Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a medication that was developed as an anesthetic in 1962 and approved by the FDA in 1970 for general anesthesia to be used in surgery for both children and adults. It is also used off-label to treat mental health concerns and chronic pain, both of which are backed by research. Ketamine is widely considered to be medically safe for most people.
Why Ketamine?
Research has shown that ketamine can be extremely effective for mental health concerns (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, suicidality, etc.) and chronic pain. It has shown to be an effective treatment option for many people, especially for those who have not responded to traditional treatment methods. Ketamine research displays an increase in neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form and restructure synaptic connections— post-treatment, which can lead to positive adaptations in mood, behavior, and cognitions.
How do I take Ketamine?
Ketamine is given either orally (also referred to as “sublingually”), nasally, intravenously (IV), or intramuscularly (IM) depending on your individualized treatment plan, which is determined with the medical professional administering the treatment.
What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) at RMC Counseling?
At RMC Counseling, KAP consists first of an initial therapy evaluation to discuss current symptoms, pertinent mental health history, and goals in seeking this type of treatment. A separate medical evaluation by the medical provider will also be a part of this process. After an initial evaluation, your KAP- trained therapist will engage you in preparation and intention- setting for the ketamine sessions. Working collaboratively with the medical providers, KAP- trained therapists at RMC Counseling can attend the ketamine sessions with your consent or you can opt to do the ketamine sessions with the medical provider alone. Whether you choose to have your therapist at the ketamine sessions or not, you will then have scheduled sessions with your therapist after the ketamine sessions to integrate your experiences, emotions, and insights from the ketamine sessions into your daily life.
The medical providers RMC Counseling works with utilize a client-centered approach and create a personalized treatment plan depending on your symptoms and history. Therefore, RMC Counseling cannot guarantee a certain number of preparation, ketamine, or integration sessions, but will be in open communication with you and the medical provider throughout the entire process.
Can I just do the ketamine and not the therapy?
RMC Counseling is a therapy practice that employs therapists who are trained in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), we are not medical providers. The service RMC Counseling offers is KAP. Ketamine alone can be helpful for some concerns, but that the results are most impactful and lasting when the ketamine is used in conjunction with therapy. RMC Counseling strongly recommends working with a therapist to prepare for and integrate your ketamine experiences, but can provide referrals for ketamine clinics if you are not interested in therapy.
More Info:
The following providers at RMC Counseling are trained in
KAP: Mckell Barret, Ashlee Burton, Allison Mervin, Rebecca Cohen, Lincoln Bradshaw, and Liz McCooey.