Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy is a movement into the experiential that has the potential for healing through surrendering to the unknown, inviting courage and curiosity, shifting trust and vulnerability in the therapeutic relationship, opening neural pathways to invite reflection on old patterns, connection with the spiritual, and facing fears. Working with ketamine through Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy is not a "Magic Cure;" it is a space for you to open to change in possibility in whatever form it comes.
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy has three components: preparation, medicine sessions, and integration
Preparation
With the introduction of Ketamine to the therapeutic relationship, we will spend more time discussing boundaries/roles, hopes/expectations, and fears. We will work to clarify intentions and work with any parts of you that are apprehensive about treatment. You will also be working with a prescribing professional who will conduct a thorough medical assessment to ensure this medicine is safe for you. We will work with your prescribing professional to discuss dosage and will continue these conversations so that dosage is adjusted specifically tailored to you. If you have a prescribing professional identified, I will coordinate with that person, otherwise, I can provide you with referrals. These sessions are considered preparation sessions and the number of preparation sessions needed varies from person to person.
Medicine Session
Medicine sessions are the sessions where you will self-administer the ketamine prescribed to you. These sessions are scheduled for up to 3 hours to allow for time to ease into a relaxed space, experience the medicine journey itself, and reorient back to ordinary consciousness so that you can return home safely. During these sessions, you will be offered a relaxing space on the couch or the floor and eye shades to facilitate moving into a state of internal reflection/relationship. A curated playlist will accompany the session and I will be present with you the entire time. My role is to ensure your physical safety and to remain a supportive grounding presence. How much you talk during your session may vary from session to session, just as the content and experience will vary from session to session. I will check in throughout your medicine journey documenting that experience for you, offering support, grounding, and presence as needed. I will not be guiding or interpreting your journey for you. My role is to be with you no matter what arises. As stated above, every journey session is different; it may range from awe and bliss to pain, fear, and anguish, or nothing may happen at all. During the medicine session, your role is to be present and to allow. As your medicine journey comes to an end, you will be gently supported as you return to ordinary consciousness and sensation in your body. You will be offered an opportunity to share your journey verbally or to process it through creative expression. Once we agree you are in a safe space to return home, you can leave. You’re encouraged to spend the rest of the day moving gently with yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Concierge Medicine Session
I also offer medicine sessions in the comfort of your own home with a focus on creating sacred healing space that is supportive and integrated into your daily life. In home medicine sessions require at least one in home preparation session to ensure that the environment is set up and safe for the work. In preparation and on the day of an in home medicine session, we will work together to create an internally focused healing space to support your journey. As with in office medicine sessions, my role stays consistent in terms of presence and role. We will work collaboratively with supports and resources that we’ve identified in your environment, to ease your adjustment back to your day to day life.
Integration
Ketamine allows shifting, softening, and making space for options, and integration sessions are where we work on embodying and integrating new options into your everyday life. Integration sessions are scheduled within 48 hours of a medicine session. This window allows for optimal access to the increased neuroplasticity provided by Ketamine. These sessions are designed to support you in deepening reflections on and from your medicine session. These are the sessions where you will begin to take the experiences from non-ordinary states of consciousness and ground them in your day to day life. In these sessions, together we will explore relational experiences, meaning making, spiritual insights, and self-knowing. No matter what your medicine session experience, integration sessions are the essential part of deepening healing.
