic, etc.) there is a guide for you. Matching clients with suitable Guides helps to create a feeling of comfort, connection, and safety – all valuable assets when going into your own healing experiences.

Want to experience guided ketamine therapy?

You can see if you’re eligible for a Mindbloom program here.

Mindbloom Editorial Team

Mindbloom is a leader in psychedelic therapy, transforming lives to transform the world. Our editorial team shares the latest Mindbloom news, and collaborates with Mindbloom clients to help share their stories with the world.

Chelsea Tersavich, PA-C

Chelsea Tersavich, PA-C, is a psychiatric clinician who has conducted psychiatric evaluations and facilitated ketamine therapy sessions for over 250 Mindbloom clients. Chelsea obtained a master’s degree from the Interservice PA Program and has extensive mental health and primary care experience from her army career, where she treated thousands of Soldiers as a Battalion PA and a clinic Medical Director.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. If you are in a life-threatening situation, call the National Suicide Prevention Line at +1 (800) 273-8255, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.

Safety Information

Important FDA Safety Information

Ketamine is not FDA-approved for the treatment of depression or anxiety. Learn more about off-label uses here.

Side effects of ketamine treatment may include: altered sense of time, anxiety, blurred vision, diminished ability to see/hear/feel, dry mouth, elevated blood pressure or heart rate, elevated intraocular or intracranial pressure, excitability, loss of appetite, mental confusion, nausea/vomiting, nystagmus (rapid eye movements), restlessness, slurred speech, synesthesia (a mingling of the senses).

Do not proceed with ketamine treatment if any of the following apply to you:

Allergic to ketamine
Symptoms of psychosis or mania
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
CHF or other serious heart problem
Severe breathing problem
History of elevated intraocular or intracranial pressure
History of hyperthyroidism
Other serious medical illness
Pregnant, nursing, or trying to become pregnant

Ketamine has been reported to produce issues including, but not limited to, those listed below. However, lasting adverse side-effects are rare when medical protocols are carefully followed.

While ketamine has not been shown to be physically addictive, it has been shown to cause moderate psychological dependency in some recreational users.

In rare cases, frequent, heavy users have reported increased frequency of urination, urinary incontinence, pain urinating, passing blood in the urine, or reduced bladder size
Ketamine may worsen problems in people with schizophrenia, severe personality disorders, or other serious mental disorders.
Users with a personal or family history of psychosis should be cautious using any psychoactive substance, including ketamine, and discuss potential risks with your MindBloom^® clinician before proceeding with treatment.
The dissociative effects of ketamine may increase patient vulnerability and the risk of accidents.

To promote positive outcomes and ensure safety, follow these ketamine treatment guidelines:

Do not operate a vehicle (e.g., car, motorcycle, bicycle) or heavy machinery following treatment until you’ve had a full night of sleep
Refrain from taking benzodiazepines or stimulants for 24 hours prior to treatment
Continue to take antihypertensive medication as prescribed
Avoid hangovers or alcohol intake
Refrain from consuming solid foods within 3 hours prior to treatment and liquids within 1 hour prior to treatment
Ketamine treatment should never be conducted without a monitor present to ensure your safety