We recently connected with Adam Gremp and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Adam thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

My business partner and I came up with the idea for NeuConnections when he was going through his own ketamine therapy journey. After struggling with alcohol addiction for decades and seeing how psychedelics had helped me in my journey, he went down similar paths with varying degrees of success. When he finally came to ketamine therapy, (a legal treatment for anxiety, depression, PTSD, addiction, and more) he asked me for guidance. This was a new and novel treatment and there was not much support other than having medical questions answered by the clinicians. Ketamine is a powerful medicine that holds the potential for a psychedelic (mind-manifesting) experience to shake up someone’s perception of themselves and how they fit into the tapestry of the world around them. I gave my friend the support and guidance I would have hoped for based on my years of mentoring in the military, a supportive father figure growing up, and my struggles with trauma and addiction. He immediately recognized the potential of this medicine as a catalyst for change and was able to not only be abstinent from alcohol for over a year, but then make the choice to have a drink, finish it, and not have another. This transformation blew me away and I sought ketamine therapy for myself to see how it could help me process trauma and guilt related to my military experience and my current role as a 911 dispatcher. I also saw the potential of this medicine and therapy but also recognized the lack of support and guidance provided by the clinic where I sought treatment. This is where the two of us recognized the potential for a fully-supported and holistic approach to ketamine therapy that could catalyze true healing of root cause issues allowing someone to live their life more fully and in alignment with their true selves. This led to us founding NeuConnections Ketamine & Wellness Clinic.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I grew up in New Orleans, LA, later moved to Austin, TX, and joined the US Navy at 18 years old. Those experiences shaped my view of natural resources, human interactions with nature, and mental health in high stress environments. After serving onboard a nuclear ballistic missile submarine for most of my enlistment, I moved to Colorado to work in natural resources and sustainability. I wanted to help others see the world around them differently to live in more harmony with each other and their environment. After a few years in the natural resource field, life paved a path to becoming a 911 dispatcher. In working with people in their moments of greatest crisis (much of this time during the pandemic), this helped me fully understand the gravity of mental health problems in our community. After seeking ketamine therapy for myself, I knew more could be done to help people with their mental health beyond the short-term solutions offered when someone is in crisis and what other clinics were providing. At NeuConnections, we provide a fully supported process for each of our clients to truly delve into the trauma, narratives, and social pressures put on them so that they can understand, accept, and move on from these impacts, integrating them for their betterment. The process of using ketamine as a catalyst to change gives each client agency to take their healing and growth into their own hands rather than relying on an antidepressant to help them feel better.
Some of what makes NeuConnections different is that the clinic setting is a therapeutic and inspiring space acknowledging the psychedelic potential of the medicine without overdoing the psychedelia! Each client is fully heard and understood, gets a “Psychedelic Integration Coach” to support them through the process, and uses each session as an opportunity to delve into root cause issues that have defined their life to this point. The highly catered and personalized experience provides relief of symptoms, allows clients to potential to heal from debilitating narratives, sit with the clarity that ketamine provides, feel connected to the universe around them, and understand that there is infinite potential. Our clients learn that their experiences have given them the strength and insight to be who they are, and they can use that strength to help others, rather than hide from the past or feel like it is always chasing them.
We are proud that over 90% of our clients report clinically significant reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms. More than that, we are proud that our clients feel like they have the tools to continue to live their lives and make progress towards the life they want. Ketamine therapy is the spark that lights the fire, and our clients overwhelmingly feel like they have the possibility of a new life informed by the foundation of their past. When people leave their sessions, they often claim “I know what I have to do, and I am excited to do it!”
As a Veteran and former First Responder, it is my personal mission to make this healing modality accessible to First Responders who are still on the job. The stigma of mental health issues, and the concern of a legal medication with psychedelic properties stops those who risk their lives for us in taking care of their own mental health. First responders experience trauma daily, leading to Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and then still having to get back on the job. I am proud that we have been able to work with a few military and veteran non-profit groups that have vetted our organization; but I am even more excited that through work with some first responders, we are building momentum into making this healing modality accessible to more people who are on the front lines of ensure the safety and welfare of our communities.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I graduated college at 31 years old with a degree in Urban Planning and Sustainability, a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) minor, a Top-Secret Clearance, one failed business under my belt, and knowing that I chose to leave the military just about to ascend to the peak where I could coast on my previous work until retirement in ten years. Riding this wave of achievement, struggles, and successes should have been a shoo-in for an entry level job in the field I was pursuing but I was unable to get the job, or the next one, or the one after that. My value and self-worth world came crashing down with these rejections, a government shutdown, a costly move across the country, and debt piling on. I had to work three jobs just to pay the bills. One of these jobs was as a NAPA auto parts delivery driver which took up most of my daytime hours. It paid $13 an hour but finally gave me some time to myself where I could think while making deliveries. I was fortunate to know that this current struggle was temporary and that all of the hard work I had put in before was still part of my character, and would be valued somewhere. One of the deliveries was the fire station and after speaking with the point of contact there enough, they recognized my potential. They recommended I apply for 911 dispatch, and after a rigorous interview and training process, the Sheriff’s Office valued what I had to offer. This was the beginning of my journey into supporting others with their mental health and those struggles are core to who I am and what I know I am capable of.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Client Care. Despite not being the best metric, our clinic is the highest rated on Google in Denver, Colorado. Our clients overwhelmingly feel that they are leaving the clinic with value and insights they can use forever. The number of hugs, thank you gifts, and visits we receive from “alumni” clients is truly humbling. We understand that each person who speaks to us is suffering, has tried so many things to this point, and often this is “their last hope”. We understand they are committing to not only a new and novel approach to their mental health (with plenty of stigma surrounding it), but a substantial time commitment, emotional, and financial investment. This puts a lot of welcome pressure on our team to do our best for our clients. With this understanding of our clients, and the understanding that ketamine therapy is more than medication, but a catalyst for change, we do as much as we possibly can for each client so they get the most out of their investment. With many of our staff having utilized ketamine for their own healing, our clients have providers who understand what they are going through and can relate to them rather than simply treat them. We have a collaborative relationship with our clients and ask them to keep us accountable so that we are working as a team towards their progression.
Our clients leave feeling like they have a new lease on life and share this with their friends and family. An overwhelming number of our clients are referrals from previous clients. Also, the fact that we focus on people graduating from our process rather than coming back to pay our bills certainly must influence how we are seen. I recall with my treatment elsewhere being asked if I would come back for a “booster” session in a month despite not feeling like I needed it. I believe the ketamine industry is still stuck in the pharma-medical model and doesn’t necessarily give each client enough tools or agency to realize they have all they need within themselves, and that medication for an indefinite period is not the answer.
Our diverse staff are allies of and contain members of the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities and we support those who are left unseen or unheard. We work with Veteran non-profit organizations, are breaking down barriers for first responder access, and cultivating a safe environment that helps us reach beyond to support the entire community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://neuconnectionswellness.com/
• Instagram: :neuconnectionswellness
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neuconnectionswellness
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/neuconnections
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/neuconnections-ketamine-and-wellness-clinic-littleton

Image Credits
Emily Takacs, Angie Wilder