Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
Research is showing that Ketamine is effective in treating anxiety, depression and trauma. Ketamine has been used safely in clinical settings for decades now. It is currently the only legal form of psychedelic medicine available for clinical use (MDMA and Psilocybin are currently undergoing phase 3 FDA clinical trials). Ketamine has been termed a “dissociative anesthetic” and has been used as an anesthetic (only at very high doses) since the 1960’s.
I provide KAP within a larger context of ongoing “regular” therapy. Anyone interested in working with me must be willing to be in an ongoing therapy relationship. I do not offer services to those who are just curious and want to give it a try without also deepening into mindfulness-based experiential therapy before, during, and after KAP.
Ketamine has positive and unique biological, experiential, and psychological impacts. It induces a time-out from ordinary mind and promotes an openness to the expansiveness of a different sense of self. The experience is generally gentle in comparison to the other “classic psychedelics.” When provided in the right container ketamine promotes respite, insight gained from a different perspective, meditative presence, and recovery from depression and the lingering effects of trauma.
Ketamine and other psychedelics appear to disable what researchers are calling the “default mode network.” This frees up other parts of the brain to process and perceive meaning and experience outside of our usual repetitive and often dysfunctional neuronal patterns. It is this different process which seems to set aside our usual psychological defenses allowing for deep and profound therapy sessions.
In addition to being a powerful aid in psychotherapeutic work, recent clinical studies are pointing to Ketamine producing neurogenesis which may be the cause of the decrease in depression symptoms that are seen. In other words, new neural networks which are more functional may be developed.
Most of the therapeutic work being done with Ketamine takes place in a clinical setting and includes very little, if any, interaction with others. This can be a cold and lonely experience and completely misses what we know from attachment research about the healing power of relationship. While researchers cite the benefits of neurogenesis and “ego dissolution” it is my belief that this is not enough. Just as taking an antidepressant alone isn’t enough, Ketamine therapy is maximized with relational connection. I offer the benefits of Ketamine combined with experiential, somatic, and relational methods which often results in profound therapy sessions. Because we know from current research that “trauma is in the body” working with the nervous system while in KAP sessions is a crucial aspect of resolving trauma symptoms such as depression and anxiety.
If you are curious and want to know more about KAP give me a call or send me an email. I am happy to answer any questions that you may have!