Understanding Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Q&A

Beyond the analgesic and anesthetic properties of ketamine, it has also been effective as a treatment option for those experiencing a variety of treatment-resistant mental health conditions and substance abuse disorders. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is most suited for people experiencing depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and addiction, meaning that any one of these circumstances is a potential candidate that can experience substantial improvement in symptoms and relief from ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. It should also be noted that patients of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy will typically have attempted previous treatments, but did not find much success. On another note, ketamine is known to be a fast-acting treatment and is another thing physicians take into account when recommending ketamine treatments. Ketamine may be able to provide relief from your mental health conditions but keep in mind that you must consult a physician for proper approval.

It is natural to wonder how ketamine psychotherapy works, and why it has gathered promising results for many people, especially given the amount of traction it has gained as a treatment. For one, ketamine treatment is at the forefront of reshaping and strengthening the brain, especially in patients with difficult mental health conditions. While there are very solid assumptions about how these conditions alter the brain, they are not completely understood currently. Another purpose of ketamine during the psychotherapy session includes inducing a euphoric, pain-relieving state. This trance-like state is an outcome of the psychedelic properties that ketamine possesses and is utilized to aid the patient in processing emotions and events that may be uncovered while undergoing therapy techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or psychodynamic therapy. Through this approach, several mental health conditions can see a reduction in symptoms, notably in resolving past trauma involved in PTSD, depressive episodes, anxiety, and addiction. Despite the great upside, the treatment may not work for everybody and requires the approval and recommendation of physicians.

Despite the potential benefits of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, there are some side effects and risks that patients should be made aware of in the event they come to fruition. As it stands, psychotherapy that utilizes ketamine requires a very low dose to see the desired results. It is normal for the patient’s blood pressure, heart rate, and even bodily temperature to rise as a direct result of ketamine, however, these are not particularly harmful. Furthermore, people often describe the feeling as ‘detached from reality’. On the other hand, some people’s natural reaction to the treatment may involve feeling dizzy or nauseous, which can lead to vomiting. In addition to that, people may find themselves uncoordinated, hallucinating, or with sensory changes during the session. These are all short-term effects of ketamine which generally alleviate within minutes, or hours, after the treatment. Longer-term effects have not been studied as closely, however, patients should be aware of the fact that ketamine may have addictive properties. Because of this, withdrawal symptoms, tolerance, or reliance on the drug are not impossible outcomes, making it all the more important to consult with a physician to ensure that ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is the best possible treatment option for you.

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is a specialized therapy method with the aim to treat a variety of mental health conditions, however, it is certainly not suited for every person suffering from them. Patients seeking ketamine-based treatments have generally undergone a multitude of previous treatments that did not show significant benefits or results. People in this position will want to ask their doctor if ketamine is an appropriate treatment option for them. It is also important to consider the time the treatment takes. While ketamine psychotherapy is generally very fast acting in terms of seeing results, sessions can last anywhere from 30 minutes to multiple hours. Again, ketamine treatment is not for everybody, and as such, it is important to thoroughly discuss both the upside and downside of treatment with your physician. Get specialized and quality care at Bay Area Ketamine Center. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. Our clinic is conveniently located at 746 Altos Oaks Drive Suite B, Los Altos, CA 94024. We serve patients from Los Altos CA, Sunnyvale CA, Palo Alto CA, Stanford CA, Atherton CA, Cupertino CA, Santa Clara CA, Mountain View CA, Loyola CA, and surrounding areas.