Your Intake Appointments: What to Expect With Spravato

Starting Spravato is not just scheduling a first dosing day. It is a structured process designed to confirm fit, prioritize safety, and set you up for the best possible outcome. Intake is where we build the foundation: clarity on goals, a plan for support, and a treatment path that makes sense for your life.

Step 1: Initial contact and scheduling via phone

When you reach out, we will help you determine whether Spravato might be a good next step and what information we need to move forward. We will also review practical details like availability, timeline, and general insurance considerations.

Step 2: Behavioral health intake in-person or telehealth

This appointment focuses on:

• What you have tried so far, and what has or has not helped

• Your current symptoms and how they affect daily life

• Your goals for treatment (relief, functioning, reconnection, steadiness)

• Support systems and stressors (sleep, work demands, relationships)

• Readiness for change and what would help you integrate gains

This is also where we talk about expectations. Spravato can act as a catalyst, but integration is what turns a shift into lasting change.

Step 3: Medical screening and safety clearance in person or telehealth

Spravato is medically monitored. Before you begin, we screen for safety and medical fit, which may include:

• Review of medical history and medications

• Blood pressure history and cardiovascular considerations

• Substance use and interactions that could blunt response or increase risk

• Any needed coordination with your primary care or prescribing clinician

• Enrollment paperwork for Spravato REMS (monitoring system) and Spravato and Me (patient financial assistant program.) 

If there are modifications needed (medication timing, additional labs, or a slower start), we will outline them clearly.

As part of intake, we will talk through your plan for support and continuity during treatment, including therapy and integration. Some people continue working with their established therapist (with coordination as desired), while others choose to receive therapy through Inner Journey Healthcare. Using the car trip metaphor, you are the driver, Spravato is the car, and your care team helps with the GPS. Intake is where we make sure the route is clear and the support you need is in place.

Step 4: Insurance and Logistics (phone or text)

We will handle the practical pieces together. We will submit the prior authorization to your insurance company, review your coverage and benefits, and schedule your first 12 sessions over an 8-week period.

When intake results in a different recommendation

Sometimes intake reveals that a different option is safer or more likely to help right now. If that happens, we will explain why and offer a clear alternative path, not a dead end.

Ready to start?

If you are curious, you do not need to feel certain. Intake is designed for clarity. We will help you determine fit, safety, and what support will help you get the most from treatment.

Call Inner Journey Healthcare: 406-541-2012

Medical note: This blog is for education and is not medical advice. Ketamine and Spravato are not right for everyone, and treatment should always be guided by a qualified medical and behavioral health team.