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Abstract Texture

Ketamine-Assisted Pschotherapy

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a type of integrative therapy that is a beneficial treatment for trauma, anxiety and depression. As a relationship therapist I have found also that counseling with ketamine as a medicine and relational therapy can increase conscious awareness and insight, shifting narratives that no longer serve your life or your relationships. Ketamine can accelerate the process of the personal journey of psychotherapy, but it is not the medicine itself that facilitates major change, it is the integrative therapy with the medicine sessions that moves therapy into more positive treatment outcomes.

What is KAP?

Ketamine is a psychoactive molecule -  arylcyclohexylamine – it is a Dissociative anesthetic, a sedative, a painkiller, a novel, rapidly acting antidepressant, and a tool for inner exploration (i.e. a psychedelic)


Ketamine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1970 for use as an anesthetic and side effects were noticed and have been studied since then. It can improve chronic pain, treat trauma and-resistant treatment depression, and addiction. While KAP is promising for mental health treatment it has not received FDA approval for specific use, particularly for couples . Using any medication other than in approved FDA models is still fully legal and common in medicine. It is called “off-label” use. In the antidepressant dose range, ketamine enhances neuroplasticity in key parts of the brain.

 

For a list of peer reviewed studies and university and hospital studies please inquire.

What Is Ketamine?

  1. Preparation: Setting intentions, motivation, assessment, safety, preparing for an experience, providing psychoeducation, etc

  2. Experience: Varies dramatically: Drug-assisted psychotherapy, ceremonial retreat, underground therapy, etc.

  3. Integration: Processing the experience, understanding insight, reducing harms, maximizing benefits, creating sustainable change, etc.

Phases of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a treatment that combines integrative therapy with the prescription drug ketamine.  There are one or two 1 hour preparation sessions, then a  medicine session which is administered during a longer session of 2.5 hours,  and at least one 1 hour follow up integration sessions used to process what happened in the treatment and to make sense of the experience.
 
Unconscious material can arise from the expanded awareness and the non-ordinary state of consciousness that can happen with the ketamine sessions. Depending on the dose, you will experience a sense of relaxation, or you may have thoughts, feelings or visuals that make sense at the time or later during integration. You will always have a therapist as a guide in the room.
 
 You may use the ketamine in a couples therapy session and be with your partner during the experience. You may be given a psycholitic dose and be able to interact with your partner, or you may have an inner journey and share with your partner and the therapist as the effects wear off.

What Happens in KAP?

KARP is a way to release old habitual thoughts and patterns of relating to your partner. For these effects to last, therapy both individually and in relationship therapy sessions may be necessary for changes to be sustainable. In retreat settings, couples may have more in depth experiences and more KAP medicine experiences, and should arrange sessions as follow up.

What is Ketamine Assisted Relational Psychotherapy?

ASSESSMENT & CLEARANCE

There is an assessment process prior to KAP or KARP. You will be referred to a Ketamine prescriber who will do a medical clearance interview, and they determine medical eligibility and will take a medical history, and a mental status. They will then prescribe the ketamine which you will pick up from your pharmacy and bring to the session with you. I work closely with your prescriber to be sure you continue to be eligible for treatment as we proceed with any ongoing sessions as appropriate.

PREPARATION

You will be given information prior to attending your session about how to prepare, what to eat and how to set an intention for the experience and the sessions.

 

You will be given an INFORMED CONSENT AGREEMENT and more information prior to Initial session.

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