Forbes recently featured Nushama in an article exploring how psychedelic-assisted therapy could reshape the way we think about career mental health. Written by Bryan Robinson, Ph.D., the piece examines a timely question: as a new executive order accelerates federal research into psychedelic medicines, what does this mean for the millions of working adults living with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, and burnout?
Jay Godfrey, CEO and co-founder of Nushama, was quoted alongside other experts in the Forbes article: “This step will help advance careful scientific study of ibogaine and psilocybin, two compounds being investigated for potential benefit in treatment-resistant PTSD, trauma-related conditions and addiction. We should prioritize rigorous, evidence-based research and reduce the stigma that has slowed progress for decades.”
The feature reflects something our team has been saying for years: workplace mental health is not just an HR conversation. It is a clinical one.
What the executive order means for psychedelic therapy research
On April 18, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order directing the FDA to facilitate access to psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine, psilocybin, ketamine, LSD, and MDMA, for people living with major depressive disorder and substance use disorders. The order also allocates at least $50 million in federal funding to support state-level psychedelic research programs.
This policy move carries real weight for the field. As Dr. Will Van Derveer, cofounder of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute, told Forbes: “This is a meaningful development, especially for people who haven’t found relief through existing care.” He also offered an important caution, urging organizations to “resist treating psychedelics as the next workplace trend,” emphasizing that these are serious medical interventions, not performance hacks or perks.
That distinction matters. Our approach at Nushama has always centered on treating psychedelic medicine as exactly that: medicine. Every ketamine journey at our centers is medically supervised, individually titrated, and supported by preparation and integration, the therapeutic work before and after the medicine session that helps insights translate into lasting change.
Why workplace mental health is a clinical problem
The Forbes article drew a direct line between mental health and work performance. The data supports that connection.
The World Health Organization estimates that depression and anxiety cost the global economy over $1 trillion annually in lost productivity, with roughly 12 billion workdays lost each year. Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report found that global employee engagement fell by two percentage points in 2024, costing the world economy an estimated $438 billion in lost productivity. Over the longer term, Gallup estimates that low engagement costs the global economy $8.8 trillion, roughly 9% of global GDP.
These are not abstract statistics for the people living them. Someone working through treatment-resistant depression does not need a meditation app or an employee assistance hotline. They need clinical care that addresses the underlying condition. The same applies to people managing PTSD, chronic anxiety, OCD, or burnout that has crossed from stress into something more persistent.
As Dr. David Rabin, another expert quoted in the Forbes piece, put it: “If access expands responsibly, we will see faster recovery from burnout, depression and PTSD, which are among the leading drivers of absenteeism and presenteeism.”
Ketamine-assisted therapy is already available for treatment-resistant conditions
While the executive order opens doors for research into psilocybin and ibogaine, one psychedelic-assisted therapy is already legal and available: ketamine. Ketamine is the only legal psychedelic medicine currently used to treat mental health conditions in clinical settings, and it has a growing body of evidence supporting its use for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other conditions.
At Nushama, we offer IV ketamine (intravenous ketamine, where the medicine is delivered directly into the bloodstream) because this route gives clinicians the most precise control over dosing and timing. Unlike oral or intranasal options, IV administration allows our medical team to adjust in real time, titrating the dose to each member’s response. This precision matters when working with a controlled substance that alters consciousness.
Our members include professionals, caregivers, veterans, and others who have tried traditional antidepressants, therapy, or both without finding lasting relief. Many are high-functioning people whose conditions affect their work, relationships, and daily lives in ways that are invisible from the outside.
How IV ketamine may support conditions that affect work
Ketamine works differently from traditional antidepressants. Rather than targeting serotonin (as SSRIs do), ketamine acts on the brain’s glutamate system and may promote neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new neural connections. This mechanism is part of why some people experience relief within hours or days rather than the weeks or months typical of conventional medications.
For conditions that directly affect professional functioning, this timeline can matter:
- Treatment-resistant depression may respond to ketamine when SSRIs and other medications have not provided adequate relief. Research continues to support IV ketamine’s potential for rapid symptom reduction.
- PTSD and trauma-related conditions can disrupt concentration, emotional regulation, and the ability to handle workplace stress. A 2025 study by MacConnel, Earleywine, and Radowitz found rapid and sustained reduction of treatment-resistant PTSD symptoms after intravenous ketamine delivered in a psychedelic paradigm.1,2,3
- Anxiety and burnout that have not responded to conventional treatment may benefit from the combination of ketamine medicine sessions and ongoing integration support.
- Alcohol use disorder can be addressed through programs like Nushama’s KARE protocol, which combines ketamine with structured therapeutic support.
These are not promises. Outcomes vary from person to person, and ketamine therapy is not appropriate for everyone. Medical screening is a required first step.
Why supervision and integration make the difference
The Forbes article featured experts who stressed that psychedelics are not quick fixes. We agree, and this belief shapes every part of our program.
At-home ketamine options have grown in availability, but Nushama focuses exclusively on in-person, medically supervised sessions. A controlled substance that changes consciousness should be administered with a medical team present, monitoring vitals and adjusting care in real time.
Beyond the medicine itself, preparation and integration are what help the experience become lasting change. Preparation means working with a clinician before the session to set intentions and understand what to expect. Integration means processing what came up during the session and applying those insights to daily life, often with the help of a therapist or integration group.
Without these elements, a ketamine session is an isolated experience. With them, it becomes part of a therapeutic arc. Our members have access to integration groups, individual and group session options, and community programming that extends well beyond the treatment protocol.
What this means for people considering psychedelic therapy now
The executive order is a policy signal, not a change in what is available today. Psilocybin, ibogaine, and MDMA remain under federal restrictions, and clinical trials are still the primary pathway for accessing them.
Ketamine-assisted therapy, however, is available now. For people living with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, alcohol use disorder, postpartum depression, suicidal ideation, or chronic burnout, it offers an option that does not require waiting for the research landscape to shift.
Nushama’s centers in New York City provide a serene, supportive environment with thorough medical screening and psychiatric intake before any treatment begins. Every member works with a care team that includes physicians, registered nurses, and integration support professionals.
If you or someone you care about has been exploring options beyond traditional treatment, speak with our care team about whether ketamine-assisted therapy may be a good fit.
FAQs
What is ketamine-assisted therapy?
- Ketamine-assisted therapy combines medically supervised ketamine sessions with therapeutic preparation and integration. The medicine is typically administered through an IV in a clinical setting while a care team monitors the experience. Before and after sessions, members work with clinicians to set intentions, process what surfaces during the experience, and apply insights to their daily lives.
Is ketamine legal for treating mental health conditions?
- Yes. Ketamine is the only legal psychedelic medicine currently available for treating mental health conditions in the United States. It is used off-label, meaning it is FDA-approved for anesthesia but prescribed by physicians for conditions like depression and anxiety based on clinical evidence. Esketamine (brand name Spravato) is an FDA-approved nasal spray specifically indicated for treatment-resistant depression.
How is IV ketamine different from at-home ketamine?
- IV ketamine (intravenous ketamine) is delivered directly into the bloodstream in a clinical setting with medical staff present. This allows for precise dosing and real-time adjustments based on each person’s response. At-home ketamine options, typically involving lozenges or tablets, do not offer the same level of medical oversight or dosing precision. Nushama provides only in-person, medically supervised IV ketamine sessions.
What conditions can ketamine therapy help with?
- Ketamine therapy may support people living with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, alcohol use disorder, postpartum depression, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, migraines, and burnout. Results vary, and a medical screening is the first step to determine whether ketamine treatment is appropriate for your situation.
What does the executive order on psychedelics mean for people seeking care?
- The April 2026 executive order directs federal agencies to accelerate research into psychedelic medicines including ibogaine, psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA for mental health treatment. It does not make these substances legal for general clinical use yet. Ketamine remains the only psychedelic medicine currently available outside of clinical trials. The order may help speed up approval timelines for other treatments in the coming years.
