Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy shows promise as a treatment option for a variety of individuals, especially those who have not found relief through traditional forms of therapy or medication and who are ready for a positive change!

KAP may be most helpful for individuals with depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and end of life distress.

KAP is a unique process, and each 2 hour medicine session includes preparation, administration of medicine, and some initial integration. Within the week after each medicine session the client participates in a full 1 hour integration session to continue to process through their experience and apply their learning and insight to their therapeutic goals. Through intentional effort and supportive therapeutic practices, this process allows one to gradually capture and incorporate the emerging lessons and insights from the medicine sessions into their lives.

Before beginning KAP treatment, clients work with the KAP therapist and doctor to approach treatment in a safe, informed, customizable and collaborative way. Initial preparation also includes intention setting, relationship building and creating an open mindset for the work.

At Remedy, we prefer the use of inter-muscular (IM) as it allows us to be most clear about what to expect with dosing amounts. This method is rapidly metabolized for most individuals and its principal effects will last from 30 to 75 minutes depending on the size of the dose. We believe it is important to work with the client to establish dosing that feels comfortable and safe. This attentiveness and flexibility allows for a profound experience with a relatively rapid return to functionality. It is with the highest respect that we approach the individual needs of each client.

KAP is a treatment approach which integrates the administration of ketamine with talk therapy. In contrast to conventional talk therapy, in which the patient and therapist delve into emotions, thoughts and behaviors, KAP incorporates a pharmacological element to facilitate deeper introspection into the patient’s inner world.

Another difference between traditional talk therapy and KAP lies in the speed and intensity of the therapeutic process. While traditional talk therapy may extend over months or even years to effect meaningful change, ketamine assisted therapy often brings about swift and significant change in mood and functionality following only a few sessions.

What is the difference between KAP, IV ketamine infusions, and at-home sublingual ketamine sessions?

KAP is NOT the same as getting an IV ketamine infusion or sublingual home ketamine dose. Ketamine infusion clinics and home sessions focus solely on the neuropharmacological benefits of ketamine and traditionally align with the biomedical healthcare model, an approach to medicine that focuses on treating specific symptoms and diseases using medications and not holistic interventions. This reductive view of health and wellbeing separates the psychological from the physical – the mind from the body — and results in a narrowed treatment lens. 

In  the infusion setting, ketamine is administered through an IV, and treatments are monitored by medical providers certified in nursing, anesthesiology, or pain management. Integration is typically not a part of the experience and the neuroplastic benefits are not optimized. Experiencing ketamine without a proper vessel to witness the journey and integrate the experience may lead people to have only temporary positive effects, or worse, scary, stressful experiences that can be detrimental to the person’s mental health.

In contrast, we take a more holistic approach to mental health care that takes into account the complexity of the whole person and their unique circumstances, needs, and insights. This person-centered approach emphasizes the role of the individual in their own health and well-being, empowering them to heal themselves with the guidance and support of a therapist and prescribing physician.