What is Ketamine?
Classified as a dissociative anesthetic, Ketamine is a prescription medication that is safe, legal, and effective as a psychedelic. Ketamine was first introduced to the medical field in 1964 as an anesthetic. Beyond its anesthetic properties, it has recently been found to provide significant relief for depression, PTSD, anxiety, addiction, and other mental health conditions when used with professional support. Research shows that ketamine stimulates the growth and regrowth of neurons and neural connections in the brain. As an NMDA antagonist, it is believed that ketamine affects glutamate, a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in neuronal activation in the brain.
What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychedelic Therapy (KAPT)?
KAPT combines ketamine treatments under medical supervision with psychotherapy in order to enhance the effectiveness. Ketamine helps bring unconscious material to awareness, facilitating deep personal growth and transformation beyond symptom management. A KAP therapist helps guide a patient through the process more directly and provides a safety anchor for those who experience anxiety or negative feelings that can emerge. These sessions offer a holistic experience, integrating trauma-informed practices, mindfulness, internal family systems (IFS), and somatic therapies.
What to Expect from a Ketamine-Assisted Psychedelic Therapy Session
During your initial consultation and medical review, we will discuss treatment options to help you make an informed decision about whether this treatment is right for you. Before starting KAPT, clients meet with a medical provider to explore the potential risks and benefits. We then offer preparation sessions to set goals and prepare clients for the ketamine experience.
KAPT sessions typically last one to three hours and may include a booster dose. They are tailored to each individual, with ketamine prescribed either intravenous (IV), orally via lozenges, or intramuscularly via injection. Dosages are determined by our medical team and discussed with you beforehand. KAPT often involves multiple sessions to build on previous experiences, allowing for comprehensive personal transformation.
What are the Psychedelic Effects of Ketamine?
Ketamine's unique psychedelic effects include:
- Reduced physical and emotional pain.
- Dissociation, providing new perspectives on life and struggles.
- A deep system reset, leading to euphoria and rest.
- Vivid, imaginal inner visual experiences, from personal memories to transpersonal journeys.
Common after-effects include:
- Lasting emotional relief and system recalibration.
- Reduced symptoms of depression and trauma.
- Increased agency and choice around old patterns.
- Reduced withdrawal symptoms.
- Less reactivity and more proactive stress management.
- Reduced physical pain and tension.
- Decreased suicidal ideation.
Administration Methods: IM, Oral (lozenge or troche), and IV Ketamine
Ketamine administration methods are tailored to each individual, with ketamine prescribed either intravenous (IV), orally via lozenges, or intramuscularly (IM) via injection. Dosages are determined by our medical team and discussed with you beforehand.
- Intravenous (IV) Ketamine: Provides a slower, steadier experience, commonly used for maintenance and chronic condition recovery.
- Intramuscular (IM) Ketamine: Offers a more immersive, flexible experience without being tethered to an IV drip. It reduces side effects like nausea and enhances comfort.
- Oral (Lozenge) Ketamine: Effective for psycholytic experiences, it is less immersive than IM but more accessible. Lozenges have a bitter taste and take longer to onset.
Legal and Compliance Aspects
Our onboarding process includes multiple intake forms and a medical review with our team. This ensures a safety assessment for ketamine and the necessary prescriptions for IV, lozenges, or IM shots. We work with a DEA-licensed provider to ensure compliance with all laws and regulations.
The Risk of Ketamine Abuse
Ketamine, while offering numerous therapeutic benefits as a prescription medication, also carries a potential for misuse. Although ketamine does not lead to chemical dependence in the same manner as narcotics, there is substantial evidence indicating its potential for abuse. Historically, ketamine has been linked to illicit use within rave scenes and various underground psychedelic communities.
Costs of Ketamine Therapy
Costs vary, and our intake specialist will guide you through the process and answer any questions. Please note that infusions for the program are not covered by insurance. At this time, most major insurance companies do not cover ketamine infusion therapy.e
