Today we’d like to introduce you to Ray Rivas.
Hi Ray, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My career in medicine started as a general and trauma surgeon. I spent over a decade practicing surgery, working in high-pressure environments where I cared for people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. While I found the work meaningful, the intensity and demands of that career eventually took a significant toll on my own mental health and relationships. Like many healthcare professionals, I experienced burnout, chronic stress, and periods of depression and anxiety.
I discovered ketamine therapy while researching treatment options for my own mental health struggles. As a surgeon, I had used ketamine frequently in the operating room, though at much higher doses than those used in mental health treatment. But after battling the daily onslaught of depression and anxiety for too long, I finally decided ketamine therapy was something worth exploring for myself — and it ultimately changed the course of my life.
After personally experiencing the profound impact of the treatment, I felt deeply inspired to bring this medicine to my community and help others the way it had helped me. What began as a personal healing journey quickly evolved into a professional passion, and I realized it was time to step away from surgery and dedicate my time and energy to mental health care.
This realization led me to found Innerbloom Ketamine Therapy alongside my wife, Libby, here in San Luis Obispo. We built the clinic with the intention of creating a soothing, safe, and highly personalized environment where people feel genuinely cared for and supported throughout their healing process. Today, we focus on treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain through ketamine-assisted therapies, while also emphasizing preparation, integration, psychotherapy, lifestyle changes, and education.
What has been most rewarding is seeing people regain hope after feeling stuck for years. Many of our patients come to us after exhausting all traditional treatments, and being able to help them reconnect with themselves, their families, and their lives has been incredibly meaningful. Innerbloom grew out of both my medical background and my own personal journey, and that combination continues to shape how we care for patients every day.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road to build Innerbloom, but it has been immensely rewarding. Transitioning from a career in surgery working in large hospital systems to running a boutique mental health clinic came with a very steep learning curve. My background was in medicine, not business, so one of the biggest challenges was simply learning how to start and sustain a small healthcare business while still providing a very high level of patient care.
Another major challenge has been education and overcoming the stigma associated with ketamine. Many people still only associate ketamine with its history as an anesthetic or recreational drug, without understanding the immense body of scientific research supporting its use for depression, PTSD, chronic pain, and other mental health conditions. Ketamine therapy has been used for over six decades, but only recently has it become mainstream. A large part of our work has involved educating both the greater community and local medical professionals about what responsible, evidence-based ketamine therapy actually looks like.
Building trust with local providers and referring psychiatrists also took time. We wanted to establish ourselves as a thoughtful, collaborative, and patient-centered clinic that prioritizes safety, personalized care, and long-term outcomes, rather than operating as a high-volume model where patients feel like just another number. The trust has grown steadily over the years through communication, transparency, and outstanding patient outcomes.
Another ongoing challenge has been accessibility and affordability. These treatments can be truly life-changing, but because they involve multiple sessions, they can also create a significant financial burden for many patients. We have spent a great deal of time establishing ourselves within the insurance system, including Medicare and other major insurance providers, to make these treatments more accessible and reduce out-of-pocket costs whenever possible.
Navigating that process has been complex, but it has been incredibly worthwhile when it allows people in our community to receive care they otherwise may not have been able to access.
As you know, we’re big fans of Innerbloom Ketamine Therapy. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Innerbloom Ketamine Therapy is a mental health clinic that specializes in ketamine-assisted treatments for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. We offer both IV ketamine infusions and Spravato® (esketamine) treatments in a highly personalized, medically supervised setting. Beyond the medication itself, our approach focuses heavily on preparation, education, integration, psychotherapy support, and helping patients create meaningful lifestyle changes that support long-term healing.
What sets us apart is that we intentionally designed Innerbloom to feel very different from a traditional medical office. We created an environment that feels calm, safe, cozy, and deeply human. Many of our patients come to us after years of struggling and often after exhausting multiple traditional treatment options, so we place a major emphasis on making people feel genuinely seen, heard, and cared for throughout the process. Our therapy dog ( a small, female Golden Retriever) comes to work with us every day as well, and she’s always looking to snuggle with our clients, which is a bright spot in many people’s day.
I also think my background as both a physician and someone who has personally experienced mental health struggles that many of our patients face gives our clinic a unique perspective. We understand these treatments not only from a scientific and medical standpoint, but also from a deeply personal one. That combination has helped shape the culture of our clinic and how we approach patient care. Both my wife and I have personally undergone ketamine therapy for our own mental health, and so we’re able to really connect with our clients, as we know what it feels like to struggle and find hope again.
We are also very focused on education and responsible treatment practices. There is still a lot of misunderstanding surrounding ketamine therapy, and we spend a great deal of time helping patients understand what the treatment is, how it works, what it feels like, and what realistic healing can look like. We collaborate closely with therapists, psychiatrists, and other providers in the community because we believe the best mental health outcomes happen when care is integrated and collaborative.
One thing I am especially proud of is the trust we have built within the community and the relationships we have developed with our patients. Some of the most meaningful moments have been seeing people regain hope, reconnect with their families, return to work, or simply feel joy again after years without it. Those transformations are the reason we do this work.
At the end of the day, I want readers to know that Innerbloom is about far more than just administering a medication. Our goal is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care that helps people heal and ultimately build more fulfilling lives.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
We’re a husband and wife team! Many people may say to “steer clear” of working with your spouse, but for us, it’s been the best thing. We love being together and feel so lucky to get to build our dreams together every day.
Pricing:
- Innerbloom Ketamine Therapy offers Spravato® (esketamine), an FDA-approved, insurance-based treatment for treatment-resistant depression that is often covered by Medicare and many commercial insurance plans. For some patients, once deductibles are met, treatment may involve little to no out-of-pocket cost beyond a small copay depending on their individual coverage.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.innerbloomketamine.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innerbloomkt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Innerbloom-Ketamine-Therapy/100083064562457/
