Dr. Marc Smith: Redefining Mental Health Care with Ketamine Therapy in Westlake Village, CA
Ketamine StartUp Alumni Spotlight
In this blog series, we're highlighting the remarkable practitioners who've completed our training programs and are now transforming mental health care in their communities. Each spotlight shares their unique journey, clinical insights, and the impact they're making with ketamine therapy.
Dr. Marc Smith, founder of CLEAR Ketamine + Psychiatry, is redefining mental health care through ethical, evidence-based ketamine therapy in Westlake Village.
Meet Dr. Marc Smith
Dr. Marc Smith brings a unique blend of East Coast medical training and West Coast innovation to mental health care at CLEAR Ketamine + Psychiatry in Westlake Village, California. With his medical degree from Columbia University and psychiatry residency at USC, Dr. Smith has witnessed firsthand the limitations of traditional psychiatric care - the rushed appointments, long wait times, and one-size-fits-all approach that often leaves patients feeling unheard.
Dr. Smith completed our Ketamine StartUp 101 course in April 2024 and founded CLEAR with a clear mission: to raise the standard of care in ketamine therapy through ethical, evidence-based treatments delivered with genuine compassion.
What sets his approach apart is his commitment to treating patients as whole people, not just diagnoses, while offering hope to those who haven't found relief through conventional treatments.
Today, we're excited to share his insights on building a practice that prioritizes quality over quantity and innovation over tradition.
This blog is proudly sponsored by Clifton Insurance Agency, Inc., a trusted leader in the liability and high risk niche market insurance industry.
Mention “Ketamine StartUp” and receive FREE quotes & exclusive policy discounts. Learn more about how they support ketamine clinics here.
Our Conversation
1. What inspired you to start a ketamine clinic or add ketamine therapy to your practice?
“I started CLEAR Ketamine + Psychiatry to offer an alternative to the limitations of traditional psychiatric care—particularly for those who haven’t found relief through conventional medications. Many of my patients have tried multiple treatments without success, often dealing with side effects, delayed results, or simply feeling like they weren’t being truly seen.
Ketamine therapy opened the door to something different—something more immediate, more hopeful, and often transformative. But I quickly realized that the way ketamine is delivered matters just as much as the medicine itself. In a field that’s still new and largely unregulated, I felt a strong responsibility to do it right.
At CLEAR, we focus on safe, evidence-based treatments delivered in a calm, supportive environment. We take time with each patient, tailoring care to the individual, not just the diagnosis. My goal has always been to combine medical expertise with thoughtful, compassionate care—and to create a space where patients feel truly supported on their healing journey.”
2. Tell us about your medical background and what led you to this field.
I completed my medical degree at Columbia University and went on to do my psychiatry residency at USC. I’ve worked with thousands of patients using a range of approaches—from traditional medication management to psychotherapy to more advanced treatments like TMS and ketamine.
From early on, I was drawn to psychiatry because of its depth and complexity. I was fascinated not just by the science of the mind, but by the human stories behind it—how people adapt, struggle, grow, and heal. Private practice gave me the opportunity to form real, ongoing relationships with patients and help many of them make meaningful progress. But over time, I also saw the limits of conventional care. For some individuals, standard medications either didn’t work, took too long, or came with side effects that made them unsustainable.
That’s what led me to explore new approaches—both in how we care for patients and in the tools we use. Ketamine therapy stood out not only because of the growing research behind it, but because of the transformative effects I was seeing firsthand. When delivered with the right guidance and intention, it offers something truly different: a way to unlock insight, shift longstanding patterns, and create real movement where people have felt stuck for years.
3. What sets your clinic apart from others offering ketamine therapy?
What sets CLEAR apart is our commitment to delivering ketamine therapy with the depth, integrity, and clinical expertise it deserves. In a growing field, we’ve built CLEAR around four core principles that guide everything we do:
Expert: Every treatment is led by a board-certified psychiatrist with deep experience in mental health care. Patients aren’t handed off to a rotating team—they’re cared for directly by a physician who knows their story and stays involved at every stage.
Holistic: We take the time to get to know each patient as a whole person. That means considering not just symptoms, but lifestyle, history, values, and goals. Mental health isn’t one-size-fits-all, and neither is our approach.
Personalized: From preparation to integration, your care is thoughtfully tailored to you. Whether it’s adjusting treatment protocols, supporting co-occurring conditions, or helping you process your experience, we’re by your side through the entire journey.
Ethical: We only offer treatments that are grounded in research, and we hold ourselves to the highest clinical and professional standards. Safety, transparency, and integrity are the foundation of how we operate.
At CLEAR, our mission is to raise the standard of care in ketamine therapy.
4. How do you determine if someone is a good candidate for ketamine therapy?
We start with a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation to understand each patient’s history, symptoms, previous treatments, and goals. We look at the whole picture—what’s been tried, what’s worked (or hasn’t), and where there’s still room for healing.
Ketamine therapy can be a powerful option for people dealing with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other conditions that haven’t fully responded to traditional treatments. But it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. We consider each patient’s medical and psychiatric background, current medications, and readiness for the experience—both emotionally and practically.
Just as importantly, we discuss what the process will involve: preparation, integration, and ongoing support. If someone is open, committed, and has a clear therapeutic foundation—whether that’s working with a therapist, or engaging in active self-reflection—they’re often an excellent candidate.
Ultimately, our goal is to make sure ketamine therapy is safe, appropriate, and positioned to be as meaningful and effective as possible.
5. Can you walk us through what a first-time patient can expect at your clinic?
At CLEAR, we guide each patient through a structured and supportive treatment process.
It starts with a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation to determine if ketamine therapy is a good fit. If appropriate, we typically recommend a course of six treatments over 3 to 4 weeks, combined with preparation and integration sessions on separate days to enhance the therapeutic benefits.
Before your first treatment, you’ll meet with your doctor for a dedicated preparation session—this is not a ketamine session, but a chance to set intentions, ask questions, and ensure you feel safe, informed, and ready.
On treatment days, you’ll be welcomed into a private, calming space designed to promote comfort and healing—complete with soft lighting, blankets, eye masks, curated music, aromatherapy, and thoughtful details to support a positive experience. Ketamine is administered via intramuscular injection, and your doctor stays with you throughout the session to provide support and ensure your safety.
After your treatment course begins, separate integration sessions give you space to reflect on your experiences and apply insights meaningfully to your daily life.
Our aim is to create a process that’s not only safe and evidence-based—but also deeply personal and transformative.
The welcoming waiting area at CLEAR Ketamine + Psychiatry, where patients begin their journey from hopelessness to renewed possibility.
6. What types of results have you seen with ketamine therapy?
Ketamine therapy can be especially transformative for people with treatment-resistant depression—those who’ve tried multiple medications and therapies without meaningful relief.
Many of our patients come to us feeling discouraged or hopeless, and it’s incredibly powerful to watch that begin to shift. Most people experience substantial improvements in mood, anxiety, and overall mental clarity, often within just a few sessions. For others, the progress may be slower but still significant—whether it’s better emotional regulation, fewer intrusive thoughts, or simply feeling more like themselves again.
While there are no guarantees with any treatment, we find that almost everyone benefits in some way. Even when ketamine doesn’t fully resolve symptoms, it often opens a door—offering new insights, relief, or the sense that change is actually possible. That alone can be deeply meaningful.
We’ve built our protocol to support lasting change by pairing ketamine with thoughtful preparation, integration, and ongoing psychiatric care. Our goal isn’t just temporary relief—it’s helping patients reclaim hope and rebuild their sense of possibility.
7. What do you wish every new patient knew before beginning their ketamine journey?
The treatment itself can open doors: easing symptoms, shifting perspective, and creating space between you and your usual mental patterns. But real, lasting change often comes from what you do with those openings. We encourage patients to actively support their healing with things like therapy, movement, quality sleep, nourishing food, and—when appropriate—ongoing medication. These elements work together to extend and deepen the benefits of ketamine, creating a foundation for sustained wellness.
I also like patients to know that it’s okay if they don’t feel better immediately. Some people notice relief after the first session, while others take a few to start feeling a shift. Everyone’s process is different—and that’s completely normal.
8. Is there a patient story that stands out, someone whose transformation really moved you?
There are many, but one that stands out is a patient who had been living with severe, treatment-resistant depression for over a decade. She had tried numerous medications, therapy, TMS—you name it—and had reached a point of deep hopelessness. She wasn’t looking for a miracle, just something to help her feel like herself again.
After a few ketamine treatments, she described feeling like a light had started to flicker back on—subtle at first, but real. She began reconnecting with things that once brought her joy. By the end of her treatment series, she said it was the first time in years that she felt a sense of possibility for her life.
What moved me most wasn’t just the symptom relief—it was witnessing her reclaim a sense of agency, creativity, and connection. That kind of shift is why I do this work. And while not everyone responds the same way, seeing someone come back to life in front of you is incredibly powerful.
CLEAR's treatment room showcases Dr. Smith's commitment to 'set and setting' - where natural light and peaceful design create the foundation for transformative healing.
9. How do you incorporate “set and setting” into your patient experience?
“Set and setting” refers to a person’s mindset (“set”) and physical environment (“setting”) going into a psychedelic or ketamine experience. Both play a major role in shaping how the journey unfolds.
At CLEAR, we take this concept very seriously. We’ve designed every part of the treatment experience to support a calm, safe, and emotionally open state. Our treatment room is intentionally peaceful—soft lighting, blankets, eye masks, curated music, and headphones help patients feel relaxed and immersed.
Equally important is preparation. Before any ketamine treatments begin, patients have a separate therapy session where we explore their goals, intentions, emotional state, and anything that may influence the experience. This helps cultivate the right mindset going in—one that’s grounded, open, and curious.
Throughout the session, I remain by the patient’s side to offer reassurance, gentle guidance, or simply quiet presence. Everything we do is designed to help patients feel supported enough to safely explore whatever arises.
10. Are there any misconceptions about ketamine treatment you wish more people understood?
Definitely. One of the biggest misconceptions is that ketamine is just a party drug or street substance. While it has been misused recreationally, ketamine is actually a well-established medical treatment with a long history of safe use in anesthesia and emergency medicine. It’s on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medications and is now backed by strong and growing evidence for its effectiveness in treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other conditions—especially when other treatments have failed.
The key is how it’s used. Like opioids for surgery or benzodiazepines for panic, ketamine can be incredibly powerful when used properly—and harmful when misused. What matters is the context. At CLEAR, ketamine is administered in carefully measured doses, by a physician, in a calm and closely monitored setting. We never send patients home with ketamine or use it outside of a structured therapeutic plan.
We understand that public stories—like the tragic passing of Matthew Perry—have raised concerns. But those situations typically involve unsupervised use or unsafe combinations of substances. In a medical environment like ours, where safety protocols, dosing, and monitoring are in place, ketamine is extremely safe and well tolerated. Many of our patients are surprised at just how gentle and supportive the process feels.
We also pay close attention to what’s called “set and setting”—the mindset you bring into treatment, and the environment you’re in. Our clinic is designed to feel peaceful, welcoming, and safe, so each patient can focus inward and get the most out of their experience.
11. Anything else you want to mention?
At CLEAR, we’re focused on doing things the right way. We take treatments like ketamine seriously—not just as a tool for symptom relief, but as part of a broader biopsychosocial and spiritual approach to healing. Our goal isn’t to offer quick fixes, but to support patients in creating meaningful, lasting change across all areas of their lives.
We also believe that trust, transparency, and clinical integrity matter. That’s why we keep our care personalized, medically supervised, and grounded in evidence. We’re here to help people who haven’t found relief elsewhere and to offer a setting where they feel safe, respected, and truly cared for.
Connect with Dr. Marc Smith
Clinic: CLEAR Ketamine + Psychiatry
Website: www.clearketapsych.com
Location: 5743 Corsa Avenue, Suite 114 Westlake Village, CA 91362
Phone: 805-219-7870
Social Media:
About Ketamine StartUp’s Training Courses
Interested in adding ketamine therapy to your practice? Learn more about our comprehensive Ketamine StartUp 101 course that helped Dr. Smith successfully launch his ketamine therapy services.
Disclaimer: The information shared in this interview reflects the clinical experience and opinions of the featured practitioner and is intended for educational purposes. For healthcare professionals: This content should be considered alongside current clinical guidelines, peer-reviewed literature, and applicable regulations. Proper training, licensing, and compliance are required before implementing ketamine therapy. For patients or potential patients: This information does not constitute medical advice. Ketamine therapy requires comprehensive medical evaluation by qualified healthcare professionals, and individual results may vary. Please consult with a licensed provider to discuss whether ketamine therapy may be appropriate for your specific situation.
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Alumni Spotlight: How training graduate Dr. Marc Smith is redefining mental health care with ethical ketamine therapy in Westlake Village, CA.
From Columbia to California: Dr. Marc Smith witnessed traditional psychiatry's limitations firsthand and founded CLEAR to redefine mental health care in Westlake Village.