A path towards healing with Ketamine Assisted Therapy
3 stages of Ketamine Assisted Therapy
1
Preparation
Creating the container: Here we begin to explore your intention, building a foundation of safety, trust, and connection.
2
Ketamine Session
In a nurturing environment of safety and support, ketamine can facilitate a profound connection with your inner self, creating pathways for healing and personal growth.
3
Integration
With the guidance of your therapist, we delve into the layers of meaning tied to your experiences and intentions as you reflect on the themes and insights from your journey. Here, we create a pathway that connects concrete actions to your goals.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine, originally developed as an anesthetic in the 1960s, began its journey in mental health treatment as researchers noticed its profound effects on mood and cognition. Initially approved for use as a safer alternative to phencyclidine (PCP), ketamine was widely adopted for surgical anesthesia. However, during its use in medical settings, anecdotal reports emerged of patients experiencing rapid relief from depressive symptoms, particularly following sub-anesthetic doses. This sparked interest in its potential as a psychiatric treatment, especially for individuals resistant to traditional antidepressants.
The breakthrough in ketamine’s role in mental health came in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when clinical trials demonstrated its rapid-acting antidepressant effects. Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), notably Dr. Carlos Zarate and Dr. John Krystal, found that low-dose infusions of ketamine could alleviate symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) and suicidal ideation within hours. This was a stark contrast to conventional antidepressants, which often take weeks to show efficacy. The discovery offered hope for individuals with treatment-resistant depression and opened the door to investigating ketamine’s underlying mechanisms.
Ketamine’s effects on neuroplasticity became a focal point in understanding its therapeutic potential. Studies revealed that ketamine rapidly stimulates the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and activates the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. These processes promote synaptogenesis, or the formation of new synaptic connections, in the prefrontal cortex—a region often impaired in individuals with depression. This neuroplasticity helps “rewire” brain circuits associated with mood regulation, offering a biological explanation for ketamine’s rapid and sustained antidepressant effects. This discovery marked a paradigm shift, highlighting not only ketamine’s psychiatric applications but also the broader importance of neuroplasticity in mental health treatment.
Today, ketamine is increasingly used in clinical settings, either as intravenous infusions, nasal spray formulation (esketamine), or sublingual lozenges to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other conditions. Its role in promoting neuroplasticity continues to be a subject of extensive research, offering insights into developing new, more effective therapies for mental health disorders.
“The real treasure of life, the one difficult to find and hard to attain, is never far from us. That’s an unwritten rule on this earth. What we desperately desire and need most is buried in the recesses of our innermost being all along. This is the open secret found in many traditions and told in many ways. Yet it remains a secret because trusting in oneself remains one of the hardest things to do in life.”
― Michael Meade
How is it helpful?
The psychedelic effects of ketamine were also discovered early in its clinical use, as patients reported unusual alterations in perception, a sense of detachment from their bodies, and profound shifts in consciousness, even at sub-anesthetic doses. These effects, now categorized as “dissociative,” were initially viewed as side effects in its use as an anesthetic. However, as ketamine’s psychiatric applications began to emerge, researchers and clinicians recognized that these psychedelic experiences could hold therapeutic value, particularly in the context of mental health treatment.
The expanded states induced by ketamine often allow patients to access subconscious thoughts, emotions, and memories that might otherwise be inaccessible. This transpersonal aspect of ketamine therapy—where individuals feel a connection to something greater than themselves or experience profound personal insights—has become a cornerstone of its use in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. These experiences can include feelings of ego dissolution, where the boundaries between self and others dissolve, creating a sense of unity or interconnectedness. For many, such experiences can provide a new perspective on their struggles, allowing them to reinterpret their mental health challenges in a broader, more compassionate context.
Clinicians trained in ketamine-assisted therapy harness these transpersonal effects by guiding patients through their experience in a safe and supportive environment. For example, the dissociative state can help patients temporarily step outside their usual patterns of thought and behavior, breaking cycles of rumination or self-criticism. The profound insights gained during a ketamine session are often integrated into ongoing therapy, helping clients develop healthier coping mechanisms and a greater sense of meaning or purpose.
The transpersonal effects are particularly beneficial for conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD, where rigid patterns of thinking and trauma-related memories dominate. Ketamine’s ability to disrupt these patterns and facilitate deep emotional processing has led to its adoption as a powerful tool in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Combined with its neuroplastic effects, ketamine offers a dual approach to mental health treatment: rapidly reshaping brain circuits while fostering transformative personal and transpersonal experiences. This unique combination continues to expand the possibilities for its therapeutic use in mental health care.
How it works
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is a structured therapeutic process designed to maximize the benefits of ketamine’s neurochemical and psychological effects. It involves three key phases: preparation, administration, and integration. Each phase is crucial to creating a safe, supportive environment for the client to explore and process their experiences.
Preparation
The preparation phase sets the foundation for the therapeutic journey. Clients typically undergo an initial assessment, which includes a detailed review of their medical history, mental health background, and treatment goals. This helps determine whether ketamine therapy is appropriate and safe for them. Once approved, patients meet with a trained therapist to discuss what to expect during the ketamine sessions, including the possible dissociative and transpersonal effects.
During preparation, therapists help patients establish intentions for the therapy. While these intentions are not rigid goals, they provide a sense of focus for the experience. Individuals are also guided on practical considerations, such as wearing comfortable clothing, avoiding large meals before the session, and creating a mindset of openness and curiosity. Building trust between the client and therapist is a priority, as it ensures the individual feels supported throughout the process.
Administration Session
The administration session is when ketamine is delivered, typically through sublingual lozenges. The therapist remains present throughout the session, creating a safe and calming environment. The sessions take place in a comfortable room specifically designed to support the individuals process including comfortable furnishings, music with a specifically curated playlist, and the use of eye masks to enhance the introspective experience.
As the ketamine takes effect, the individual enters an expanded state of consciousness, characterized by dissociation, shifts in perception, and often, profound emotional or transpersonal experiences. The therapist provides gentle guidance if needed but typically allows the patient to navigate their internal journey. This “non-directive” approach encourages the patient to explore thoughts, memories, and emotions that arise naturally. Sessions usually last 3 hours which gives the individual enough time for the effects to subside before leaving.
Integration
The integration phase occurs after the ketamine’s effects have worn off and is arguably the most critical part of KAP. During integration, the client and therapist process the insights and experiences from the ketamine session. This can involve discussing emotions, visualizations, or realizations that emerged and connecting them to the patient’s life and therapeutic goals.
Integration helps translate the often abstract or symbolic experiences of the ketamine session into actionable changes in the patient’s everyday life. Techniques such as journaling, mindfulness, or creative expression may also be employed to reinforce the insights gained. By revisiting and reflecting on the session, individuals can strengthen the therapeutic benefits, solidify new patterns of thinking, and foster lasting emotional growth.
The combination of preparation, administration, and integration creates a comprehensive therapeutic process. It ensures that ketamine’s biological effects—such as promoting neuroplasticity—are supported by psychological work, offering a holistic approach to healing and personal transformation.
