Intention Based Ketamine assisted Therapy (KAT)
A powerful tool To alleviate Suffering
Ketamine Assisted Therapy is an approach utilizing medication to bring about a non-ordinary state of consciousness, that can increase our capacity for self-reflection and self-compassion. It offers new perspectives, and can facilitate feelings of being connected to something greater than ourselves.
Ketamine:
Is a proven, safe, quick, and powerful antidepressant, with immediate and longer lasting effects.
Has been shown to alleviate anxiety and fear associated with a chronic or terminal illness.
Can help reduce physical, emotional and spiritual suffering, and improve overall quality of life.
Can disrupt negative thought patterns and promotes neuroplasticity, offering opportunities to rework old patterns that no longer serve us and create true change.
I offer KAT to patients struggling with mild to moderate depression and anxiety, existential angst, and adjustment disorder.
I trained in Ketamine/Psychedelic Assisted Therapy through The Boston Psychedelic Group (Harvard-affiliated research clinicians), Fluence, and with Mary Cosimano, MSW, from Johns Hopkins University.
About Ketamine assisted Therapy
Ketamine was originally approved by the FDA in 1970 for use as anesthesia in surgery and other medical procedures. It is often the medication of choice with pediatrics, on the battlefield, and in emergency departments because it is so safe. Unlike opiates or other anesthetics, at the right dose you can achieve complete pain control without compromising the patient's breathing. It has very few negative interactions with other medications.
Over the past 20 years, researchers have found that when ketamine is administered in lower doses, its psychedelic and biochemical effects can be an effective tool in treating some forms of depression and possibly other psychiatric conditions.
One form of ketamine, Spravato, has been FDA approved for depression. Other forms and uses of ketamine are “off label” but legal and considered safe with careful screening and use.
I work with intramuscular and oral forms of ketamine, supervised in person by myself or in conjunction with another KAT trained provider.
FAQs
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Ketamine works differently from other antidepressant medications. It is classified as a dissociative anesthetic.
Dissociation means a sense of disconnection from one's ordinary reality and usual self. It is possible that these "dissociative" experiences, especially when combined with therapy, may be instrumental in providing a catalyst for deep psychological change.
Ketamine allows the brain to make new connections through something called "neuroplasticity." If we can separate ourselves from our "default mode network"—that constant self-talk that may be giving us negative messages—and shift to newer, healthier patterns, we might be able to create new ways of thinking and being.
For long lasting change ketamine works best with multiple sessions and a client willing to do their own work outside the office.
This work includes integration with me and/or client’s own psychotherapist.
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Ketamine is a remarkably safe medication. Because of its safety profile it is often the anesthetic of choice in children and animals, and in settings where a patient’s medical history is unknown.
In rare cases, frequent and prolonged Ketamine use can cause bladder inflammation (cystitis). This can lead to:
Painful and frequent urination
Blood in the urine
Ketamine may also worsen psychosis in individuals with schizophrenia or severe personality disorders.
Ketamine, like all psychedelics, has the ability to be disruptive to your present life. You may have personal or spiritual insights that inspire you to make changes you are not ready to make.
I will prioritize your safety during your consultation and discuss potential risks and side effects.
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No, Ketamine-assisted therapy is not a universal solution for everyone.
In addition, you may have profound insights during KAT but real change comes from actions you may need to take after a session.
A thorough medical screening will determine whether this treatment is appropriate.
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Ketamine sessions typically last 90-150 minutes
Sublingual Ketamine: Effects begin in 10-15 minutes and peak at 20-60 minutes.
Intramuscular Ketamine: Effects begin in 3-5 minutes and last 45-60 minutes.
The session includes time before, during, and after the Ketamine experience for preparation, integration, and support.
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While the following conditions don't automatically disqualify you, they warrant further discussion with your healthcare provider.
Pregnancy/nursing
Untreated high blood pressure
Cardiac diseases (e.g., atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure)
Untreated hyperthyroid disorders
Substance abuse
Active mania
Active psychosis
Closed angle Glaucoma or recent eye surgery
Significant/end-stage liver or kidney disease
Brain tumor, swelling, or injury
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Certain medications may interact with Ketamine. You will need to inform me of all medications you are taking, including herbal medicines, especially:
Lamotrigine
Gabapentin
Benzodiazepines
Stimulants
MAO inhibitors
Any recreational substances
A comprehensive medication review is part of our consultation process.
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Since the 1950s we have had only a few tools to medically treat depression and anxiety. The mainstay of treatment has been daily doses of antidepressant medications. Unfortunately they take weeks to start working, and often have intolerable side effects. Some patients end up feeling numb and detached from their feelings.
For the last 20 years there have been hundreds of studies on the beneficial effects of ketamine on mental health. Through this research and my own experience I have witnessed the profound changes that can occur when using ketamine—the only federally legal psychedelic—in a safe and nurturing therapeutic setting. Ketamine does not disconnect you from your feelings, instead it can allow you to experience all of them, but with a new, larger perspective and understanding.