Spravato® + Therapy: A Comprehensive Approach to Treating Depression
When traditional depression treatment isn't enough, there may be another option.
Living with major depressive disorder can make everyday life feel harder than it should. You may feel exhausted, disconnected, unmotivated, or simply unlike yourself. And when you've already tried antidepressants and traditional treatments without getting the relief you hoped for, it can be frustrating and discouraging.
At Adult Family Health Services (AFHS) in Clifton, New Jersey, we believe that depression treatment should be about more than simply prescribing another medication.
For appropriate patients, SPRAVATO® (esketamine) can be incorporated into a comprehensive treatment plan that may also include traditional therapy, psychiatric medication management, individual counseling, group therapy, and other behavioral health services.
The goal is to give you more than one tool to work toward feeling better.
What Is SPRAVATO®?
SPRAVATO® (esketamine) is an FDA-approved nasal spray used for adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). It is different from traditional antidepressants because it works through a different pathway in the brain.
For adults whose depression has not responded adequately to traditional treatments, Spravato may provide another treatment option to discuss with a qualified mental health provider.
SPRAVATO® is not a medication that you take at home. It is administered under the supervision of a healthcare professional at a certified treatment center, with required monitoring following treatment.
At AFHS, our team works with eligible patients to determine whether Spravato may be appropriate as part of their individualized treatment plan.
Why Combine Spravato With Traditional Therapy?
Medication can be an important part of depression treatment, but depression is more than a chemical imbalance or a list of symptoms.
Depression can affect your:
Thoughts and emotions
Relationships
Motivation
Sleep
Work and daily responsibilities
Confidence and self-esteem
Ability to enjoy activities you once enjoyed
Ability to cope with stress and difficult experiences
Therapy gives you a place to work on these areas while your psychiatric treatment addresses the medical aspects of depression.
For some patients, combining Spravato with ongoing talk therapy and psychiatric care can create a more comprehensive approach to treatment.
Rather than choosing between medication and therapy, your treatment plan may include both.
The official Spravato patient information also recommends continuing talk therapy when it is included in your healthcare provider's treatment plan.
Think of it as treating the whole person—not just the depression.
Spravato may be one component of treatment. Therapy can help you understand patterns, develop coping skills, address difficult experiences, improve relationships, and build strategies for maintaining progress.
Together, these approaches can give you additional support throughout your treatment journey.
Who May Benefit From Spravato?
SPRAVATO® is FDA-approved for adults with treatment-resistant depression. Treatment-resistant depression generally refers to depression that has not responded adequately to previous antidepressant treatments.
You may want to talk with your mental health provider about Spravato if:
You have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
You have tried antidepressant medications but continue to experience significant depression symptoms.
Your depression continues to interfere with work, relationships, sleep, or everyday life.
You feel that traditional treatments have not provided enough relief.
You are interested in learning about additional evidence-based treatment options.
Spravato is not right for everyone. A qualified healthcare provider must evaluate your medical and psychiatric history and determine whether it is an appropriate option for you.
What Can Treatment Look Like at AFHS?
One of the advantages of receiving care at Adult Family Health Services is the ability to access multiple behavioral health services within one organization.
Depending on your individual needs, your treatment plan may include Spravato alongside:
1. Individual Therapy
Traditional one-on-one therapy provides a private environment where you can discuss depression, anxiety, relationships, trauma, stress, life changes, and other concerns.
Therapy can continue while you receive Spravato when clinically appropriate.
2. Psychiatric Evaluation and Medication Management
Our psychiatric services can help evaluate your symptoms, monitor your progress, and manage medications as part of your overall treatment plan.
Your provider can determine whether Spravato, an oral antidepressant, other medications, therapy, or a combination of services may be appropriate.
3. Mental Health Outpatient Services
Patients can receive ongoing outpatient mental health care designed around their individual needs and treatment goals.
Outpatient treatment can provide continuity of care as you work toward maintaining improvements and managing symptoms.
4. Mental Health Partial Care
For individuals who need more structure and support than traditional outpatient treatment provides, AFHS offers Mental Health Partial Care.
Partial Care provides a more intensive level of behavioral health support while allowing patients to remain in the community rather than receiving inpatient treatment.
5. Group Therapy
Group therapy can provide a supportive environment where individuals can develop coping skills, learn from others, and realize that they are not alone in their experiences.
Group services may address mental health concerns, coping skills, recovery, and other areas identified in the patient's treatment plan.
6. Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Depression and substance use concerns can sometimes occur together.
AFHS provides several levels of substance use disorder treatment, including:
When clinically appropriate, mental health and substance use treatment can be coordinated to address the whole person.
7. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
For individuals who are also receiving treatment for opioid or alcohol use disorders, AFHS provides medication-assisted treatment options, including medications such as buprenorphine and naltrexone.
These services are separate from Spravato treatment but may be incorporated into an individual's overall behavioral health care when appropriate.
8. Vivitrol® and Sublocade® Services
AFHS also provides medication-assisted recovery services that may include Vivitrol® (naltrexone) and Sublocade® (extended-release buprenorphine) for eligible patients.
Your treatment team can help determine which services are appropriate based on your individual needs.
9. Telehealth and Continued Support
Depending on the service and clinical appropriateness, AFHS offers telehealth options that can make ongoing mental health care more convenient.
Continuity matters. Depression treatment is not just about what happens during a Spravato appointment—it is about having appropriate support throughout your treatment journey.
What Happens During a Spravato Treatment?
SPRAVATO® is administered as a nasal spray in a certified healthcare setting.
Because Spravato can cause temporary side effects such as sedation, dizziness, nausea, dissociation, or increases in blood pressure, patients are monitored by healthcare professionals following treatment. Patients should not drive or operate machinery until the next day after a restful sleep.
At AFHS, our goal is to provide a supportive, professional environment where patients can receive their treatment while being appropriately monitored.
Your healthcare provider will explain what to expect before your first treatment and answer questions about the treatment process.
You Don't Have to Give Up on Treatment
If you've tried antidepressants and still feel like you're struggling, it doesn't mean you've failed.
It may mean that you need a different approach.
There are multiple treatment options for depression, and the right combination can be different for every person.
At Adult Family Health Services, we take a comprehensive approach to mental health care. For eligible patients, Spravato can be one part of a broader treatment plan that may include therapy, psychiatric care, medication management, group support, and other behavioral health services.
You deserve a treatment plan designed around you.
If you are living with major depressive disorder and traditional treatments haven't provided the relief you need, talk with an AFHS mental health professional about whether SPRAVATO® may be an appropriate option for you.
Our team can help you understand your treatment options and determine which services may best support your individual needs.
Take the Next Step, Spravato Treatment in New Jersey
You don't have to keep struggling alone.
Contact Adult Family Health Services today to learn more about Spravato treatment and our comprehensive mental health services.
SPRAVATO® (esketamine) is a prescription medication. Treatment eligibility and appropriateness are determined by a qualified healthcare provider. Individual results may vary. Spravato is available only through the SPRAVATO REMS program at certified healthcare settings. Please discuss the risks, benefits, and alternatives with your healthcare provider.
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