Salt Lake City’s At-Home Ketamine Providers
About Us
Connecting science and energy for true healing
At Connections, we offer at-home Ketamine-assisted healing journeys, combining the clinical expertise of Dr. Nathan Unkefer with the intuitive support of energy healer and integration guide Shandell Pino.
We know how important “set and setting” is to a psychedelic healing experience, which is why we meet you in the comfort of your own home, where you create a safe, peaceful space for healing.
Nathan oversees the medical side, administering intramuscular ketamine, while Shandell acts as a guide and sitter, offering calming practices, energy work, and integration support that help the medicine work on all levels — body, mind, and spirit.
Together, we guide you through the entire process:
Preparing your body, nervous system, and intentions
Supporting your journey inward
Helping you understand and integrate what arises
We’re passionate about this work because we’ve seen what’s possible when science and energy come together.
This is healing that lasts. Healing that transforms. Healing that reconnects you with your true self.
If you’re ready for a new path forward, we’re here to walk it with you.
What our Sessions Look Like
Step 1: The Intake Process
Your journey begins with two separate 20-minute calls:
Medical Screening Call with Dr. Nathan Unkefer
Dr. Unkefer will review your medical and psychiatric history, answer your questions, and ensure that ketamine is a safe and appropriate option for you.Preparation Call with Shandell
Shandell will guide you through what to expect, how to prepare for your session, how to set intentions, and how to create affirmations. You’ll also learn about the importance of integration and how we support you afterward.
Step 2: The In-Home Session
We come to your home so you can receive care in the comfort and safety of your own environment.
*If your home is not where you want to do it, we have a space in Riverton that you can come to
Upon Arrival
Dr. Unkefer takes your vital signs and ensures you're physically ready for the session and connects you to a device that continuously monitors your heart rate and blood oxygen saturation during the session.
Shandell helps you get grounded through calming breathwork, meditation, and intention-setting.
During the Session
Once you are relaxed, Dr. Unkefer administers the ketamine via intramuscular injection and monitors you throughout to ensure you are physically safe.
Shandell stays at your side during the experience as a compassionate presence and energy healer. She gently monitors both your physical and energetic state, supporting the release of dense or blocked energy, and holding space for your inner process. She may also take notes on insights or themes that arise during the session.
After the Session
We help you gently return to awareness, and we hold space for any immediate reflections. Shandell helps you process any insights you received and takes notes to help you remember the details for integration.
We ensure you are safe, hydrated, and grounded before we leave.
Step 3: The Integration Follow-Up
The day after your session, Shandell reaches out to support you in processing your experience. This may include:
Reflecting on what came up during the session
Identifying themes, messages, or emotions
Adjusting any affirmations
Offering suggestions for integration practices such as journaling, breathwork, nature time, or continued energy healing
Why This Process Matters
We believe that healing is most effective when the mind, body, and energy system are all supported. Ketamine opens a powerful window for healing, and energy healing helps you move through what’s revealed with more grace and ease. Our integration support helps you anchor the experience into your daily life so real change can take root.
This is more than a treatment — it's a journey home to yourself. And we’re honored to walk beside you.
Connecting Science and Energy
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Connecting Science and Energy ·
Preperation
Ketamine
Integration
Two Paths.
One Purpose.
True Healing.
Conditions for treatment
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Depression/ Suicidal Ideation
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Anxiety
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PTSD
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Chronic Stress/Pain
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Addiction
Frequently asked questions
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Ketamine is a safe, FDA-approved medication originally used as an anesthetic. In recent years, it’s been found to rapidly reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions by stimulating new synapse growth and creating new neural pathways in the brain. It helps “unstick” long-held patterns of thought and emotion, opening the door to healing and change.
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Energy healing helps release dense, stagnant, or blocked energy that can be held in the body due to stress, trauma, or unresolved emotion. During your session, Shandell gently supports your energetic system, helping to clear what no longer serves you and opens space for deeper insight, clarity, and peace. This support complements the neuroplasticity created by the ketamine.
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Ketamine opens a window for change, but the real transformation happens in how you bring the insights back into your daily life. Integration is the process of understanding, applying, and embodying what comes up during your journey. That’s why we offer follow-up support with affirmations, energy tools, and one-on-one guidance.
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Yes. Every client receives a thorough medical screening and assessment with Dr. Unkefer before treatment begins. He monitors vital signs before and during each session and administers the medication with full safety protocols in place. You are never alone, we are there with you the entire time.
Dr. Unkefer brings all of the oxygen, airway equipment and “crash cart” supplies that would be needed to treat any possible complication, right in your home.
The dose that you receive for mental health treatment is approximately 1/4 of the dose that would be given if we were using ketamine to sedate you in the Emergency Room for a painful procedure.
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Yes! Using ketamine for mental health is still considered an “off-label” use, but there have been over 600 peer-reviewed, published studies showing it’s efficacy and safety when used to treat a variety of mental health struggles. Dr. Unkefer is a board certified ER doctor who holds a current Utah Medical License and DEA registration. The US government wrote specific guidance on the topic of administering controlled substances in patient’s homes under the “black bag exception.” We follow all applicable laws and our business practice has been approved by DOPL (Utah’s Division of Professional Licensing).
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The available data so far suggests that a series of 6 sessions, spaced out over several weeks, seems to be the most beneficial. This allows the brain to build new pathways and the body to process deeper layers of healing. Although 6 sessions seems to be the best, there is also no universally agreed upon protocol, and different people may respond differently and need more or less treatments. We work with you to tailor a plan based on your needs and goals.
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Standard pricing is $500 for a home visit with both Shandell and Nathan.
See our pricing page HERE for details:
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Most insurance companies are not currently covering ketamine treatment for mental health. The scientific studies supporting it’s benefits are growing, so this may change in the future.
We do provide a “SuperBill” that you can try to submit to your own insurance, and we do accept HSA/FSH payments.
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Absolutely! We are an inclusive, LGBTQIA+ affirming practice. We are committed to creating a space where every person, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation or expression, feels valued and empowered to heal.
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It begins with two 20-minute phone calls. One with Nathan for your medical intake, and one with Shandell to explore your intentions and what to expect. You can call/text one of us directly, or sign up for a session HERE and we will reach out to contact you asap.
Still have questions? Reach out!
You can simply text either of us directly:
Shandell (801-518-7466) or Nathan (801-889-8857)
Or send us an email using this form:
