Mental Wellness Treatment at Vance Medical
At Vance Medical, we believe there is a better approach to mental health than the one-size-fits-all medication model that has left so many patients struggling. Before entering the world of integrative medicine — and even before becoming a family physician — Dr. Vance completed a psychiatry internship at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. There, he saw firsthand both the shortage of mental health providers and how heavily the field relies on medications that often come with significant side effects and uncertain long-term outcomes.
We believe mental illness has roots — and that addressing those roots, rather than simply managing symptoms, is how real healing begins.
Schedule a Mental Wellness Consultation — Call Vance Medical Today
1001 N. Meridian Rd · Meridian, ID 83642 · Tue–Thu 9am–5pm
A Different Approach to Mental Health
The Brain Nutrition Connection
Emerging research suggests that many mental health conditions are rooted not in personal weakness or a simple ‘chemical imbalance,’ but in nutrient deficiency, genetic factors, and impaired brain chemistry. Patients with depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders frequently have genetic defects — such as MTHFR mutations — that impair their ability to process certain nutrients critical for neurotransmitter production.
At Vance Medical, we address these root causes directly. We offer targeted supplements to support brain nutrition including Lavela, Kava Calm, Methyl Protect, Niacinamide, B12, and EMP Lightning Stiks — each selected to support specific areas of mood and cognitive function.
IV Ketamine Therapy for Depression, PTSD & Anxiety
Ketamine has emerged as one of the most significant breakthroughs in psychiatric medicine in decades. Multiple clinical studies confirm it has a faster-acting effect on depression, PTSD, and anxiety than any traditional antidepressant — often producing meaningful relief within 24–72 hours, even in patients who have tried multiple medications without success.
At Vance Medical, IV ketamine is administered in a controlled, physician-supervised clinical environment. Vital signs are continuously monitored, lights are dimmed, and patients relax with an eye mask and calming music throughout each infusion. Typically, six separate treatments are given over a two-to-three week period for the best sustained results.
Conditions Ketamine May Help
- Treatment-resistant major depressive disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Suicidal ideation
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Fibromyalgia and chronic pain
- Neurologic effects of mold toxicity
The PTSD Protocol
Proprietary PTSD Protocol
Vance Medical offers a proprietary PTSD Protocol — a combination of neural reflex therapy and neural therapy designed for patients dealing with post-traumatic stress, and more broadly with any post-traumatic or high-stress experience. It’s built to address both the psychological and physiological dimensions of trauma.
This is not talk therapy. During a session, the patient is gently guided to bring the specific trauma to mind so that the emotional and physiological response tied to it can be addressed and released through the manual therapies. Patients don’t need to describe the event in detail — a one- or two-word reference is enough.
The protocol works best for traumas that occurred in the past. As the session progresses, the emotional charge attached to the memory typically diminishes, so that recalling the event tends to feel neutral rather than distressing. Most patients feel deeply relaxed afterward, and for many, a single session is enough to settle a specific trauma.
Each session generally focuses on one trauma at a time. For patients carrying severe or complex trauma, Dr. Vance recommends beginning with a less significant event for the first two to three sessions, allowing the body to learn how to process these memories before approaching the most difficult ones.
The PTSD Protocol does not involve ketamine (ketamine is offered separately under IV Therapy). Sessions typically take 30–45 minutes and are often combined with the Breathing Protocol in the same visit — the Breathing Protocol first to bring the patient into a fully relaxed state, then the PTSD Protocol to address the trauma while the patient remains relaxed.
The Breathing Protocol
The Breathing Protocol is a multi-part, hands-on treatment that combines neural therapy, neural reflex therapy, and targeted injections. It works on the muscles and tender points of the chest wall and upper back that hold tension and contribute to tight, effortful breathing — and it produces a deep, whole-body state of relaxation.
Most patients notice two things after a session: their breathing feels freer and easier than it has in a long time, and they feel profoundly relaxed.
The protocol combines four procedures applied together:
Infraspinatus Respiratory Reflex
Small injections of procaine or lidocaine into tender areas of the bilateral infraspinatus muscles (over the shoulder blades). This technique targets a reflex relationship between these muscles and the mechanics of breathing.
Neural Reflex Therapy (NRT)
A light-touch manual technique that releases tender areas on the chest wall, relaxing the surrounding muscles and typically producing significant whole-body relaxation.
Tickle Therapy
A light-touch application of local anesthetic across the chest wall that does not penetrate the skin. Painless and often mildly ticklish, it adds to the cumulative relaxation of the session.
Lung Boost
A targeted manual technique that helps the chest wall and breathing muscles move more freely, so many patients feel they can take a fuller, easier breath right away.
The full protocol usually takes 45–60 minutes and involves palpation and manual release of the chest wall, so access to the torso is required. A gown is provided, and for female patients a female staff member is present for the entire session.
The Breathing Protocol is often paired with the PTSD Protocol in a single visit: the Breathing Protocol is done first to bring the patient into a fully relaxed state, and the PTSD Protocol then addresses the underlying trauma while the patient remains relaxed.
Neural Reflex Therapy for Mental Health
Neural Reflex Therapy is a gentle manual therapy that works by stimulating specific nerve reflexes to calm the mind and body, and to support correct processing of memories. It is highly effective for anxiety, phobias, and PTSD — and many patients report feeling significantly calmer and less burdened by intrusive thoughts within just a few minutes of treatment.
Gentle Neurologic Reset
For people who are particularly stressed, one treatment that can often provide very rapid relaxation is the Gentle Neurologic Reset — a treatment in which the Tickle Therapy (light-touch application of local anesthetic) is applied over the entire surface area of the body. This provides a gentle, calming stimulus to the nervous system, and can often in 15–20 minutes provide significant relaxation, allowing people to calm down very quickly. Because the treatment requires exposure, for female patients a female staff member is always present during the entire procedure.
MTHFR & The Genetic Connection to Mental Illness
MTHFR is an extremely common genetic variant. Dr. Vance’s protocols are designed specifically to address this underlying biochemical factor.
Much of the problem with MTHFR is an imbalance of methylation (the attachment of a carbon and three hydrogen atoms to another molecule). Too little methylation and people become anxious and depressed. Too much and they become irritable.
Conditions We Treat
- Major depressive disorder
- Treatment-resistant depression
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Panic attacks
- Brain fog and cognitive decline
- Mood disorders
- Fibromyalgia with mood components
- MTHFR-related mental health conditions
- Stress and burnout
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ketamine therapy safe for mental health treatment?
Yes. At Vance Medical, all ketamine infusions are administered by a licensed physician at carefully controlled doses with continuous vital sign monitoring. Ketamine has been used safely in medical settings for over 50 years and is on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines.
How quickly does ketamine work for depression?
Many patients report noticeable improvement in mood within 24–72 hours of their first infusion — significantly faster than traditional antidepressants, which typically take weeks to show effect.
What if I've tried multiple antidepressants without success?
Treatment-resistant depression is one of the primary reasons patients come to Vance Medical. Ketamine works through a completely different mechanism than traditional antidepressants and has helped many patients for whom nothing else worked.
Do I need to describe my trauma in detail for the PTSD Protocol?
No. Patients only need to provide a brief one- or two-word description of the event being treated. We prefer to not hear details of your trauma.
Ready to Take the Next Step? Call Vance Medical to Schedule a Mental Wellness Consultation
1001 N. Meridian Rd · Meridian, ID 83642 · Tue–Thu 9am–5pm