Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy_ What to Expect
You've been going to therapy for a while. Each and every week, you've sat on the couch in their office. Or you turned on the camera on your laptop to attend your weekly therapy sessions.
It was tough to open up at first, but over time, you built a relationship and trust with your therapist. You learned to open up, talk to them about events that you thought you buried, and express your thoughts and feelings that you've never told anyone else before.
You've seen the benefits firsthand of talking to a therapist. But you've also noticed that your sessions don't always provide you with the relief you hoped for. You're considering other options but want to know more about the process.
Let's learn more about ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and what to expect from it.
What is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy?
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is a newer form of therapy approach that involves using ketamine during a therapy session. Ketamine is a medication that is known for relieving pain. The use in a therapy session can help reduce signs or symptoms a client may be experiencing.
How Does It Work?
After a therapist and client go through the standard processes of client history, expectations during sessions, and client goals similar to any other form of therapy, they'll begin the treatment process. During a ketamine-assisted psychotherapy session, a therapist will have the client lie down in a quiet and dark room. A prescribed dose of ketamine will be given via injection, nasal spray, or a dissolvable lozenge. To keep patients in a relaxed state, an eye mask will be given or soft music will be played in the room.
Once the ketamine kicks in, a therapist will monitor the client. With the help of ketamine, a client will be able to knock down some of the walls they put up to protect themselves from their past traumas. With the client more at ease, their defense mechanisms won't be as tight or secure. This is a way that the client and the therapist can access those negative thoughts and emotions.
After the ketamine wears off, a therapist and client will be able to discuss the information that came up during the session in the sessions following the ketamine-assisted therapy. It will be up to the client and therapist to determine how often ketamine is needed for the therapy and healing process.
Who Does It Help?
Ketamine-assisted therapy is a newer therapy approach, but it still has a lot of research and even success in helping to treat the following disorders:
Addiction
Alcohol Dependence
Anxiety
Bipolar Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Trauma
What's the Time Frame?
When starting a new form of treatment, one of the main questions usually deals with the length of each session and treatment as a whole. A typical ketamine-assisted psychotherapy session lasts between 60 to 120 minutes. The entire treatment will be based on the individual and their unique needs and goals for treatment, the preparation time, and the work that the client does outside of the individual sessions. Typically, between four to twelve sessions are required for the full ketamine-assisted psychotherapy treatment.
Next Steps
Similar to other therapy options, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy isn't for everyone. Don't delay in getting the help you need and deserve. If you're interested in learning more about ketamine-assisted therapy and seeing if it's a good fit for you and your needs, reach out to us today to set up a consultation.