Psychotherapy never stops evolving. As time passes, more and more treatment options are available to people in need. Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a relatively new concept that is rapidly gaining acceptance and popularity. Ketamine is a psychedelic drug that can induce a hypnotic state during which healing happens.

Ketamine began as an animal anesthetic but was used for humans during the Vietnam War. Such use expanded to emergency responders, and that’s how its psychotherapeutic potential was discovered. When ketamine was given to a person who had attempted suicide, it had an unexpected, positive side effect—suicide ideation was drastically reduced.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy FAQ

How does KAP work?

Ketamine is believed to impact a particular neurotransmitter that increases your brain’s ability to adapt and adjust. Through a process called neuroplasticity, your nerve cells become better equipped to reduce the risk of mental distress. For example, KAP has been found to short-circuit the factors that can create treatment-resistant depression. 

What other conditions are commonly treated with KAP? 

The list is long, varied, and growing. Some problems addressed via KAP include Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, substance abuse, disordered eating, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, chronic pain, and Bipolar Disorder. 

How is ketamine administered?

Lozenges are the most common method. But it can also be delivered via injections, nasal sprays, and intravenous infusions. The positive impact is felt within minutes. 

What are KAP sessions like?

Your therapist is with you all the way as the ketamine eases you into a trance-like state for about 40 to 60 minutes. Think of it as a healthy and productive form of dissociation. But there’s even more to it than the actual ketamine sessions.

In between, you meet with your therapist to work on integration, during which:

• You talk about your ketamine experiences 

• Integrate these experiences into your everyday life

• Homework is given as a way to carry over the healing outside the therapy setting 

Are there any side effects or other cautions to know about?

Let’s start with the side effects. Generally speaking, they are rare. If present, they usually present as minor episodes of:

• Drowsiness

• Headache 

• Nausea 

• Headache

• Increased blood pressure and/or heart rate

• Disorientation

You will need someone to bring you home from the sessions in which ketamine is administered. Other factors to bear in mind:

• In cases when ketamine is injected, needles are involved 

• Anyone deemed susceptible to addiction must address this reality in pre-treatment conversations

• Make sure your insurance will cover KAP

• Be diligent about making sure your KAP clinic is regulated 

What can KAP offer me?

KAP can provide symptom relief that often occurs in a matter of hours. In addition, most patients experience long-lasting symptom relief and become more sustainable with ensuing sessions. KAP is still relatively new, so there’s not a very long-term record yet. What we do know is promising—especially for folks who have not found relief through other treatment approaches.

General Benefits of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

• Calm mind

• Mood enhancer

• New brain cell growth 

• A reduction of pain and, thus, less of a need for traditional painkillers

• A general sense of being an active participant in your everyday life 

How Can You Know if KAP is Right for You?

I will safely assume that the above summary of KAP has provided some answers and provoked more questions. As is typically the case, the next step is to speak with a mental health professional with experience in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy. Therefore, I invite you to reach out at your earliest convenience to learn more. Let’s talk about your situation and decide together if KAP is the right path to take you to a place of healing and recovery.