Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy & Support
Support beyond the drip for benefits beyond the trip
In the US, we currently have safe and legal access to therapeutic ketamine, and over 60 years of ketamine research to support its benefits across age groups in a variety of settings in a way that has been shown to be safe, effective and replicable.
Ketamine is a generic medicine that can be more financially accessible than other forms of treatment.
Ketamine was FDA approved for use in humans and animals in 1970, as a dissociative anesthetic, a medicine that can help reduce pain and be used at high doses for sedation, though has a number of dramatic psychedelic inner experiences.
Ketamine may be prescribed off-label by medical clinicians who specialize in this medicine’s sub-anesthetic doses for mental health and pain management in collaboration with a mental health provider specializing in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
PSYCHEDELIC COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (ON KETAMINE, CONTEXT AND COMPETENCIES IN "ASSISTED-PSYCHOTHERAPY”) (DEMARCO, 2024) : An evolving overview of cognitive behavioral therapy in modern psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and ketamine psychedelic therapy See Preliminary Lit Review for more sources and summaries
Considering Ketamine
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy may be prescribed by a knowledgeable medical provider and referred to a psychedelic mental health practitioner or other types of practitioners of the body, mind, heart and spirit in a way that makes sense to you and your experience. Learning to integrate psychedelic experiences for improved mental health and well-being in your daily life is how psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy brings these transformative substances and experiences to the wider population, incorporating a bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach.
Routines keep you alive, until they turn into ruts. Rituals of introspection and inward journeying may lead towards transformation, especially when paired with informed care and community support. Approaching this medicine work with careful intention, screening, medical clearance, and multi-modal clinical and social support is how we strive to maximize this medicine’s benefits for as many people as possible who’ve yet to find relief with other medicine practices or approaches.
Finding the minimal amount of medicine and dose that you need for the most amount of improved quality of life is key. Your medical provider will decide the setting of your work with this medicine, whether in an office being monitored, or in your own bed with a sober sitter of your choice. Preparation and integration continues to be provided via telehealth, in-home or on-location Palm Springs, Coachella Valley, Joshua Tree, California, and online for residents of CA, NY, UT, and VT.
Supervised practicum trainings for chaplains, ketamine therapists, ketamine sitters, hospice providers, medical providers, shamanic practitioners which include 6-12 medicine experiences, scholarships & work study available.
In some cases it’s less about the route of administration but the amount of support you want / need for the types of approaches your licensed medical provider has legally prescribed for you, whether a brand name or generic version of ketamine that gets into your body.
At very low doses it is sub-perceptual. At moderate doses it is used in psycholytic therapy where you’re communicating with a therapist. At doses of what is considered a sub-anesthetic range, people report a range of experiences from terrifying to mystical, that, when properly prepared for, supported, and integrated, can lead to a marked change in your quality of life.
These experiences happen with a variety of medicines and other types of practices from around the world, throughout our history, but generally not without some sort of supportive wisdom approach. One system of support is through psychotherapists trained in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. (Another system of support of these experiences are through curanderos, taitas, sangomas, and other types of cultural practitioners, although these types of practitioners aren’t usually working with ketamine. )
Spravato (esketamine) in a room being monitored by a medical team is no more “real” ketamine therapy than being prescribed troches or RDT’s to take at home. What level of mental health or other support is being offered in addition to being administered a medicine? On what research is each medical provider basing their care?
Most importantly, is it helping you?
KETAMINE-ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY IS A PROCESS THAT BEGINS WITH REFERRAL FROM A MEDICAL PROVIDER
Ketamine Cost Considerations
IV Ketamine Infusion Clinic
40 minute medicine session, est cost $500-1500, not covered by insurance
may or may not have a mental health specialist as part of treatment
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy with racemic sublingual ketamine and psychotherapist support (18 hours = $3150)
Preparation and Goal Setting for Treatment with psychotherapist (1 hour)
2.5 hour medicine sessions
1 hour integration session (within 4 days of the medicine session)
possible insurance reimbursement for preparation & integration sessions
*Outside Medical Visit + Pharmacy
Racemic ketamine is an FDA approved generic drug that has been prescribed off label for myriad uses ranging from mood disorders to pain management, and has been studied for over 60 years. Your medical provider prescribes your medicine, after a thorough medical & psychiatric assessment. Your PCAB-accredited compounding pharmacy will dispense your medicine to you. Talk to your medical provider about a Referral or check out one of the independent providers listed here
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Provides Lasting and Effective Results in the Treatment of Depression, Anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder at 3 and 6 Months: Findings from a Large Retrospective Effectiveness Study (Yermus, et al, 2024)
At-home, telehealth-supported ketamine treatment for depression: Findings from longitudinal, machine learning and symptom network analysis of real-world data (Mathai, et al, 2024) — over 11,000 patients followed over multiple years is largest real-world study of ketamine therapy to date.
You are not REQUIRED to take this medicine, or ANY medicine, for that matter. Our team is here to support you in minimizing any harm that may come from medicines, practices and experiences that may evoke an altered state of consciousness, and maximize any potential benefits integration of those experiences with the goal of not needing the least amount of medicine required as part of a process of restoring some sense of balance in your mental health and personal well-being.
A harm reduction model supports the least amount of medicine for the most amount of observed benefit paired with psychotherapy to maximize any positive effects. Your dosing may depend on the route of administration. We will collaborate with your medical team and compounding pharmacy to find the route that you find works best.
Employee ketamine-assisted psychotherapy program developed in conjunction with the Psychedelic Institute of Mental Health & Family Therapy, with preparation and integration sessions delivered remotely via telehealth.
