Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

At SoundMind, we utilize ketamine as a transformative tool in our inclusive psychotherapy approach.

KAP

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) blends traditional psychotherapy with the therapeutic use of ketamine. This innovative treatment is gaining recognition for its effectiveness in addressing various mental health conditions, offering new hope where traditional methods have limited success.

How it Works

KAP works by creating a unique therapeutic state, allowing for deeper introspection and emotional processing. Ketamine, administered under careful supervision, facilitates a non-ordinary state of consciousness, opening doors to new perspectives and insights that catalyze healing and change.

More about Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

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What is ketamine?

Though ketamine is an FDA-approved medication for anesthesia, it has also been utilized successfully “off-label” to manage acute and chronic pain conditions, and to treat depression and other mental health conditions. Off-label use is a common and legal medical practice where a doctor uses a medication to treat additional conditions or diseases that it is effective for, beyond the original study use.

How does ketamine work?

Ketamine-assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) uses ketamine in combination with ongoing psychotherapy as a catalyst for psychological growth and healing. Often, we get stuck in our thought or behavior patterns, unable to gain perspective or change.

The ketamine experience is characterized by the relaxation of your typical mindset and defense mechanisms, allowing you to explore other ways of thinking and feeling.

When paired with a trained facilitator who can help you understand and integrate these insights into your daily life during and after sessions, we find KAP can lead to significant psychological growth and shifts in overall well-being. This approach may be effective for treating depression, anxiety, and PTSD, and at SoundMind we’ve also seen benefits for OCD, ADHD, and postpartum depression.

KAP at SoundMind

What happens during a KAP session at SoundMind?

Unlike clinics that administer ketamine via IV (infusion clinics), SoundMind administers ketamine via lozenge. A treatment session might look something like the image above: you will put on eyeshades and get comfy in one of our reclining couches. We will lead you through a meditation or relaxation exercise, and you will swish the ketamine lozenge in your mouth for 15 minutes before swallowing to allow the medicine to absorb. Then, you will lie down and spend the next two hours or so in a ketamine journey. We will be by your side the whole time.

What will I feel during a KAP session at SoundMind?

Sometimes people want to talk and other times they want to stay quiet, all responses are okay! After about two hours or so most people feel the medicine is wearing off, and will begin talking more. Eventually, you will take your eyeshades off, and we will spend the last portion of the session talking and processing what you experienced while on the medicine. You will have arranged a ride or call a car service, or you can walk home if you live close. We will check in with you the next day, and schedule your next session.

Our patients typically start out with 3 KAP sessions spaced one week apart. Most people need 2-3 sessions of KAP to see if these treatments will work for them. Each KAP session is in-person, lasts 3-4 hours, and includes time for integration of the experience directly following the medicine.

How is the way ketamine administered at SoundMind different from other ketamine treatments?

Ketamine is a versatile medicine that can be given in different ways at different doses. Most ketamine clinics offer ketamine infusions intravenously (in an IV) over 30-45 minutes, and there is typically no psychotherapy integrated into the treatment. Providing ketamine in this way works more like taking any other medication for mental illness—the goal is simply to change your brain chemistry, and it’s not often effective for long-term results. For some patients, this can provide long-term relief after multiple infusions, but for others, the effects wear off once they stop receiving infusions. Other ketamine providers prescribe ketamine in lozenge form for you to take at home, with minimal psychotherapeutic support.

KAP at SoundMind is a different model of care: SoundMind uses ketamine to catalyze psychotherapy and the healing benefits it can provide. We offer the medication in a lozenge or in an intramuscular injection at doses that produce a psychedelic “trip” or “journey” experience that lasts 1.5 to 2.5 hours. An experienced facilitator and physician is with you the entire time to support you and cultivate an ideal environment for safety, growth, and healing. After your journey, we provide psychotherapy to help you integrate and make meaning of your experience, and move you toward your goals for symptom relief and behavior change. Over the course of 3+ journeys, we help you work toward lasting change by healing the root causes underlying your mental health challenges. We cannot emphasize enough the healing potential of this medicine when combined with a safe, supportive psychotherapy experience.

Who is eligible for KAP?

Your safety and well-being are our top priorities. While KAP is highly effective, it's not suitable for everyone, especially those with specific health conditions like certain heart issues or uncontrolled hyperthyroidism. We rely on cutting-edge research to tailor treatments that best fit your needs. As part of our commitment to comprehensive care, we currently require patients to be engaged with an external psychotherapist while undergoing KAP at SoundMind.

How do I get started?

Begin by completing our patient interest form. This step helps us determine if our ketamine-assisted psychotherapy aligns with your needs. Once reviewed, we'll inform you about your eligibility. Eligible individuals will be invited to complete an intake form and arrange a complimentary consultation with one of our experts. Use this opportunity to learn more, ask questions, and decide if KAP is the right choice for you

 

Have more questions?
We’ve got answers.

  • No. There are many differences, one main one being that ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is currently completely legal in the US, whereas psilocybin-assisted therapy is not. Also, ketamine is actually a dissociative anesthetics that is utilized to put people into a psychedelic-like state.

  • SoundMind administers its ketamine via orally via lozenge.

  • Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic, and it is approved for off-label use (such as for therapy). According to WebMD, over 20% of US prescriptions are for off-label therapies.

  • Ketamine, primarily known as an anesthetic, has emerged as a groundbreaking treatment option for various mental health conditions. The following disorders are currently under investigation in clinical trials, often in conjunction with psychotherapy, or are slated for future study:

    Major Depression

    Bipolar I Depression

    Postpartum Depression

    Fibromyalgia

    Chronic Pain

    Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

    Suicidal Ideation

    Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

    Alcohol Use Disorder

    Opioid Use Disorder

    Eating Disorders

    Autism Spectrum Disorder

“My work with SoundMind has created in me the mental health I could only have dreamed of before.  It has permitted me to trust and embrace myself and others, and to make critical decisions about my life going forward.  The combination of KAP and the sublimely skilled and empathic SoundMind staff have changed me forever”


- Belinda D, Current SoundMind Patient

We’d be honored to support you!

If you're interested in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, reach out to the SoundMind Center team today.

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