What is Ketamine-Assisted Therapy?
Ketamine-assisted therapy is an innovative treatment modality that combines the powerful effects of ketamine—a medication originally used as an anesthetic—with therapeutic support to address mental health conditions. This approach has gained recognition for its ability to provide rapid relief from symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain when traditional therapies may fall short. Conducted under the supervision of trained professionals, ketamine-assisted therapy offers a safe and effective pathway to emotional healing.
How Does Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Work?
Ketamine is administered in a controlled, clinical setting, typically through an injection in the muscle of the upper arm. The therapy process generally includes the following steps:
- Initial Assessment: A comprehensive evaluation by a qualified mental health professional and medical provider to determine if ketamine-assisted therapy is appropriate for the client’s specific needs.
- Administration of Ketamine: A trained, medical provider administers ketamine, allowing it to induce a dissociative state that can facilitate introspection and emotional processing. Clients may engage in therapeutic discussions, guided by a trained therapist. This may help individuals explore underlying issues and emotions.
- Integration: After the dosing session, clients discuss their experiences with the therapist, gaining insights and strategies for continued healing and growth.
- Ongoing Treatment: A series of sessions may be recommended to maximize the therapeutic benefits and support long-term mental wellness.
Benefits of Ketamine-Assisted Therapy
- Rapid Relief from Symptoms: Ketamine has been shown to provide quick relief from severe depression and anxiety, often within hours, making it a valuable option for those feel they are heading towards a crisis state.
- Effective for Hard-to-Treat Conditions: This therapy is particularly beneficial for individuals who have not responded to traditional treatments, offering a new avenue for recovery.
- Enhanced Emotional Processing: The unique effects of ketamine can lead to profound insights and emotional breakthroughs, facilitating deeper therapeutic work.
- Improved Mood and Functionality: Many clients report significant improvements in mood, energy levels, and overall quality of life following treatment.
- Safe and Controlled Environment: Ketamine-Assisted therapy is conducted in a medically supervised setting, ensuring safety and support throughout the process.
Who Can Benefit from Ketamine-Assisted Therapy?
Ketamine-assisted therapy is suitable for individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, chronic pain, and other mental health challenges. For those seeking alternative treatment options, this innovative therapy may provide significant relief and support.
Collaboration
I collaborate with a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner for Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. As a team, we work together with you to tailor an individualized treatment plan. For some, that may look like incorporating tools like Brainspotting, EMDR and IFS. For others, it may be less engagement during a dosing session, where more processing happens in a follow up integration session.
Review this document for a quick overview of Contraindications to Ketamine Assisted Therapy.
Treatment Planning
If you are a client that is not currently working with Melanie or it has been 12+ months since your last session, you will need to schedule a Consultation & Treatment Planning session that is typically 45 minutes. This allows us to start building a connection, determine a treatment plan and make sure this is the absolute best time for you (and your nervous system) to do Ketamine Assisted Therapy.
This work is difficult and vulnerable, yet beautiful and rewarding. Trust and safety in the person holding space and guiding you through such a process is important. This is a time for you to see how you feel engaging with your therapist and ensure that they are the best fit for you as well!
Are You Qualified to Do This Work?
This is an important question! In order to create the safety needed, I know it’s important for some to know exactly what qualifies me to work in this capacity. For that purpose, I will share my experience below.
- First and foremost, my training and over 10 years of experience as a trauma therapist and my personal experiences with psychedelics have been my biggest teachers in how I work with clients in this space.
- I have trained with MAPS for MDMA Assisted Therapy and stopped short of the 1 week in-person experience due to COVID and plan to complete this in the next cohort with MAPS.
- I have completed the program with the Psychedelic Coalition for Health: Psychedelic Assisted Therapy & Integration Training + Psychedelic Medicine Education & Advocacy. This gave me hands on experience in facilitating psychedelic journeys and learned from some of the best in this field about working with psychedelic medicine, including Lauren Taus, Rick Doblin, Carl Hart, Omid Naim, Ben Malcom, Melissa Whippo and Sunny Strasburg to name a few!
- I am currently in on-going trainings with a ketamine specific training program with Polaris Insight Center, one of the leading training institutes in the field of Ketamine Assisted Therapy.
- I am also involved in local and international consultation groups and community groups that support practitioners working with with psychedelic medicines.
- I have guided over 300 hours of Ketamine Assisted Therapy sessions and supervise therapists learning to work in this capacity.
- I offer workshops aimed at supporting therapists in learning how to support their clients that are engaging in psychedelic medicine.
- I have had the privilege of guest lecturing at Vanderbilt School of Nursing on Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and Ketamine Assisted Therapy in a clinical setting.
- I have also presented on Brainspotting and Psychedelic Assisted Therapy
Click Here to Download Treatment Costs, Contraindications to KAP and Payment Options
Click Here to Download Resources For Clients Exploring MDMA, Psilocybin, and Ketamine for Trauma Healing
Treatment Costs
Preparation and integration sessions vary, depending on the individual needs of the client. Those sessions are typically 1-1.5 hours. Dosing sessions are typically 2 hour sessions. Pricing is based on the therapist’s standard hourly session rate of $200.
Melanie’s Rates:
45-min Consultation & Treatment Planning: $150
1-Hour Preparation & Integration Sessions: $200
1.5-Hour Preparation & Integration Sessions: $300
2-Hour Dosing Session: $400
Financial Resources:
If your insurance covers out of network providers, you may be eligible for reimbursement. The best way to find out is to call your insurance company and ask. If your plan covers out of network providers, we can send you a superbill receipt and you may be eligible for reimbursement. Websites like https://getbetter.co/ or https://reimbursify.com/ can help with this.
Thank You Life is a non-profit organization working to eliminate the financial barrier for those seeking psychedelic therapy services. https://thankyoulife.org/
Healing in the Margins is a local non-profit that helps provide funding for marginalized individuals in the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities.