Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)

What is Ketamine Assisted Therapy (KAP) and how can it help me?

Ketamine acts as a:

-Dissociative anesthetic

-Sedative

-Painkiller

-Novel and rapidly acting antidepressant

-Tool for psychospiritual exploration

It is used to treat:

-PTSD

-Social Anxiety (social avoidance, rejection sensitivity)

-Generalized Anxiety disorder

-Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

-Suicidality

-Pessimistic thinking

-Anhedonia (lack of pleasure)

Some of its benefits are that it has:

Rapid antidepressant effects

High response rates

Mild and transient adverse effects

Anti-suicide effects

Safe with many other psych meds

What does ketamine feel like?

Low does—Mild, sensory, trance-like

Higher dose—more intense, psychedelic, transformative

How long does it last?

IV—15-30min

Sublingual-30-60min

Side Effects:

Drowsiness

Dizzy/Lightheaded

Poor Coordination/Unsteadiness

Nausea

Blurry Vision

Feeling strange or ‘unreal’

Unusual sensations (numb, tingling)

Slurred Speech

Headache

Dry Mouth

Trouble concentrating

Who is NOT a good candidate:

Uncontrolled hypertension

Cardiovascular Disease

Unstable medical condition

Ketamine allergy

Active Ketamine dependence/addiction

Mania

History of a psychotic disorder

Medications that don’t mix well with Ketamine:

Psychostimulants like Adderall

Benzodiazepines

How does Ketamine Therapy help?

Increased reward response (dopamine)

Increased response to pleasure

Connection to emotion

Freedom from rigid cognitive structures (defense mechanisms or parts)

Sense of aliveness           

Feeling more open to experience

Increased curiosity

Increased neuroplasticity

Disruption of fear memory (PTSD)

Increased therapeutic bond

A minimum of 3 sessions are required for in office or at home ketamine therapy (not at a ketamine clinic)

Preparation session: Discussing goals and preparing for the dosing session.

Dosing session is 3 hours: 30 minutes for the effects to start after taking the dose. Approximately 1 hour under the effects followed by psychotherapy. Neuroplasticity is highest immediately after the dose—which enhances the work being done in therapy.

Integration Session: Exploring the personal significance of the experience and discussing how to incorporate this into daily life.

If you want to learn more about ketamine therapy or want to know what the steps are to start ketamine therapy—feel free to reach out for a consultation and I can help you.