Velvets Edge

Ketamine has quickly become one of the most talked-about — and misunderstood — tools in mental health. Some see it as a miracle cure. Others are skeptical or uneasy about the hype. But what if the real story isn’t about a breakthrough drug at all — and instead about how the brain actually heals? In this episode, Kelly sits down with Sharon Niv, cognitive psychologist and co-founder of Joyous PBC, to unpack what’s really happening beneath the headlines. Sharon shares how psycholytic, daily low-dose ketamine works differently than the high-dose, clinic-based experiences most people hear about — and why a gentler, habit-focused approach may lead to more sustainable change. Together, they explore why so many of us are anxious, burned out, and searching for relief right now; how neuroplasticity allows the brain to genuinely rewrite old emotional patterns; and why symptom relief alone often isn’t enough. Sharon explains what people tend to uncover when the nervous system so