Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Imagine waking up to who you really are…
There is a long history of people choosing to partake in psychedelic substances for a variety of reasons, including personal healing. These experiences can date back to the very early days of humankind where indigenous groups were led by shamans, healers, and mystics to explore the infinite internal and external world in an effort to connect to something deeper, some truth of our collective and personal realities.
Fast forward to the 20th century, where scientists took a special interest in these substances and the very complicated process of bringing this form of healing to western medicine. We are still in the middle of this part of history and I simply cannot do justice on sharing all the important actors and events to whom we owe immense credit, recognition, and gratitude. I highly recommend Michael Pollan’s book How to Change Your Mind for an overview of the history, past and current research, and a personal journey.
What is Psychedelic Assisted Therapy?
Psychedelic Assisted Therapy can be describe in a few different ways and there are important ethical and legal considerations to be aware of. As a licensed psychologist, I provide therapy where we can use our time to help you integrate psychedelic experiences from a harm reduction standpoint. I do not provide, condone, or encourage the use of illegal substances, and it should be noted that there can be legal and medical risks associated with the use of psychedelic substances. I think it is important to be aware that, despite these risks, many people choose to partake in psychedelic experiences for personal growth. I provide psychotherapeutic support for individuals to process, understand, and integrate these experiences.
Integration can look very different from person to person and can oftentimes look similar to traditional therapy. The techniques, strategies, and interventions that I utilize are all grounded in theories, modalities, and conceptualizations that are commonly used in therapy. I have participated in additional training and study where I have learned how to adapt these approaches specifically to integrate psychedelic experiences into the therapeutic process.
What is Ketamine Assisted Therapy?
Ketamine is an FDA-approved medication and is a Schedule III drug in the United States. The FDA approval is for ketamine as a sole anesthetic agent for diagnostic and surgical procedures. Currently, ketamine is not FDA-approved for other indications, but that does not prohibit its use for other indications, such as mental health care. Many drugs are used “off-label” at the discretion of the administering or prescribing physician.
There has been significant research and practice in the last few years for using ketamine in mental health care (see Walsh et al. 2022 for a comprehensive systematic review). Research studies have shown “robust, rapid and transient antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects of ketamine” as well as similarly positive results for other mental health indications.
There are a variety of options for ketamine treatment for mental health conditions such as clinics that provide lozenge, IV(intravenous), and/or IM (intramuscular) treatment. Some clinics provide on-site therapy support but many do not. Research has found that ketamine treatment alongside psychotherapy, also known as ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), to be an effective method of treatment (see Dore et al. 2018). It can be immensely helpful to have a therapist support you throughout the process of ketamine treatment to maximize the benefits and to have assistance navigating any obstacles.
Please reach out to me through my contact page to see how I can be of support throughout your healing journey with ketamine.