Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

What is Ketamine?

​

Ketamine is a psychoactive drug classified as a dissociative anesthetic. that has been used in the United States as a safe anesthetic in medical settings since 1970. It has been used as an off-label psychological treatment for depression and anxiety for over 20 years.  

​

For people suffering from treatment-resistant depression or suicidal ideation, ketamine can oftentimes provide immediate relief. While the antidepressant effects tend to be temporary, multiple treatments, especially those in conjunction with psychotherapy, have the potential of reducing symptoms in individuals with depression and other psychological disorders.    

​

Another characteristic of ketamine is that it creates novel states of mind which facilitate psychotherapy in general. Ketamine at low doses creates enhanced awareness of underlying psychodynamics, habitual mental states, and unconscious coping strategies. Familiarity with ketamine states can teach resilience, openness, and equanimity.  

​

What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)?

​

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) uses low and moderate-dose ketamine to enhance and deepen psychotherapy. While ketamine alone can often have an immediate antidepressant effect, the literature suggests that ketamine is most effective when paired with psychotherapy. Change is best facilitated within a structured, supportive psychotherapeutic environment with trained and skilled clinicians who are focused on assisting clients with their issues, hopes, desires, and struggles (set, setting, and integration).  

​

Is KAP right for you?         

 

Ketamine is used off-label to address a variety of mental health disorders, including depression, chronic pain, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and addiction.  

​

Some medical and psychiatric conditions may be a contraindication for KAP and/or need to be treated before you can safely work with ketamine. These conditions will be assessed prior to intake with one of our MD's to determine if you are eligible for KAP.

 

We highly encourage our KAP clients to be in ongoing psychotherapy in conjunction with and after their KAP treatment. We will further discuss this in the intake process and make appropriate referrals to local resources as needed.  ​Additionally, many of our Temenos therapists accept new referrals for on-going psychotherapy, which can be a uniquely beneficial experience to work with a therapist skilled in psychedelic integration work after your ketamine treatment has been completed.

​​

Ketamine as a Psychedelic Medicine

​

In moderate doses, ketamine has psychedelic effects, which have been shown to facilitate profound transpersonal experiences. A ketamine medicine session creates a non-ordinary state of consciousness and may facilitate transpersonal or mystical experiences. These kinds of experiences often expand one’s sense of self and shift one’s understanding of existence. Ketamine may also enable individuals to access their own inner healing intelligence in a manner that is valuable.  

​

Our Temenos clinicians assist clients in processing the experience and its impact. We encourage you to explore additional information about ketamine. We offer some useful resources here. 

​

​​