A Peer Treatment Monitor (PTM) is a trusted individual, such as a partner, family member, or close friend, who supports you during your sessions by maintaining a safe and focused environment.
Their presence is required to monitor your safety and assist you during your sessions. They should also be prepared to contact your guide for any non-emergency concerns and call emergency services if necessary, although this is highly uncommon.
Download our PTM toolkit, which includes details about the PTM's role during your sessions and helpful conversation guides for reaching out to someone in your network.
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Additional Details
A PTM is required for all medicine sessions (including self-led sessions), and your PTM must be 18+ years of age.
For more information about Mindbloom and the role, download this helpful guide.
What is a Peer Treatment Monitor (PTM)?
Your PTM can be a partner, family member, close friend, roommate, or other trusted adult who will “hold space” for you during your sessions. This person helps create a safe, comfortable, and distraction-free environment so you can fully focus inward during treatment.
While your PTM will most likely be a passive observer, this should be someone you can rely on to provide emotional support or get in touch with your Mindbloom care team if needed. We recommend choosing someone you have a positive and uncomplicated relationship with, because the feelings and energy this person brings to your treatment space can influence your experience.
What is the role of your PTM?
Prior to your session
Be physically present and review these instructions
Briefly join the virtual visit with you and your guide for training on how to support your treatment session (first session only)
During your session
Stay within voice range and visually check in on you every 15 minutes, while being mindful to stay quiet and not disturb you
Maintain an environment free from distractions, such as noises, kids, or pets
Lend a hand if you need to stand or move around (e.g., use the restroom)
Give you a gentle nudge to start journaling 1 hour after taking the medicine
After your session
Remind you to re-join your guide on Zoom at the scheduled time, or contact your guide if you need more time to process and recover
Stay with you until you are alert and able to move around safely (generally about 2 hours after taking the medicine)
Pro tip: bring you fresh fruit and caffeine-free tea or sparkling water
For clients taking tablets: Dispose of the used medication in the spit cup to ensure that it's not accidentally ingested by the client, children, pets, etc. FDA Drug Disposal Guidelines recommend mixing the medication with an unappealing substance (e.g., dirt, coffee grounds) and then placing it in a container or sealed bag in the trash.
What should your PTM expect during your treatment?
The effects of the medication typically appear about 10 minutes (for clients using tablets) and 3-7 minutes (for clients using injectables), and peak effects last 30-60 minutes
You’ll most likely lay calm and still in your moderately dissociated (disconnected from reality) and sedated state
While less common, some of our clients have emotional reactions or experience temporary side effects such as fatigue, nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, or headaches
Side effects, such as sedation or feeling “out of it”, can extend another 60-90 minutes after peak effects wear off
For clients using tablets, swallowing the ketamine can prolong the above side effects up to 4-6 hours after treatment and can (in rare cases) delay the onset of these effects 60-90 minutes
When should you reach out to your Mindbloom Care Team for help?
In the rare case you should need to get in touch with a member of our Care Team, don't hesitate to message between the hours of 10am/10pm PST/EST if:
You’re concerned about the way the treatment is progressing, such as more disorientation or psychological distress than you think is normal or safe
Our client is experiencing physical discomfort/distress, such as vomiting
Our client is requesting additional emotional support
While your Mindbloom care team should almost always be your first point of contact, call 911 if any of the following occur:
Lack of breathing
Lack of a detectable pulse
Active suicidal or homicidal intent, such as threats of imminent violence to oneself or another person