London Clinic Pioneers Legal Ketamine Therapy for Mental Health Conditions
In a groundbreaking approach to mental healthcare, a London-based therapist is offering legally prescribed ketamine treatments to patients battling depression, PTSD, and other trauma-related conditions. Operating from the Silva Wellness clinic in Farringdon, central London, this innovative service combines medication with therapeutic support over a six to eight week course, priced between £2,000 and £3,000.
A Personal Journey to Professional Practice
Lucy da Silva, a 42-year-old qualified psychotherapist, founded the clinic after her own recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. Having attended rehab in 2014 and living with complex PTSD, Lucy's interest in alternative treatments was sparked by a documentary on Ayahuasca. She subsequently completed a master's degree in addiction psychology in 2019 and specialised training in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy before launching her clinic publicly in September 2024.
The Treatment Experience: Comfort and Care
The clinic environment deliberately avoids clinical sterility, designed instead as a welcoming "front room" space. Patients receive mint-flavoured lozenges containing prescribed ketamine - roughly the size of a Rennie tablet - which dissolve under the tongue. During sessions, clients lie on floor-length beanbags with weighted blankets, eye masks, and curated playlists to enhance relaxation.
Lucy explains the process: "We ask how you're feeling, what your intention is, and help establish a strong, secure mindset. It's very quiet, very safe. For people with treatment-resistant depression or trauma, they often say this is the first time they've truly felt at ease."
Scientific Basis and Treatment Protocol
The therapy leverages ketamine's ability to create neuroplasticity in the brain, making rigid thinking patterns more malleable and responsive to change. Treatment begins with 100mg lozenges, with only 15-20% of the dose absorbed systemically. Dosage may gradually increase to 400mg per lozenge over the course of treatment.
To ensure safety and prevent misuse, medication is provided in secure boxes that can only be opened using codes held by therapists. Patients typically undergo therapy integration sessions 24 to 48 hours after ketamine administration to process their experiences.
Patient Success Stories and Clinic Outcomes
Since launching, the clinic has successfully treated 10 patients, with only one individual declined following psychiatric assessment. Conditions addressed include treatment-resistant depression, eating disorders, PTSD, and substance dependency - including one patient who had previously been dependent on ketamine.
Lucy shares a particularly moving case: "We treated a 65-year-old woman who had been on SSRIs most of her life with treatment-resistant depression. She told us this felt like her last chance. Now she's flourishing with a new lease on life and has embarked on a spiritual journey."
Addressing Safety Concerns and Public Perception
Despite promising results, Lucy acknowledges the challenges surrounding public acceptance of medicinal ketamine, particularly following high-profile incidents like the death of Friends actor Matthew Perry in 2023. She emphasises the crucial distinction between clinical use and recreational abuse.
"Matthew Perry was an addict stepping in and out of recovery," Lucy notes. "He had official ketamine treatment in New York but later sought the drug illegally. At our service, we don't treat anyone with active addiction within at least five years of sobriety."
Contrasting Clinical and Street Ketamine
Lucy highlights significant differences between prescribed and illicit ketamine: "Our lozenges are compounded in sterile pharmacy environments with precise measurements and purity. Street ketamine is unregulated - you never know what's in it. There's a genuine ketamine crisis among younger generations in the UK because it's cheap and accessible, but what we offer is completely different."
The clinic maintains strict eligibility criteria, requiring patients to have tried conventional treatments like SSRIs before considering ketamine therapy. This careful approach, combined with the therapeutic setting and integration work, represents a new frontier in mental health treatment within the UK's legal framework.
