Music for your Spravato session: the playlists we recommend.
Music is one of the simplest ways to make a Spravato session easier. Calm music without lyrics gives your mind something gentle to follow while the floaty feeling comes and goes. Our team are big fans of the free Spravato playlists made by Justin Page, a jazz drummer who began composing for these sessions after his own first treatment.
What music should you listen to during Spravato?
The best music during Spravato is calm, steady and without lyrics, so it carries you rather than pulling your attention. Justin Page's five free Listening to Spravato playlists are built for the stages of a session, and each one is on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music.
| Playlist | Best for |
|---|---|
| Official Ambient Playlist | Start here. Designed for the whole session, from the first minutes to coming back. |
| Gentle Love Safety Playlist | The whole session, especially if you're feeling anxious. |
| Classical Playlist | The first part of the session, when the effects begin, for anxious first-timers. |
| Windham Hill Playlist | Any part of the session, especially the beginning. |
| Jazz Playlist | The later, settling part of the session, once you know what to expect. |
Playlist names link to Spotify. For Apple Music and YouTube Music, use Justin's free playlists page. Playlists by Justin Page, author of Listening to Spravato: Sound, Silence, and the Medicine of Music (Barnes & Noble Press, 2026; on Amazon). Shared with his permission.
How do you set up music for a Spravato session?
- Download the playlist before you come, so nothing depends on the signal in the room.
- Avoid ads. An ad breaking in halfway through is jarring; use an ad-free account if you can.
- Pick it before your dose and press play as you settle in, so there are no decisions to make later.
- Bring your own headphones, or use the noise-cancelling headphones and eye masks we keep on hand.
Why does music help during Spravato?
Music helps during Spravato because it gives your attention somewhere calm to rest while your sense of time and space shifts. People who try to fight the floaty feeling usually find it harder; people who let music carry them usually find it gentler.
Two things to skip: lyrics, which pull you back into words and thinking, and songs you know well, which can bring up memories and feelings mid-session. Unfamiliar instrumental music works best.
Playlists made for ketamine infusions aren't always a good fit either. Spravato comes on faster and settles sooner, and Justin explains the difference in why ketamine playlists don't work with Spravato.
What else can you do during a Spravato treatment?
During a Spravato treatment, most people listen to music, rest with their eyes closed or doze. A session has a natural shape, and music can follow it:
- Settling in: gentle ambient music as the effects begin.
- The middle: spacious, atmospheric music that stays in the background.
- Coming back: warm, soft music as the effects ease.
- The second hour: something quieter still while you rest before going home.
Some prefer company: one of our Sherpas, the specially trained team members who look after you on treatment days, is always on standby to sit with you. Reading and screens usually wait until the second hour, when the effects have eased.
The first session is the one to prepare for.
The effects are usually strongest in the first sessions and gentler after that. Choosing your music ahead of the first one is the single most useful thing you can do. What Spravato feels like.
Twice a week to start: a lot of good music.
Eight sessions in the first month and fewer after. How to get the most out of Spravato.
30 doses
Every day.
Side effectsEvery single day: sedation, dry mouth, sexual side effects, weight gain.
8 visits
Twice a week.
4 visits
Down to once a week.
2–4 visits a month
Down to once a week or every other week. Dashed: weeks you may or may not need.
Side effectsMostly gone by the end of each visit.
Call us and we'll walk you through the day.
From what to bring to what to listen to, our team will help you plan your first treatment.
Name, date of birth and insurer. We check your plan and call you back. No commitment.
Check my coverageRegister once, and our team starts your insurance check and reaches out to schedule your evaluation.
Request an evaluationWhat people ask about music and Spravato.
What is the best music for a Spravato session?
Calm instrumental music without lyrics, ideally songs you don't already know, chosen before your dose. Our team recommends Justin Page's free Listening to Spravato playlists on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music.
Can I bring my own headphones to Spravato?
Yes. We also keep noise-cancelling headphones and eye masks on hand.
Can I watch TV or use my phone during Spravato?
Most people find screens uncomfortable in the first hour. Music and closed eyes are easier, and many people use their phone again in the second hour.
Should I listen to music with lyrics during Spravato?
Usually not. Lyrics tend to pull you into thinking, while instrumental music lets you rest.