For Individuals and/or Couples.

 Ketamine has been increasingly prescribed as an off-label treatment for various chronic treatment-resistant mental health conditions, such as depression, alcohol and other substance dependencies, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and other psychiatric diagnoses. It is distinguished from other psychotropic medications by its rapid onset, often producing transient relief in as soon as a few hours.

Ketamine's dissociative effects create a time out from one's habitual ways of thinking and ruminative worries; this tends to disrupt patterns of negative feelings and obsessional preoccupations, and creates opportunities to explore novel ways of being.

In lower doses, some people experience empathogenic effects, with a relaxing of typical defenses, which can greatly enhance a psychotherapy session. At higher doses, ketamine acts as a potent psychedelic and dissociative agent, often facilitating a profound transpersonal or mystical peak experience.

These sorts of peak experiences have been shown to expand one’s sense of self and understanding of existence, and are particularly well-suited for exploration with providers who are open to transpersonal inquiries. The emergence of core emotional themes can also provide a wealth of material to work with in therapy, especially in the context of a long-term therapeutic relationship.

How does it work?

Ketamine targets NMDA glutamate receptors, which are crucial to memory and synaptic plasticity. The client can once again feel a capacity for pleasure, and are able to experience emotions and associated memories without the constraining habits from a lifetime of trauma and other painful experiences. In short, this process allows the client to open their mind to a new way of thinking about their past experiences and helps them to expand their sense of self.

Ketamine is quite safe even at higher doses. Clinical ketamine doses are quite tolerable, resulting in time and thinking distortion that usually lasts around 30-45 minutes. All clients are required to arrange a ride home following the KAP session. Any potential risks or health questions should be discussed with the prescriber during the medical evaluation.

What is the process?

Prior to their first KAP session, a client will meet with a prescriber who will provide a medical evaluation and prescription for the ketamine. The client will then meet with the KAP therapist for a one hour prep session. When the client and therapist have determined readiness, they will schedule a three hour KAP session, which will take place in an office setting. Following that session, the client will participate in one or more hour long integration sessions.

If interested, please ask for either Suzanne McCarthy or Danielle Green