Hudson Valley, last time we opened this series with a simple promise: to look at mental health and ketamine therapy through a kinder, more hopeful lens. Today, let’s talk about PTSD. If the first article was a handshake, think of this one as a quiet place to sit down together.
PTSD – Quieting the Alarm – Ketamine Therapy and a New Era in Mental Health – By David Miller, MD, Medical Director, Hudson Valley Ketamine Lounge – Mental Health – Emotional Wellness – Presented by Hudson Valley Ketamine Lounge
PTSD can feel like your brain’s smoke alarm is stuck on. Veterans, police officers, first responders, nurses—people who protect the rest of us—often describe waking up already on alert. One Coast Guard veteran who later became a police officer told me he’d lost his appetite, stopped exercising, and felt irritable at work and home. After his ketamine series at our Lounge, those symptoms “lifted,” his focus and relationships improved, and for the first time in years he felt calm and capable again. Another patient, a retired officer estranged from his daughter, found the motivation after treatment to rebuild that relationship—a barrier depression had erected for years.
That’s why I believe in pairing medicine with setting. At Hudson Valley Ketamine Lounge (Beacon & Mahopac), IV infusions are our choice because they’re nearly 100% bioavailable. We can adjust the dose in real time and give patients the best chance at rapid, meaningful relief—something oral or intranasal routes can’t match. In plain terms, it’s like finally giving your brain a clear signal instead of static.
Elaine Suderio, DNP, FNP-BC, our Family Nurse Practitioner, calls education “the first treatment.” Before every infusion she explains each step, answers questions as many times as needed, and celebrates small wins—better sleep, a quieter startle reflex, a softer inner critic. “When patients understand what’s happening, their bodies and minds relax,” she says.
Casandra “Sandy” Way, FNP-BC, brings 25+ years of emergency and critical care experience. She’s seen firsthand the limitations of traditional approaches to trauma and chronic illness, and now focuses on prevention and patient-centered healing. “Ketamine therapy is one of the most hopeful tools we’ve had in decades,” Sandy says. “It helps patients regain control of their lives, often in ways they thought were lost forever.”
Samantha Ortiz, RN, is the steady presence at the door. She helps each person set their scene: blanket, eye mask, earplugs, playlists—whatever helps them feel safe. “The medicine is powerful,” she says, “but so is having someone right there who isn’t rushing you.” She’s watched patients leave a session ready to start a new business, repair relationships, or simply forgive themselves after years of self-criticism.
From my chair—an old hand who’s been given a second life in medicine—I hear certain refrains often. A retired officer told me, “Doc, I finally sat through dinner without scanning the room.” A firefighter said, “I can sleep, and when I wake up I’m not already fighting the day.” Another patient joked that life felt “turned from siren to signal”—still there, but now he could tune it.
And the science is catching up with what we see every day. Randomized clinical trials show that a single IV infusion can produce rapid reductions in PTSD symptoms (systematic review, 2023) and that a brief series of infusions deepens and sustains that relief when combined with therapy (randomized trial of repeated infusions). Open-label work pairing ketamine with exposure therapy has also shown promising results in chronic PTSD (trial overview).
Ketamine isn’t magic, but in the right hands it can be a doorway back to living. And here in the Hudson Valley, you’ll find a team that explains, listens, and stays with you—start to finish.
— David Miller, MD
Medical Director, Hudson Valley Ketamine Lounge
PS: A New Horizon for Healing in the Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley, if you’ve been searching for ketamine for PTSD 2025 or typing “ketamine infusion therapy near me” late at night, know this: help isn’t far away. Right here at Hudson Valley Ketamine Lounge, with locations in Beacon, NY and Mahopac, NY, we’re creating one of the best ketamine clinics NY has to offer — a warm, patient-centered space designed for rapid relief PTSD treatment and trauma recovery treatments in NY that feel safe, personal, and effective.
We’re more than a medical office. We’re part of the movement bringing psychedelic therapy Hudson Valley style — science-backed, supervised, and compassionate — into everyday mental health care. That means we work with veterans mental health support in Hudson Valley, first responder PTSD programs in NY, and alternative depression treatments 2025 that give people hope after other options have failed.
Dr. Elaine Suderio, DNP, FNP-BC, highlights the heart of our model: “Ketamine isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. We tailor protocols to each individual’s needs and integrate them into a broader plan that supports mind, body, and spirit. That’s how we maximize safety and create space for transformation.”
Casandra “Sandy” Way, FNP-BC, adds: “Ketamine does more than relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety, or trauma. For many patients, it helps them reconnect with a sense of purpose, release old patterns, and build the mental clarity needed to engage more fully in lifestyle practices that promote long-term health. In that sense, it can be a doorway to higher-level functioning—not just returning someone to baseline, but helping them thrive.”
That’s the difference you’ll find here. We combine IV ketamine therapy reviews and best practices with the feel of a holistic mental health clinics NY approach. We treat the whole person, not just the symptoms — a blend of science, setting, and support that makes breakthrough PTSD treatments and new mental health therapies Hudson Valley more than buzzwords.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign, consider this your invitation. In the Hudson Valley, the door to healing is open — and you don’t have to walk through it alone.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of David Miller, MD, Medical Director at Hudson Valley Ketamine Lounge. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Ketamine therapy may not be appropriate for everyone. Always consult with your own physician or qualified healthcare provider before starting or changing any treatment.
If you or someone you know is in crisis:
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Call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7, free, confidential).
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In Dutchess County, call the HELPLINE at (845) 485-9700.
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In Ulster County, call Mobile Mental Health at (844) 277-4820.
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In Orange County, call the Crisis Call Center at (800) 832-1200.
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In Westchester County, call Crisis Prevention and Response Team (CPRT) at (914) 925-5959.
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If you are experiencing a medical or psychiatric emergency, dial 911 immediately.
