Carl Spitzer has been taking care of his neighbors since 1995, first as an ER doctor at MarinHealth, and now providing ketamine therapy for folks struggling with depression, anxiety and PTSD.
What do you do?
I’m the founder and medical director at Innate Ketamine Therapy in San Rafael. I work with my wife, Tia Mallette, who’s a nurse and my co-therapist.
Where do you live?
I live in the Sun Valley neighborhood of San Rafael, walking distance from the clinic. I’ve always hated commuting. I’m grateful to work very close to where I live.
How long have you lived in Marin?
I moved to Mill Valley in 1995, and raised my kids here. Don’t tell anybody, but Marin is an awesome place to live.
Where can we find you when you’re not at work?
Out walking our three dogs on the fire roads above San Rafael, swimming laps at the JCC or hanging out in my backyard eating the quesabirria tacos from Betzy’s Tacos in my neighborhood.
If you had to convince someone how awesome Marin is, where would you take them?
A hike down Steep Ravine on a sunny day when the creeks are flowing, a kayak paddle around Richardson Bay and/or a drive through the Robin Williams Tunnel to catch the view of the bridge and the sunset from the Headlands. There’s so much natural beauty here!
What’s one thing Marin is missing?
Diversity.
What’s one bit of advice you’d share with your fellow Marinites?
Relax, you’ve arrived. Kindness is everything.
If you could invite anyone to a special dinner, who would they be?
Albert Einstein? Stephen Hawking? Buddha? All three? I believe that the ultimate nature of our reality is much, much weirder and more wonderful than we perceive. I’d love to chat with folks who seem to have a keen understanding of, and appreciation for, the deep mystery there.
What is some advice you wish you knew 20 years ago?
Don’t believe everything you think. To paraphrase Jack Kornfield, “My mind is a thought factory. Unfortunately, the quality of the product sometimes isn’t up to snuff.”
What is something that in 20 years from now will seem cringeworthy?
This insane addiction that I have to the glowing slab of glass in my pocket.
Big question. What is one thing you’d do to change the world?
Dismantle capitalism in favor of a kinder, more egalitarian economic system.
Learn more about Spitzer at innateketamine.com.
Nish Nadaraja was on the founding team at Yelp, serves on the San Anselmo Arts Commission and probably needs to try some of Spitzer’s therapy.
