Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy provides an at-home treatment option to combat depression, anxiety, trauma, and pain. You may experience relief within hours after your first treatment.
Who is KAP for?
Are you living with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder? Do you experience high levels of stress, chronic pain, or alcohol addiction?
If you answered “yes” to any of these, Ketamine assisted psychotherapy may be a helpful treatment option for you. Clinical trials have shown the use of ketamine to be an effective treatment option for multiple mental health disorders.
The Medicine
Ketamine was first synthesized as a psychoactive drug in 1962. Since 1970, Ketamine has been safely used as an FDA-approved anesthetic. Over the past two decades, providers have been prescribing Ketamine off-label to treat depression, anxiety, chronic pain, PTSD, OCD, neuropathic pain, and other mental health and pain-related conditions. Due to the rapid onset of antidepressant effects, Ketamine has been shown to offer prompt relief from emotional and physical pain.
How does it work?
Ketamine works by strengthening neural connections in the brain which have become weakened from chronic stress and depression. When administered, the medication binds to the NMDA receptor causing a release of the neurotransmitter, glutamate. The surge in glutamate causes growth factors such as BDNF to be released which in turn, helps to strengthen neural connections and synapses.
The Process for My At-Home Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy Program
1. Intake – COMPLETE A TELEHEALTH EDUCATIONAL CONSULT
I will provide an outline of our oral ketamine at-home treatment program and discuss how our program treats mental health and pain-related conditions. I refer you to a medical professional (through my affiliation with Kensho Wellbeing) who does a separate medical intake by telehealth or phone. From there, we will determine an appropriate dosage and treatment plan specialized just for you. From the time of medical intake completion, you should receive your prescription medication by mail within 7-10 days.
2. Prep – CREATING SETTING & INTENTION
Setting intentions is an integral part of psychedelic therapy. You may be familiar with the phrase, “set and setting”. “Set” refers to the mindset or mental state of the experiencer. “Setting” describes the physical and social environment around them. By creating intentions prior to your ketamine treatment, you can shape and manifest the right “set” for your experience. Setting intentions can look like deliberate thoughts about what you’d like to learn or gain from your treatment. This practice of intentionality alongside our help in creating a healing setting for your at-home treatment can substantially increase the likelihood that you have a positive and therapeutic experience.
3. Treatment – THE EXPERIENCE
You will receive your ketamine prescription by mail prior to your treatment appointment. At the time of your session, I will provide you with instruction and guidance throughout your experience.
Effects from the ketamine lozenges occur within 15-20 minutes after they’ve dissolved. You can expect a peak experience within about 40 minutes with dissipating effects for the remaining 1-2 hours. During your treatment, you will have the opportunity to explore your inner self with the support of a psychotherapist while knowing that you are in a safe and comfortable environment.
4. Integration – REFLECTION AND CONTINUAL GROWTH
Once your treatment is completed, you will have the opportunity to reflect and contemplate on your experience. I encourage you to journal about your session and revisit topics that you thought about while you were setting your intentions for the session. Together with me, you’ll be able to make sense of your experience and utilize gained insight to create meaningful action in your daily life.
As a general rule of thumb, treatment is done as a series of 4-6 experiences, depending on the issue.
Contact me for more details!