By Amber Kerby, MS, LMT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Founder of Non-Ordinary Therapy LLC
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a therapeutic approach that combines the effects of ketamine with psychotherapy to address various mental health conditions, particularly treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, and certain types of chronic pain. While ketamine has been used in medical settings for years as an anesthetic and more recently as a fast-acting antidepressant, its use in psychotherapy is a more nuanced and integrated approach that aims to incorporate the pharmacological effects of ketamine with the therapeutic process.
How It Works
Ketamine is classified as a dissociative anesthetic, but at lower doses used in KAP, it creates a non-ordinary state of consciousness that is conducive to deeper therapeutic healing.
The dissociative state induced by ketamine is characterized by a sense of detachment from one's usual sense of self and surroundings. Clients often describe feelings of floating, out-of-body experiences, or a sense of being in a dream-like state. This altered state softens defenses, making it easier to explore traumatic memories, entrenched emotional patterns, and other psychological content that might be difficult to confront in a normal waking state.
Ketamine can also create psychedelic-like experiences. Unlike traditional psychedelics such as psilocybin or LSD, ketamine's effects are shorter in duration and more grounded in a dissociative state.
When administered during a KAP session, ketamine temporarily alters brain activity by blocking NMDA receptors, leading to a surge in glutamate, a neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory. This surge enhances synaptic plasticity, creating an environment in the brain that is more adaptable and receptive to new thoughts and experiences.
Ketamine in Medical vs. Psychotherapeutic Settings
In a strictly medical setting, ketamine may be administered as a standalone treatment, often through an intravenous infusion, to rapidly alleviate symptoms of depression or anxiety. The focus in these settings is on the pharmacological effects of the drug. Individuals are monitored for safety but they are not engaging in a concurrent therapeutic process. The goal is to provide quick relief from symptoms, and while this can be effective, it doesn't address the underlying psychological issues in the same way that psychotherapy does.
In contrast, Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy is a more holistic approach. The medicine is used in a supportive and controlled environment to facilitate a mild to moderate dissociative state. During this state, the client works with a trained psychotherapist to explore their thoughts, emotions, and memories in a guided manner. The dissociative effects of ketamine help to lower defenses, making it easier for the patient to access difficult emotions and gain new perspectives on their experiences. The therapeutic alliance between the patient and therapist is crucial in KAP, as the insights gained during the session can be deeply transformative when integrated into the patient's ongoing mental health care.
Benefits and Considerations
The non-ordinary experience created by ketamine is a key component of its therapeutic efficacy. By allowing clients to step outside their usual patterns of thought and behavior, KAP offers a unique opportunity for insight and transformation. The combination of the drug's rapid antidepressant effects and the deep psychological work facilitated by the altered state can lead to significant and lasting improvements in mental health.
However, because the experience can be intense and sometimes disorienting, it is crucial that KAP is conducted in a safe, supportive environment with a trained professional. The therapist's role is essential not only in guiding the patient through the experience but also in helping them integrate the insights gained during the session into their everyday life.
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy is a promising treatment that bridges the gap between pharmacological intervention and psychological healing, offering a powerful tool for those seeking to address complex mental health issues. To learn more about this approach and access additional videos and research articles, visit my website https://www.amberkerby.com/kap
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