Mindbloom Review 2024: Cost, Pros & Cons, & My Experience

Before I started my Mindbloom review, I’d never had a psychedelic experience or taken ketamine before. I was nervous, and maybe a little scared, but through my sessions I quickly found Mindbloom to be a solid platform for ketamine treatment, as long as you’re willing to put in the therapeutic work and have the right support in place. In using Mindbloom I experienced a truly transformative experience that changed my relationship with myself and the depression I’ve battled for years.

Why You Can Trust My Review

Firsthand Mindbloom Reviews

Detailed Review of Mindbloom – What is Mindbloom?

Mindbloom is a mental health company that offers at-home ketamine-assisted treatment for anxiety, depression, and general adjustment issues. The main Mindbloom plan for new clients costs $1,176 (the cost is spread out over three months) and includes a “Bloombox” with everything you need for 6 self-guided psychedelic sessions. Also included are two clinical consultations with a medical provider, and three sessions with an integration coach.

There are a few ways of conducting at-home ketamine treatment, and Mindbloom comprises one of these. Mindbloom favors more infrequent, but higher doses of ketamine that produce stronger psychedelic experiences. Other providers opt for lower doses over more frequent periods of time, similar to microdosing.

The Mindbloom Clinician Consult

The first step in my experience with Mindbloom was to get set up with an appointment with my clinician to discuss whether or not the program was a good fit for me. I was able to select from a handful of clinicians and I ultimately decided on a physician’s assistant (PA) who had a background I felt comfortable with. I scheduled the appointment for the following week – there was plenty of flexibility in appointment scheduling, and I found multiple options for evening or weekend appointments.

When the time came for my clinician consult, I logged in via Zoom on my laptop using my home internet connection. My clinician joined the call and introduced herself. She put on a 10-minute informational video while she reviewed my chart and assessment responses – the video discussed an overview of the process, what sessions look like, how to take the medication, and other important bits of information.

After this, my clinician took some time to get to know me and my background. I felt a great deal of empathy and warmth from her and was put at ease almost immediately. She answered my questions candidly, dispelled myths about psychedelic therapy, and relayed her personal experience with the medication and Mindbloom stating that it changed her life for the better.

After a 30-minute call, my clinician stated she felt I would gain a lot from the experience and confirmed that there were no reasons not to proceed with the program. She called in the ketamine prescription which FedEx confirmed I would receive the next day.

Preparing for My First Mindbloom Session

I actually received my “Bloombox” a few days before my initial clinician consult – the contents included a space to store my medicine, an eyemask, a journal and pen, and a wrist blood pressure cuff all bundled in a tidy little fabric briefcase. Honestly, I was quite impressed with the quality of everything Mindbloom sent me.

A bit nervous about the whole endeavor and armed with a copy of Fadiman’s Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide (sure, it’s more for LSD than ketamine, but I figure the concepts are all still there), I set to work learning about how to best facilitate and work through a psychedelic experience. I set up a special area of my home that would serve as my “trip station”, accentuating it with various adornments that align with my own spiritual beliefs. Through my own research and Mindbloom’s preparatory materials, I learned about the importance of set and setting and the one most imperative thing to remember about psychedelic journeys:

To let go, trust the medicine, and be open to whatever experiences my mind brings to the forefront.

Mindbloom Session One

On the day of my session, I followed Mindbloom’s protocol exactly. I didn’t eat for 3 hours prior to the session – possibly the most difficult bit, and one of the reasons I recommend morning trips as opposed to evening – didn’t drink for an hour prior, and took my nausea medication as directed.

The Prep Call
When the time came, I logged into the Mindbloom app and hopped on the Zoom call with the guide that I’d chosen. My guide exuded warmth and care, further reassuring me, as she went through all the protocols for taking my medicine. She also had my peer treatment monitor (in this case, my spouse) appear on camera to ensure I had someone with me.

After exchanging numbers with my peer treatment monitor in case questions arose, my guide had me take my blood pressure reading to ensure it was within an acceptable range and we ended the 30-minute call so I could begin my session.

To take the medicine, it’s important to remember that you are only allowing the tablets to dissolve between your gums and cheek for 7 minutes. After that point, which is demarcated by a chime in the app after starting the audio, you spit the medicine out and rinse your mouth out. Be warned, the ketamine tablets do not taste pleasant. They are very bitter, but I found them pretty tolerable, all things considered.

For every Mindbloom session, you need to set a strong intention to set the tone and theme for your journey. During my guide session, I learned that it’s often wise to frame that intention as a question or command to the medication – for my first session I went with “Show me the peace and happiness that lives within me.”

The Trip
After taking my starting dose of 500mg, I donned my eyemask and laid down to listen to the audio provided by the Mindbloom app. As a note, I’d definitely recommend using noise-canceling headphones if you have them available, as it helps to block out distractions and focus the experience inward.

While I was hoping to have a strong experience straightaway, my first session was pretty mild. No visuals or auditory experiences, but I did feel a bit “floaty” physically. I felt very calm and meditative, and a few times during the session, I felt a smile come over my face for no particular reason. I remember the music feeling particularly vivid and beautiful – perhaps more so than I would usually take note of. My inner clock basically went out the window. The hour session was over in a flash and I felt like maybe only 15 or 20 minutes had gone by.

After the hour session was up, I spent about 30 minutes writing in my journal about the experience and using the Mindbloom app’s built-in voice journaling feature. I tried to relate everything back to the intention I had set for my session and felt that journaling came much easier than it usually does for me. I felt joyous and in a bit of an afterglow immediately after which was immensely pleasant. Even more pleasant since my wife had brought me a bowl of plain rice to staunch my growing hunger.

The Follow-Up Guide Call
After I had some time to come back down to earth and do a bit of journaling, I hopped back on Zoom to debrief with my integration coach. She had me take another blood pressure reading to ensure it hadn’t significantly risen during my experience and discussed my experience with me. My guide discussed with me how my experience aligned with the intention I’d set and what to expect in my remaining sessions.

My guide let me know that I would need to fill out a dosage form for my medical provider, who would review it and change my dosage as appropriate. The form asked questions about my experience and what had happened. Since my trip was on the milder side of things, my provider instructed me to take 1000mg for my next trip.

Since I’d completed my first session, I was also able to select a path or theme in the Mindbloom app that my further treatment would take. There were many options from breaking bad habits to reducing anxiety. Ultimately, I decided “Beyond Depression” was the best fit for my situation. This path influences the theme around the sessions, recommended audio tracks, journaling prompts, and more.

The Days After
The ketamine experience itself can be very valuable, but the real progress happens in between sessions. In the days immediately following my first psychedelic journey, I felt light of heart and spirit. My mood seemed to be improved, for sure, and I felt far more open to new ways of thinking and looking at the world. I consistently journaled about new and interesting topics every day for a few days after my experience.

All-in-all, it’s a pretty incredible feeling for someone who’s felt very unmotivated and flat for the past few months. I feel just a bit more airy and light, and I have a strong feeling this is just a taste of the more profound experiences to come.

Mindbloom Session Two

My second Mindbloom session was to be fully self-guided. Since I chose my path (Beyond Depression), I had a little bit of prep material to work with consisting of an article and a short video. My provider had increased my dose for this experience, so I was going from 500mg to 1000mg. I chose a Saturday morning for my session – mostly, just so I didn’t have to go so long without eating lunch!

As with all sessions, I set an intention for my session – mine today was one that came to me one evening while I was journaling sometime after my first session. It’s framed as a request to the medicine: “Guide me to the path of gentleness.” In this, I wanted to see myself become a more gentle and loving person, and I was hoping the medication could help me understand how to change my behavior to fit that.

The Trip
While my first ketamine experience was pretty mild, I could definitely feel more with this new dose. About a third of the way into the session, I began to experience a visual component that I’d never seen before – a slowly pulsating blue light, as well as some undulating and moving patterns of various colors. While it sounds fairly simple, it’s difficult to describe the beauty and sense of awe I felt from it. Not to mention, I had no concept that this blue light was a “hallucination” or not really there. It was as real to me – and as much a part of me – as my left arm. As I lay there, considering what all of it meant for me, I had a bit of an epiphany.

I could think of this blue light as a manifestation of the gentleness I was seeking. It wasn’t just a light, it was exactly the thing that I was looking for. Better yet, it turned out that gentleness wasn’t composed of a path I needed to follow at all! It was something that already existed within me, intrinsically. The moment that this realization dawned on me was intense. I felt wonderfully at ease and joyous over the idea that what I was seeking was already here (a hallmark of psychedelic experiences, it turns out), and it’s incredibly difficult to describe the weight of this knowledge. It didn’t seem just like an idea, or a vague construct – no, this was a sort of “soul-truth” that I felt to be as real as anything else.

The Comedown
As I was coming back to our standard world of perception, I noticed that the increased dose definitely increased the intensity of the sensations around me and it took quite some time for me to feel “normal” again. I was in a bit of a fog, but, nonetheless, I got some great journaling done about the experience.

With my now customary post-trip bowl of plain rice supplied by my lovely spouse, I jotted down all of the insights I could muster while I was still partially under the effects of the medicine – it was a truly beautiful afterglow.

The Days Afer
After my experience, I noticed a marked increase in my mood, and my post-session survey for my provider echoed this. My score on the depression inventory that Mindbloom uses (the standard PHQ-9) had decreased, and I can say with certainly that my spirit and mood have felt much lighter. I’m deeply looking forward to what other insights I can uncover in future sessions.

Future Mindbloom Sessions

At the time of this publication, I’ve not had any more sessions with Mindbloom. However, I will be completing all 6 sessions and coming back to continually revise and update this article with my most current experience.

The Mindbloom App and Integration Content

A key aspect of any therapeutic psychedelic experience is to integrate those experiences back into the changes you’d like to make in your life. The medicine doesn’t just work on its own – you have to take advantage of the changes in your brain to produce positive effects. That being said, Mindbloom includes many resources for understanding psychedelic therapy, setting intentions and goals, and getting the best from your experience, but falls short in terms of true therapeutic integration.

During the experience, you’ll have three sessions with a Mindbloom integration coach – the first is at your first session, the next is roughly between your third and fourth sessions, and the final session is at the end of the program. You can purchase additional sessions with your coach for $59 per session. In these sessions, you are given the opportunity to work through your experiences, relate them back to the goals you’re trying to accomplish, and try to integrate new, positive habits into your life by leveraging the neuroplasticity that ketamine provides.

In addition to coaching sessions, the Mindbloom app has several components to help keep you on track. Each session includes some preparation materials to set your mind on the goal at hand, but I thought the content was a little light overall and would like to see Mindbloom add more. After each session, Mindbloom includes some ideas for journaling about your experience, as well as a feature for verbally talking out your experiences.

In addition to all of this, Mindbloom hosts “integration circles” which are group sessions facilitated by a guide for people to come together and talk about their experiences. These circles are free to join and I would highly recommend joining one to get the most out of your experience.

How Much Does Mindbloom Cost?

Mindbloom costs $1,176 for new clients. This includes six at-home ketamine treatments, two clinician consults, three guide sessions, ongoing messaging support from your integration guide, and the contents of the “Bloombox.” The total cost for the program is not due upfront. Instead, you pay $99 at the time of sign-up, then pay $359 monthly for 3 months.  Mindbloom doesn’t accept insurance.

Mindbloom has additional pricing plans for returning clients who wish to go through the program again. Returning clients can access care with Mindbloom at a rate of $765 for 6 sessions, or $1,782 for 18 sessions.

Here are Mindbloom cost details:

• New Mindbloom clients – $1,176 for 6 sessions
• Returning clients – $765 for 6 sessions, or $1,782 for 18 sessions
• Additional integration coaching – $59 per session

Who Does Mindbloom Serve?

Mindbloom serves anyone above the age of 18 in 35 US states. It’s intended as a solution for people experiencing moderate-to-severe depression, mild-to-moderate anxiety, burnout, stress, and general adjustment issues. Ketamine treatment works by increasing the neuroplasticity of your brain, allowing you to form new pathways and prune old ones very similarly to the way the brains of young children work. Thus, it allows you to more effectively reevaluate your entrenched thought patterns, habits, and behaviors and affect positive change in your life more easily.

That being said, ketamine-assisted treatment isn’t a good fit for those with severe mental health issues, severe anxiety and panic attacks, a history of hallucinations or other dissociative problems, or uncontrolled high blood pressure.

The states where Mindbloom is not available are:

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma,  Rhode Island

Mindbloom Reviews by Users

Overall, user reviews of the Mindbloom service as a whole seem to be quite positive. While there aren’t many reviews overall compared to some mental health services, you can still get a clear picture that most people enjoyed their time with the company. However, there are a handful of negative reviews centering around isolated provider issues, a lack of therapeutic integration, and a history of technical problems with the mobile app.

Who May Want an Alternative to Mindbloom?

Mindbloom isn’t right for those with a history of ketamine abuse, those who haven’t already been to therapy or psychiatry services, people who experience panic attacks or severe anxiety, or people struggling with severe mental health problems. People with uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure) or high ocular pressure will also need to look elsewhere.

Mindbloom Vs. Competitors

Mindbloom has a few competitors on the market that offer essentially the same or similar treatment. Joyous takes a microdosing approach which sets it apart. Meanwhile, Nue.Life is similar but slightly more expensive than Mindbloom. Better U has more affordable programs but isn’t available in many states. Innerwell has a more robust therapeutic touch but has a far smaller geographic footprint than Mindbloom.

Our Final Verdict – Is Mindbloom Worth It?

Depending on the work you put into the process, Mindbloom could definitely be worth it for you. But, keep in mind that ketamine is just a medication. It’s not going to fix all your problems and it won’t keep you feeling good long term. Instead, to get the most out of your experience, it is absolutely imperative that you put in the work therapeutically. You must be willing to do deep research and reading, plenty of meditation and reflection, and ultimately be open to challenges to what could be some of your most deeply held existential beliefs.

So, if you’re willing and able to put in the effort, then yes, Mindbloom is worth it. If you aren’t ready for that, then no ketamine program will be a good fit for you – instead, you should start with therapy and more traditional psychiatric medications before moving to ketamine-assisted treatment.

History & News of Mindbloom