Need a Mental Health Reset? Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy Could Be the Answer
Have you been feeling off lately – emotionally drained, anxious, or just not quite like yourself? You’ve been doing everything “right” like taking prescription medication and working with a therapist. But for some reason, it’s not really working and you’re still feeling stuck.
Feeling this way is completely normal and almost everyone will experience an emotional dip at some point in their life. Maybe you’ve been juggling a lot at work. Or perhaps a relationship in your life has been emotionally challenging.
If you’ve been wanting to press the reset button and break unhealthy emotional patterns, ketamine assisted psychotherapy (KAP) may be the answer.
But what is ketamine assisted psychotherapy exactly and how can it help you?
This blog dives into:
- How ketamine assisted psychotherapy works
- What a ketamine assisted psychotherapy session looks like
- Ketamine assisted psychotherapy safety
- Whether ketamine assisted psychotherapy is right for you
Quick reminder that a mental health healing journey looks different for each person but we’re here to help you find the best solution for you.
Breaking the Cycle
Dealing with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and burnout can be difficult. You may have reached a point where you’re caught in an unproductive emotional cycle.
Fortunately, ketamine assisted psychotherapy can help your brain break out of rigid thinking patterns and connect you to your emotions in new ways. Results can happen quickly and you might experience an emotional shift after just a few sessions:
In addition to its effectiveness, ketamine assisted psychotherapy also prioritizes:
- A holistic addition to medication use
- A way to process trauma in a supported setting
- A method that fits into an integrative health plan
How Does Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy Work?
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used primarily in the medical industry for anesthesia and pain management. When used, your brain can become more flexible and receptive. This makes it ideal for helping patients explore difficult and emotional experiences.
We’d also like to emphasize the psychotherapy aspect as working with a therapist alongside ketamine use is crucial for creating meaningful and lasting change.. This guided treatment can encourage a deep healing that goes beyond conventional methods.
The Benefits of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
In a functional approach to health, emotional well-being is just as important as physical health. Many chronic conditions are connected to stress, trauma, or long-held emotional patterns.
Ketamine assisted psychotherapy changes the way your brain works in a positive and healing way. It helps build new connections and rewire emotional patterns. Plus, it creates the mental space needed for transformation.
It can be especially helpful if you:
- Struggle with feelings of overwhelm or emotional numbness
- Feel disconnected from your body or your purpose
- Carry unresolved grief or past trauma
Ketamine’s antidepressant effects are fast-acting and have also been shown to help with day-to-day emotional struggles including:
- Depression
- PTSD
- Anxiety
- Chronic stress
Working alongside a therapist will ensure that you get the most out of your ketamine sessions. Additionally, it’s important to remember that lifestyle changes and focusing on nutrition, exercise and mindfulness techniques will also help to speed up healing.
What Does a Session Look Like?
Ketamine assisted psychotherapy sessions are always done with a trained therapist and sessions are personal and intentional. After consulting with our nurse practitioner and completing an intake with a psychedelic-trained therapist, you’ll be given the go ahead to start ketamine treatment if you’re an ideal candidate.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Preparation – You’ll meet with your therapist (who has undergone ketamine assisted psychotherapy training) before your session and start to build a relationship and rapport. You’ll discuss your goals, past experiences, and what you hope to get out of the experience. You’ll have at least one preparation session and more if needed.
- The Session – You’ll be in a calm, supportive space. Ketamine will be given through a tablet prescription and the session will last two hours. Your therapist will guide you through the experience and help you explore what comes up emotionally or mentally.
- Integration – After your session, you’ll meet with your therapist again to talk through what you experienced. This step is essential. Integration helps you make sense of your insights and apply them to your life.
In each session, we aim to help you:
- Feel more connected to your emotions
- Gain clarity on your life path
- Discover a deep sense of peace or inner knowing
Curious whether ketamine is right for you?
Synergy Integrative Health & Wellness is partnering with two therapists in late May/early to mid June to facilitate Queer Resilience KAP group sessions for LGBTQ+ individuals. More details to follow in our May newsletter! Sign up to our newsletters here.
We will also be offering other ketamine groups going forward and encourage you to reach out to us if the May/June group isn’t the right fit for you!
Thinking About Safety
When done under medical guidance and supervision with trained providers, ketamine assisted psychotherapy is safe. Any side effects are generally mild and short-lived.
Integrative Health and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
To get the most benefits out of ketamine assisted psychotherapy, it’s important to also make lifestyle changes. Synergy Integrative Health & Wellness’ nutritional counseling and health coaching can help to sustain positive results and additional benefits include:
- Better sleep
- Improved digestion
- Calming of your nervous system
- Reduced bodily inflammation
Who Is a Good Fit For KAP?
Ketamine assisted psychotherapy can help you through an emotionally challenging time in your life. However, in a controlled environment, it can also encourage you to explore your emotions on a deeper level in a healthy and safe space.
Despite medication and other treatments, you might still be feeling emotionally stuck. Here are some questions that you can ask yourself to check whether ketamine assisted psychotherapy can be a helpful addition for you:
- Are you feeling emotionally stuck or disconnected?
- Are you experiencing or close to experiencing mental burnout?
- Are you navigating life transitions or deeper growth?
- Do you have a desire to heal from trauma in a safe space?
If you have tried other treatments and still find yourself experiencing one of the experiences above, ketamine assisted psychotherapy may be the perfect solution for you.
Are You Ready to Try Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy?
Imagine feeling lighter, more present, and more connected to yourself. Being able to navigate life’s ups and downs with clarity and resilience.
That’s what ketamine assisted psychotherapy feels like. Ketamine assisted psychotherapy can help you reach both your mental health and emotional goals.
At our Oak Park clinic, you can combine ketamine assisted psychotherapy with nutritional counseling and health coaching to provide you with a comprehensive approach to wellness.
Ready to explore ketamine assisted psychotherapy? Book your consultation today and let’s see if ketamine assisted psychotherapy is right for you.