The way we approach treatment for mental health is changing and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is leading the charge. At Neuroplasticity MD, we combine psychotherapy and ketamine therapy for a profoundly effective treatment approach. KAP is particularly effective for depression, PTSD, anxiety, and other mood disorders that have not responded to conventional treatments because it provides relief quickly and sustains changes for a long time.

As a therapist, I am so excited to join Neuroplasticity MD to provide KAP to patients who very desperately need effective treatments. By combining the neuroplasticity effects of ketamine and therapy, patients learn how to process emotions, change negative thought patterns, and enjoy good mental health permanently.

What Is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy?

KAP is a combination of therapies used to treat mental health disorders, using ketamine as its primary tool. Ketamine, with its distinctive properties, provides an altered state of consciousness that is very useful for psychotherapy in enabling people to process and integrate their experiences for major self advancement.

Ketamine works in a way that is different from most medications, and instead of weeks or months, the medication start working in a matter of hours or days on severe depression suffers or people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or suicidal ideation.

How Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Works 

Preparation Sessions 

Prior to starting treatment with ketamine, we do one to three preparation sessions that include: 

• Learning about personal background and mental health targets.
• Identifying areas of strength and inner coping mechanisms.
• Explaining ketamine and addressing any worry.
• Creating goals for the therapy journey.

The intention is to help patients achieve psychological readiness and comfort for the ketamine experience.  

 The Ketamine Session 

Ketamine can be given to patients as following: 

• IV Infusion
• Spravato® (Esketamine) Nasal Spray

Patients enter a dream-like state, or what feels like a deeply relaxed state, during which a spiritual awakening might occur.  Patients’ experiences can greatly vary – while some notice a certain detachment from pain they suffered before, others report light imagery and emotions that lead to more profound healing processes. 

This state allows for unconscious negative thinking to be broken so that new neural pathways can be formed and emotions processed. This therapy-like alleviation is not usually effective with traditional talk therapy.

Integration Therapy

We have an integration therapy session within the 24-48 hours range post a ketamine session in a bid to assist the patients to:

• Glean insights from the provided experience.
• Foster additional new positive thought processes.
• Develop personal set of goals intended to create a positive change.

This is where neurobiological change is achieved. In a neuroplastic brain, integration therapy takes place after the patient has already performed these elements of behavior change: perspective shift and coping strategy.

Key Benefits of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

1. Rapid Symptom Relief

Regular antidepressants may take around a couple of weeks to become effective, while patients can receive ketamine dosage in hours. Patients suffering depression, PTSD, or even suicidal ideations will benefit understanding this as it allows immediate optimism.

2. Shifts in Self-Reflection & Emotion Recognition

Patients have the ability to view and approach life from different angles, allowing for emotions that have been previously locked away to be experienced and insights that conventionally does not exist to be uncovered.

3. Relief from Self-Imposed Negative Barriers

KAP enables patients to escape from habitual destructive thinking and helps them replace them with healthier ones. This is especially true for patients who seem to be paralyzed and enveloped in depression treatment  or trauma responses.

4. An Environment That Is Nurturing Yet Controlled

Here at Neuroplasticity MD, KAP is executed within a safe environment with the presence of a physician, thus ensuring the safety of the patient physically and emotionally. The experience is enriched by the presence of a qualified therapist who helps patients in meaningful ways to heal.

Who Is the Right Fit for Ketamine Therapy?

KAP is more useful in treating patients that are suffering from:

✔ Depression that does not seem to go away

✔ A variety of anxiety disorders

✔ Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

✔ Thoughts of suicide

✔ Sad which comes on in the winter months

✔ Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

✔ Other emotional disorders

A sizeable population that has failed traditional medication have their hopes rekindled and pain alleviated with KAP.

KAP Elucidated: The Inner Healer’s Contribution