Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy

What Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, also known as KAP, is a cutting-edge approach to mental health treatment that helps people resolve feelings of “stuckness” and symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and PTSD. KAP involves two elements: the medical process of administering ketamine and psychological counseling with a licensed therapist to help process the experience.

Where other mental health interventions have fallen short, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is particularly effective for treatment-resistant conditions.

The Scientific History Of Ketamine

Ketamine is a psychoactive drug that was first developed in medical settings as an anesthetic. Since the 1970s, ketamine has been listed on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines. And for the past several decades, sub-anesthetic doses of ketamine have been used in therapeutic settings to treat chronic mental health issues. The FDA approved of ketamine therapy for treatment-resistant depression in 2019, making it the first psychedelic drug to be regulated for widespread clinical use.

Countless studies have been done on ketamine, with both scientific and anecdotal results supporting its effectiveness. In fact, Yale professor Ronald Duman has stated that “the rapid therapeutic response of ketamine in treatment-resistant patients is the biggest breakthrough in depression research in a half-century.” ¹

Yet, more and more evidence suggests that Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is not only useful for treatment-resistant depression—KAP can help a wide range of people experiencing chronic mental health symptoms find lasting healing and relief. For anyone feeling stuck in a conventional psychotherapy process or seeking greater insight and personal development, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy can be a safe, meaningful tool in our work together.

How Does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Work?

line drawing of new seedling growing in brain

Our brain’s NMDA receptors are primarily responsible for learning and memory. At low doses, ketamine blocks these receptors, immediately producing anti-depressant effects. Simultaneously, ketamine stimulates AMPA receptors, effectively rebooting neural circuits, regulating stress responses, and improving overall mood. Ketamine promotes neuroplasticity on the whole, allowing for heightened recovery and resilience.

With an expanded state of awareness, our perceptions can be changed, and we can experience freedom from the typical fears and worries that dominate our mindset. When used in conjunction with psychotherapy, ketamine treatment facilitates positive growth, change, and deeper spiritual development.

Ketamine Treatment At Creative Arts Therapy Source

At our practice, KAP is done in partnership with an organization called Journey Clinical. The Journey Clinical medical team is available to support you in all medical aspects, while we will guide you during the psychotherapy portion of ketamine treatment. After you’ve undergone an initial evaluation and received an appropriate dosage from Journey, KAP can begin.

Typically, ketamine dosing sessions last for one to two hours and are done either in-office or remotely via telehealth. During this time, you will administer your ketamine lozenge and then remain in a comfortable reclined position with an eye mask on. You are likely to quickly experience psychedelic effects or a shift in consciousness during the peak ketamine experience, which usually lasts from 20 to 40 minutes. After that, we will use the counseling portion of the session to reflect on your experience.

Because Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy creates space for novel ideas and expanded consciousness, art can be a particularly useful tool during treatment. As you reflect on your ketamine experience, you can use various art media to explore and express feelings. Art Therapy sessions will be designed to help you fully integrate the ketamine experience.

line drawing of hands cradling new seedling

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Is A Meaningful Treatment For Chronic Pain And Anguish

We have long seen the value of working in non-ordinary states of consciousness to facilitate meaningful insight and lasting change. As Art Therapists, we view art as the doorway to the unconscious—ketamine treatment serves to enhance this process and make it more immediate.

With this non-threatening yet transformative approach to Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, our clients can finally end chronic suffering, whether they’re struggling with complex grief, clinical anxiety, or treatment-resistant depression. KAP is not a “one and done” option. It usually takes clients some time to stabilize, but most experience relief from certain symptoms immediately, with chronic issues often being entirely resolved after ongoing treatment. Ketamine offers hope to the enormous number of folks who have spent countless hours and dollars on other treatments that have fallen short.