Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
What is Ketamine Assisted Therapy?
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (known as KAP) is an innovative, evidence-based approach that combines the therapeutic benefits of Ketamine with traditional psychotherapy to help individuals overcome resistant depression, anxiety, OCD and trauma. Ketamine, a safe dissociative anesthetic that has been used for decades in medical settings, is now being recognized for its potential to treat a variety of mental health conditions when used in a therapeutic environment.
KAP involves the use of Ketamine in a clinical setting under the supervision of licensed professionals. During the session, Ketamine helps to disrupt negative thought patterns, allowing patients to experience a shift in their perception and emotional state. This altered state of consciousness is paired with psychotherapy, where the therapist guides the individual through conversations, reflections, and exercises to work through unresolved emotional issues, trauma, or mental health conditions.
How does it work?
Ketamine works by gently bringing clients into an altered state of consciousness where processing difficult material may become easier. Clients also experience a psychedelic-like journey into deeper parts of themselves.
Ketamine also has a positive impact on the brain itself. Ketamine works by rewiring neural pathways to help you heal and grow. It targets the neurotransmitter glutamate, a different neurotransmitter than the ones typically impacted by anti-depressants. Ketamine can cause the brain to undergo a period of openness and expansion called “neuroplasticity” where deeper emotional insights and personal growth becomes possible. In addition, Ketamine stimulates the brain’s ability to form new neural connections, potentially leading to lasting positive changes.
What makes our Ketamine program unique?
Many Ketamine programs focus solely on administering Ketamine infusions. We combine Ketamine with Psychotherapy, as well as EMDR when appropriate, for the best possible outcome. We are experienced Licensed Psychotherapists with an additional certification in providing Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. Often times clients will have a profound transformational experience, and we can help you integrate this experience into your everyday life. We use a safe and supportive office environment for treatment sessions and stay in the room with you during the entire KAP session to monitor progress and to ensure the best outcome from the treatment.
FAQs
How is the Ketamine administered?
We use Ketamine Lozenges taken by mouth and supervised by your Psychotherapist for proper administration. We partner with Journey Clinical Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners to provide a medical assessment to determine whether Ketamine would be beneficial for you. Journey Clinical determines the appropriate dose and mails the lozenges to your home which you bring with you to your KAP session at Synergy.
What does Ketamine feel like?
The felt experience of Ketamine is usually gentle, introspective and positive. Our clients often report sensations of weightlessness and a dreamlike state. Each session typically lasts 20-30 minutes but prepare to be in a Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy session for up to 3 hours including preparation, Psychotherapy and relaxation afterward.
How long does it take to see results?
Some clients see improvement right after their first session. For others it can take a few more sessions to feel results. Reseach on KAP shows most clients experience 89% improvement after 4 sessions. In addition to immediate symptom relief, Ketamine can help create new neural connections, facilitate emotional healing and provide deeper insights that can lead to long lasting lifestyle changes.