Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

One of the hallmarks of care at Green Mountain Counseling is our expertise in cutting-edge approaches to working with trauma. One emerging approach in mental health that select therapists in our practice now offer is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). If this peaks your interest, read on to find out if a conversation with one of our therapists might be a good next step for you.

What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is a holistic modality which combines talk therapy with ketamine, to help eligible patients experience profound breakthroughs and lasting improvement. It is especially effective for depression, anxiety, PTSD - particularly when other treatments haven’t been as effective.

What is ketamine?

Ketamine is a legal (for medical use), safe, and effective medicine used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. It has rapid antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects, often noticeable within hours and can last for weeks. It works by targeting the neurotransmitter glutamate, which influences mood and thought patterns. Ketamine promotes neuroplasticity — the brain's ability to form new connections.

Ketamine can be administered in a variety of ways, including IV infusion, intramuscular injection, nasal spray, and sublingual lozenges. Generally, KAP utilizes sublingual lozenges.

how does ketamine feel?

The effects of ketamine, which most patients find pleasant, last for approximately 45 minutes. These effects can make you feel “far from” your body, and facilitate shifts in perception that can often feel expansive in nature. Many people report having unique emotional or visual experiences that can give you a break from habitual thoughts and gain a new perspective on traumatic situations.

Your motor and verbal abilities will be reduced, so you’ll be lying down in a comfortable position during the experience. Once these effects subside, your psychotherapist will spend the remainder of your appointment giving you space to process and discuss your experience. While it may feel hard to articulate what happens during the experience, patients feel like the insights gained are clear.

What are the benefits of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

There is expanding research in the mental health community around the impacts of KAP to help eligible patients get unstuck and experience long-lasting improvement in symptoms, particularly those struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, other mental illnesses or those facing a roadblock in their current therapy. Some of the latest studies have shown truly life-changing results for some patients.

Ketamine when combined with psychotherapy with a trusted KAP provider creates the best conditions for faster, longer-term mental health improvements. In a 2019 study led by Jennifer Dore, patients experienced significantly decreased depression & anxiety scores in private practice setting with a licensed mental health professional vs. receiving ketamine alone.

How does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy work?

Ketamine works by blocking the brain’s NMDA receptors while stimulating AMPA receptors, which helps improve brain flexibility. After taking ketamine, antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects begin within 1-2 hours. Ketamine has also been shown to enhance overall neuroplasticity for lasting symptom improvement.

How do i start Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

If you’re interested in KAP sessions, your first step is to reach out to our team for an initial consultation. You’ll connect with one of our KAP-certified therapists to discuss the process and eligibility requirements for KAP, as well as answer any initial questions you might have.

From there, we refer to a licensed psychiatrist to obtain a prescription for ketamine. During a 'dosing session’, you and your therapist will start with a check-in, both of physical vitals and general mental state. Then, after a grounding session or meditation, you will self-administer the ketamine, while your therapist monitors for safety and holds space for your active experience. Once the ketamine has worn off, there is therapeutic space provided to discuss the experience, effects, and next steps.