Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Ketamine Assisted-Psychotherapy (KAP) is the practice of psychotherapy while a client is utilizing ketamine as a tool to enhance the process. Ketamine may increase insight, awareness, and openness, which may increase the effectiveness of therapy. Additionally, there are biochemical benefits common to ketamine prescription.
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When used in conjunction with psychotherapy, ketamine is taken or administered in the presence of a trained psychotherapist, who remains present before, during, and after the medicinal effect. The therapist offers support, comfort, and guidance, as needed, and also documents important details about the experience. The information documented by the therapist can be used for future integration sessions with the same or another therapist, often leading to longer-lasting benefit.
Ketamine
affects how neurotransmitters are released and absorbed in the brain, which encourages cells to take action and can stimulate the formation of new neural connections.
Psychedelic Harm Reduction through preparation and integration
Psychedelic medicines (aside from ketamine) are federally illegal in the USA. Therefore, psychedelics are not provided nor endorsed for use outside of a both legal and therapeutic context. Recent research has repeatedly demonstrated that psychedelic medicines are very effective, often when nothing else is, for treating PTSD and other mental health disorders. At the same time, awareness of the benefits and access to the medicines are expanding amongst the general public. Therefore, we recognize that many people are utilizing these medicines on their own and will continue to do so. There can be many risks involved in the use of psychedelic medicines, and our trained therapists have the expertise to help you remain psychologically safe, should you decide to proceed with your plan. We focus on preparing clients for their medicine day (which they do outside of therapy) and later integrating (making use of) the experience. At this time, our therapists are not able to sit with clients while they utilize any drug that has not been prescribed by a TN doctor (or their designee) for home use. However, if you are planning to utilize a medicine with which we have been trained, we would be happy to help you do so more safely.