Ketamine Therapy in London Ontario

Ketamine-assisted therapy is available in London Ontario through New Track Selfcare, ATMA CENA's London member clinic at 100 Collip Circle in Western Discovery Park. London is southwestern Ontario's largest health and research centre — home to Western University, Schulich School of Medicine, Robarts Research Institute, London Health Sciences Centre, and St. Joseph's Health Care London — but it has no publicly funded psychiatric ketamine program. St. Joseph's offers IV ketamine for chronic pain (CRPS) only. This guide covers what's available locally, who qualifies, what it costs, and how to access care.

Key takeaways

• London's ATMA CENA member clinic is New Track Selfcare at 100 Collip Circle, Suite 105 (Western Discovery Park, Mogenson Centre).
• St. Joseph's Health Care London offers IV ketamine for chronic pain (CRPS) only — not for psychiatric indications.
• CPSO Out-of-Hospital Premises Inspection Program (OHPIP) governs IV/IM ketamine clinics in Ontario; CPSO standards require deep-sedation-equivalent care.
• OHIP covers physician consultations but not the ketamine drug or administration; WSIB Ontario covers ketamine on multiple specialty formularies for compensable injuries.

What is ketamine-assisted therapy?

Ketamine therapy uses sub-anaesthetic doses of ketamine — a Health Canada-approved anaesthetic — to treat conditions including treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, OCD, and chronic pain. Health Canada has approved ketamine as an anaesthetic; psychiatric use is off-label, a legal and common practice in Canadian medicine. Spravato (intranasal esketamine) is Health Canada-approved for treatment-resistant MDD as of May 2020.

When ketamine is paired with structured psychotherapy before, during, and after dosing, the treatment is called ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) or ketamine-assisted therapy (KAT). New Track Selfcare uses this model. For the full mechanism breakdown, see What Is Ketamine Therapy?.

Patients in London ON considering ketamine therapy can book a free information call to discuss eligibility and the ATMA CENA care pathway.

How ketamine works

Ketamine acts on the brain's glutamate system through NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor antagonism, triggering a downstream surge of glutamate, AMPA receptor activation, and BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) release that stimulates synaptogenesis — the formation of new neural connections within 24 to 72 hours of a dose (Lullau et al., 2023). Conventional antidepressants take 4 to 6 weeks to act on serotonin and norepinephrine; ketamine can produce antidepressant effects within 2 to 72 hours of a single IV dose. The Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) places IV racemic ketamine as a third-line treatment for adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) (Swainson et al., 2021).

New Track Selfcare — ATMA CENA's London ON member clinic

New Track Selfcare operates within Western Discovery Park, the research district adjacent to Western University and Robarts Research Institute. The location is consistent with London's status as a southwestern Ontario health and research hub. The clinical model uses ATMA CENA's three-phase KAP structure — preparation, dosing, and integration sessions — coordinated with ATMA CENA's network.

Ontario regulatory framework

Two regulatory layers govern London ON ketamine clinics.

Federal — Health Canada. Ketamine is a Schedule I controlled substance, prescribed off-label for psychiatric use. Spravato is Health Canada-approved for treatment-resistant MDD as of May 2020.

Provincial — CPSO. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) does not have a specific ketamine policy, but IV/IM ketamine administration falls under the Out-of-Hospital Premises Inspection Program (OHPIP). Clinics must be CPSO-accredited out-of-hospital premises (OHPs) with annual inspection. CPSO standards: "Patients receiving [ketamine] must receive care consistent with deep sedation even if moderate sedation is intended" — administering physicians must be qualified to provide deep sedation.

The College of Nurses of Ontario governs RN/NP roles in administration under physician order; the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) interim guidance permits RPs to participate in PAP teams under prescriber oversight. The practical effect for London patients: facility-level oversight and physician sedation credentialing are robust; clinics that are not CPSO-OHP accredited cannot legally provide IV/IM ketamine in Ontario.

OHIP, ODB, and Ontario insurance

OHIP: Covers physician consultations and assessments. OHIP does not cover the ketamine drug or administration for psychiatric indications.

Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) / Exceptional Access Program (EAP): Spravato is not on the standard ODB formulary. Prescribers can submit Exceptional Access requests via the SADIE portal — approval is case-by-case. Generic racemic ketamine for psychiatric use has no ODB or EAP pathway.

WSIB Ontario: The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario (WSIB) covers ketamine and Spravato on multiple specialty formularies (musculoskeletal, CNS/PNS, psychotraumatic, chronic pain, serious injury) with prior authorization for compensable injuries. See WSIB Ontario formulary decision.

Private insurance: Coverage varies. Spravato is the form most likely to be covered by Manulife, Sun Life, Canada Life, Green Shield, and others — typically with prior authorization for documented TRD. Generic IV/IM ketamine for psychiatric use is generally not covered.

Note: Alberta Blue Cross's psychedelic-assisted therapy coverage does not extend to Ontario residents.

What does ketamine therapy cost in London?

ATMA CENA's published KAT pricing applies across the network: KAT Psychedelic Pathway from CAD $1,585 + $795 per additional session; KAT Psycholytic Pathway from CAD $1,530 + $740 per additional session; customized programs CAD $2,325–$6,930. A non-refundable deposit of CAD $300 applies. Confirm specific figures during your information call.

For the full Canadian pricing breakdown including IV alternatives and Spravato, see Ketamine Therapy Cost in Canada.

Who is a candidate?

Most Canadian ketamine clinics use the following inclusion criteria:

• Adults 18 or older
• Diagnosis of TRD (failure of 2+ adequate antidepressant trials), bipolar depression with mood-stabilizer coverage, PTSD, anxiety disorders, OCD, or chronic pain
• Medically stable; able to provide informed consent

Absolute contraindications: active psychosis, uncontrolled severe hypertension, severe cardiovascular disease, current pregnancy, anaphylactic reaction to ketamine, active manic episode. For full eligibility detail, see How to Qualify for Ketamine Therapy in Canada.

London's ketamine landscape

London ON is southwestern Ontario's health and research hub but has a thin private ketamine market. Key local providers:

• New Track Selfcare (ATMA CENA member clinic; 100 Collip Circle) — KAP model with bundled preparation and integration.
• St. Joseph's Health Care London — operates an IV ketamine infusion program for chronic pain (CRPS), not for psychiatric indications. Patients with treatment-resistant depression are not served by this hospital program.
• Gibson & Associates (18 Becher St) — provides ketamine integration psychotherapy (the therapy wraparound), partnering with external IV/IM providers.
• London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) — adult mental health services do not include a publicly funded outpatient ketamine program.

Western University and the Lawson Health Research Institute have research-active interventional psychiatry programs (rTMS, ketamine research) — but these are research streams, not routine clinical access points.

The practical London choice for most patients: KAP-model integrated therapy at New Track Selfcare via ATMA CENA's network, or referral to GTA/Mississauga IV providers (Toronto Ketamine Clinic, Braxia Health, Ontario Ketamine and Infusion Centre — ~2 hours via Highway 401).

Local London practical notes

• Population: ~545k metro (London CMA)
• Major hospitals: London Health Sciences Centre (Victoria, University, Children's), St. Joseph's Health Care London
• Academic anchors: Western University, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Robarts Research Institute
• Regional reach: London is the medical referral centre for southwestern Ontario; patients travel from Sarnia, Windsor, Chatham, Stratford, Owen Sound
• Highway 401 corridor: ~2 hours from Toronto, ~2 hours from Windsor
• Transit: London Transit Commission
• Post-session: 24-hour no-driving rule; arrange a designated driver or rideshare

Frequently asked questions

Where is ATMA CENA's London ON clinic? New Track Selfcare, 100 Collip Circle, Suite 105, London, ON N6G 4X8 (Western Discovery Park, Mogenson Centre). Phone +1-226-599-0477.

Does St. Joseph's Hospital London offer ketamine for depression? No. St. Joseph's Health Care London IV ketamine program is for chronic pain (CRPS) only, not psychiatric indications.

Does OHIP cover ketamine therapy? OHIP covers physician consultations but not the ketamine drug or administration for psychiatric use. Spravato is not on the standard ODB formulary; Exceptional Access Program requests are case-by-case.

Does private insurance cover ketamine therapy in Ontario? Spravato is the form most likely to be covered with prior authorization. Generic IV/IM ketamine for psychiatric use is generally not covered. WSIB Ontario covers compensable injury cases.

How much does ketamine therapy cost at New Track Selfcare? ATMA CENA's published KAT pricing applies: CAD $1,530–$6,930 depending on pathway and number of sessions, plus a CAD $300 non-refundable deposit. Confirm specific figures during your information call.

Do I need a doctor's referral? No. ATMA CENA accepts self-referrals through the information call. Some publicly funded programs in other provinces require psychiatrist referral, but Ontario private clinics including New Track Selfcare generally accept self-referrals.

What conditions does the London clinic treat? Treatment-resistant depression, MDD with suicidal ideation, bipolar depression (with mood-stabilizer coverage), PTSD, anxiety disorders, OCD, and chronic pain. Specific eligibility is determined at clinical assessment.

Can I drive after a ketamine session? No. Patients cannot drive for at least 24 hours after a session. Arrange a designated driver or rideshare.

Can my existing therapist work with the network? Yes — through coordinated care model. Your therapist can remain the primary therapeutic relationship while New Track Selfcare and ATMA CENA provide medical oversight and dosing infrastructure.

Sources

1. ATMA CENA — London Member Clinic (New Track Selfcare): https://psychedelic.healthcare/
2. ATMA CENA — Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (pricing): https://psychedelic.healthcare/
3. ATMA CENA — Find care near you: https://psychedelic.healthcare/find-care/
4. CPSO — Out-of-Hospital Premises Inspection Program: https://www.cpso.on.ca/physicians/your-practice/accreditation-programs/out-of-hospital-premises-inspection-program
5. WSIB Ontario — Ketamine and Esketamine Formulary Decision: https://www.wsib.ca/en/drug-formulary-listing-decision-ketamine-and-esketamine
6. Ontario Exceptional Access Program: https://www.ontario.ca/page/exceptional-access-program
7. St. Joseph's Health Care London — IV Ketamine Infusion: https://www.sjhc.london.on.ca/patients-and-visitors/online-patient-and-caregiver-resource-library/iv-ketamine-infusion
8. Health Canada DPD — Spravato: https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=98903
9. Lullau APM, et al. (2023). Antidepressant mechanisms of ketamine. Front Neurosci. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1223145/full
10. Swainson J, et al. (2021). CANMAT racemic ketamine recommendations. Can J Psychiatry. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33174760/

Related articles in this cluster

• Ketamine Therapy in Canada
• What Is Ketamine Therapy?
• Ketamine Therapy Cost in Canada
• How to Qualify for Ketamine Therapy in Canada
• Ketamine Therapy for Depression
• Ketamine Therapy in Toronto and the GTA
• Ketamine Therapy in Mississauga
• Ketamine Therapy in Hamilton
• ATMA CENA London member clinic
• Find care near you

Last updated: 2026-05-05