Psychedelic therapy refers to the therapeutic use of psychedelic medicines like ketamine, Psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA. Studies have shown that when taken in a safe environment with therapeutic support, psychedelics can rapidly relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety. In psychedelic therapy, the participant must first undergo a medical and psychiatric intake to ensure the experience will be the right option for them. Next, the psychiatric team prepares them for the experience beforehand, discussing what to expect and how to ease their mindset leading up to it.
With ketamine-assisted therapy, on the day of treatment, a medical professional administers the psychedelic, intramuscularly, orally or through an iv while the participant lays down with an eye mask and listens to music. A guide, known as an integrator, provides breathing techniques and reassurance if adverse effects should arise. The dosing session is followed by an integration session to recount their experience, describe their feelings during and after, talk through lingering questions, and identify key insights or takeaways.
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy—KAP works with your conscious mind in a therapeutic process that augments the possibility for healing, growth and enhanced awareness of self and others, beyond medication alone. Ketamine when combined with psychotherapy can have long lasting results, particularly in cases of depression and PTSD, with just several doses. Book a Consultation call with our team. Once we begin our work, we decide together where you get to go and grow, then we come up with a treament plan for a clear path forward.
Ketamine was first approved by the FDA in 1970 and has been found to be an extremely safe and short-acting dissociative anesthetic and analgesic (pain reliever). It is FDA-approved for many indications including being the recommended anesthesia for children in emergency and operating rooms.
Ketamine has been in use for a long time and therefore has a lot of data collected on its use and safety. Ketamine has a high safety profile, meaning it is a very safe drug and has a predictable way of acting from person to person. It is, however, a medication and like any medication there is always some degree of risk. Since it works on different receptors than many antidepressants it can also be safe to use if people are taking certain prescription medications, although there are exceptions. Before starting any medication consultation with a trained physician is recommended and discussion with your primary therapist and/or psychiatrist is required. There are a few risk factors or potential complications that may exclude you from being eligible for ketamine treatment, as it may not be the right drug for you. In addition, to ensure the highest degree of safety, following the directions of your medical/therapy team is essential and immediate communication if you are experiencing adverse reactions.
The effects of ketamine, often described as enjoyable by most patients, last for around 45 minutes up to 1.5 hours. These sensations can lead to a sense of detachment from your body and promote alterations in perception that often carry an expansive quality. Your physical and verbal capabilities will be diminished during this time. Following the fading of these effects, the rest of our session will be dedicated to providing you with the opportunity to reflect upon and converse about your encounter. Although articulating the experience might prove challenging, individuals frequently perceive that the insights they acquire become more lucid.
The effects from a psychedelic dose of ketamine are usually felt within 10 to 15 minutes but every person has a slightly different experience. Paticipants may experience:
If you are experiencing any of the following conditions you will not be able to receive a ketamine infusion: