What if the answer to the opioid crisis isn’t another pill—but a treatment the VA now covers for veterans? Scarlett Mulligan, PA-C, Air Force veteran, and founder of Novus Behavioral Health, sat down with Trevor on Mind Over Matter to talk about ketamine infusion therapy, why she opened her clinic three months after her own battle with suicidal ideation, and what veterans need to know about alternatives to traditional psychiatric medication.
From Air Force Veteran to Physician Assistant
Scarlett’s path into medicine wasn’t a straight line. After serving in the Air Force, she spent years working her way into PA school while raising a family. Her son was born on July 13, 2001—and her maternity leave ended on September 12th, the day after the world changed. That collision of personal and national crisis shaped everything that came after.
She spent years in clinical settings treating patients with conventional psychiatric medications—SSRIs, SNRIs, the standard toolkit. But she saw the limitations firsthand, both as a provider and as someone who carried her own trauma.
“Anyone who’s in mental health and they say no, I don’t have any trauma—I just think, are you in denial? I definitely earned my seat at the mental health table.”
Why Ketamine Changes the Equation for Veterans
Ketamine infusion therapy works differently than anything else in the psychiatric toolbox. Unlike SSRIs that take weeks to build up and may never work for some patients, ketamine acts on the glutamate system and can produce rapid shifts in treatment-resistant depression—sometimes within hours of the first infusion.
Scarlett explained that the dissociative experience during treatment is actually part of what makes it effective. Studies show the level of dissociation correlates directly with improvement.
“You want to make sure that the patient feels safe, that they can trust you and rely on you to show up for them in a very vulnerable state. If they can’t earn that trust with you, they’re going to have a really hard time dissociating because their ego is going to hang on so tight to stay protected and present.”
The VA Now Covers Ketamine for Veterans
One of the most important takeaways from this episode: the VA now covers ketamine infusion therapy for veterans with service-connected disability and a diagnosis of treatment-resistant depression. Scarlett’s clinic contracted directly with the VA to provide this treatment, removing the financial barrier that kept many veterans from accessing it.
“Part of why I sought you out was to let veterans know that this can be part of their treatment plan because the VA covers it now, 100%. It’s a very expensive treatment, so we contracted with the VA to be able to provide this for veterans who have service-connected disability.”
Breaking the Cycle of Survival Mode
The conversation went deep on what it means to live in constant survival mode—something every veteran understands. Scarlett broke down the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses and how they keep veterans locked into patterns that feel like protection but are actually prison.
“If you’re in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn—if you’re in one of the survival modes—nothing is fun. Nobody got time for fun when you’re in survival.”
This is what makes treatments like ketamine different. Rather than masking symptoms, it creates a neurological opening for the brain to process trauma in ways that traditional talk therapy and medication alone often can’t reach.
Take the Next Step
If you’re a veteran dealing with treatment-resistant depression or PTSD and nothing has worked, ketamine infusion therapy might be worth exploring. Ask your VA provider about coverage, or connect with Scarlett’s clinic, Novus Behavioral Health, through their Instagram or LinkedIn.
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