Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy

KETAMINE IS CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE FOR WHAT IS POSSIBLE FROM A THERAPY

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is an office-based treatment using ketamine, a medication well known to medicine, with new indication for the treatment of depression and other treatment resistant mental health issues.

What is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy?

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a medicine assisted therapy that provides clients access to healing in a new and innovative way. In 2019, ketamine was approved by the FDA as a new medication for the treatment of treatment resistant depression. It is also used to treat other treatment resistant mental health conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, OCD, eating disorders, substance abuse disorders, and others.

My husband, Dan Gross, NP, CNS (psychiatric nurse practitioner), and I work as a team to provide an individualized approach to working with ketamine. KAP is an in-office treatment, and we collaborate with you and your existing treatment team (therapist/prescriber) to craft a ketamine therapy that meets your healing needs.

Ketamine therapy can be provided in different ways and in different settings. In our practice, we work within a psychotherapeutic format in a relaxed office setting, and use sublingual lozenges for medication delivery. We work to understand your particular healing needs, and focus on creating a relationship with you to create optimal healing conditions.

Ketamine is a flexible medicine and can be used at multiple dose points for different therapeutic purposes. Lower dose ketamine, often referred to as psycholytic or relational dose ketamine, acts as a lubricant to access therapeutic material that might be difficult to access in a traditional psychotherapy. Psychedelic (mind/soul manifesting) doses allow one to access unconscious material and inner healing wisdom for deep and lasting change. In both instances, ketamine is applied as a catalyst for healing within a psychotherapeutic framework.

Our Approach

We think about ketamine in two complimentary ways. We think about it as both a medication and as a medicine.

As a medication it does incredible things in the brain. It is neuroprotective and allows the brain to create new pathways and receptors. It has been shown to be a rapid antidepressant, and can bring relief for pain. There is also research showing ketamine opens a window of increased neuroplasticity, aiding in behavior change when used in combination with behavioral therapy. You can work with ketamine purely as a medication and have it administered in a medical setting without adjunct psychotherapy services, and you are likely to have positive results.

When ketamine is worked with as a medicine, however, it also works at the level of the heart and soul. In a psychedelic medicine framework, ketamine lifts a veil between our conscious mind and unconscious mind. In this treatment modality, we are guiding you to be in touch with your own widsom and to trust your medicine experience to illuminate the path to healing. Essentially, we are “making visible the soul” (the root meaning of psychedelic is “mind-manifesting” or “soul-revealing”) in order to best understand the way to work toward wholeness.

By working with ketamine within the context of a psychotherapeutic treatment, we are harnessing both the benefits of ketamine as a medication and as a healing medicine.

In our practice, we pride ourselves in creating deep trust through relationship development to facilitate the ability to release into your experience and to increase the likelihood of a positive and healing treatment.

We also focus on the creation of an optimal “set and setting” through intention setting work and the use of a ceremonial container. In addition,we highlight integration practices for you to do with us, or with your existing therapy providers, to augment the benefit of ketamine treatment and create a more robust change pattern.

OUR OFFICE FOR KETAMINE-ASSISTED SESSIONS

How do I know if KAP is right for me?

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy is not right for everyone, and some people will be better served in different formats. We believe in educating yourself about the different routes of medication delivery (IV, IM, nasal spray, sublingual lozenge) and delivery settings (IV clinic, therapy office) so you can find the right treatment.

We will talk with you about your individualized needs and assess whether or not we may be of service or if your needs are best met with another treatment modality. We want you to have a positive and healing experience, and will talk through all of your treatment options to help you find the best fit.

Do you take insurance for KAP?

KAP is an “out-of-pocket” treatment and is not covered by insurance in our practice. We recommend you research other ketamine offerings to understand time and financial investment as it can differ across treatment modalities. Our modality includes a psychotherapeutic component in addition to medication delivery, which is reflected in both cost and time investment.

Do I need to leave my current therapist or other providers to work with you?

No. We provide KAP as an adjunct service to clients with existing providers to help treat symptoms in a new way, or to move through therapeutic blockages. You are encouraged to maintain your existing therapeutic relationships, and we provide information to your providers to coordinate your care and optimize your ketamine work.

For those looking for an integrated approach and do not have a current therapist, I weave KAP into my personal psychotherapy practice as indicated.

KAP Inquiry

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RESOURCES

We recommemnd learning about the different ways ketamine can be used and finding the right fit for you. Here are a few podcasts and articles on ketamine to get you started.

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ARTICLES: