What is Ketamine Assisted Therapy?
This blog article includes a shortened transcript of Lauren Going’s webinar: “What is Ketamine Assisted Therapy (KAP)?” For the full presentation, you may access the webinar recording below.
Want to listen to the Q&A session? View the webinar below!!
The presenter, Lauren Going (LCSW-C), a co-founder of Inner Path Wellness based in Baltimore. She provides an overview of their work in psychedelic-assisted therapy, focusing on ketamine due to its legal status for therapeutic use. Lauren shares her extensive experience in the psychedelic field, emphasizing her background in trauma and integration therapy.
“I've worked in the Psychedelic field for over a decade! My interest at first was really around integration- helping people integrate their psychedelic experiences. I've worked with a lot of folks from Hopkins who have done their studies as an integration therapist. I've worked with a lot of people who have done underground work and have come to me for integration work. My background is is in trauma; I'm really focused on how to create trauma-informed and safe experiences for people where they can have deep healing experiences in an above ground setting.”
Ketamine, synthesized in 1962 and known for its dissociative properties, received FDA approval in 1970 for use as an anesthetic. It's recognized for its safety profile and is included in the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines. Interest in ketamine for mental health surged in the early 2000s, with its ability to alleviate depression and facilitate open discussions about trauma. In 2019, the FDA approved a form of ketamine, Spravato (esketamine), for treatment-resistant depression.
Ketamine's effects differ from traditional psychedelics like LSD or psilocybin, offering a unique dissociative experience beneficial for trauma therapy. Its rapid action contrasts with the slower onset of SSRIs.
“How is ketamine different? As you may know with SSRIs, it can often take many weeks, if at all, for any symptom relief. Whereas with ketamine, symptoms improve often within a few hours to a few days. Especially for things like suicidal ideation, people often see a difference right away, which is quite remarkable! […] One study was listed in the Washington Post where 72% of patients saw an improvement in their mood after three sessions of ketamine-assisted therapy, and 38% were symptom-free after 10 treatments.”
Lauren discusses various administration routes, including IV, IM, and oral, noting that Inner Path Wellness prefers non-IV methods to create a more comfortable and less medicalized setting.
Compared to a 6-8 hour psychedelic experience, “the duration of a ketamine journey is about 90 minutes to two hours, which actually makes it very accessible for people. It's more affordable, it's more able for therapists to be there for a two-hour session.”
The presentation underscores the importance of a therapeutic setting and a client-centered approach, where therapy is enhanced by ketamine, rather than viewed as a standalone treatment. Lauren emphasizes the significance of preparation and integration in the therapeutic process, ensuring that clients can translate their insights into lasting changes.
“Preparation for these journey spaces is essential, as well as integration. We believe that integration is where the bulk of the work happens, translating profound experiences and insights into meaningful life changes. Our approach combines ketamine with therapy modalities like Internal Family Systems, allowing for a nuanced exploration of the self, and somatic therapies, enhancing bodily awareness and processing.”
The talk outlines the potential benefits of KAP, such as increased neuroplasticity, mood improvement, and decreased anxiety. Conditions like treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and PTSD are highlighted as particularly responsive to KAP. However, certain conditions, such as untreated hypertension and psychosis, are noted as contraindications.
Lauren also addresses the selection of a KAP therapist, stressing the importance of training, experience with non-ordinary states of consciousness, and a holistic approach to therapy. She introduces Inner Path's initiatives, including a group therapy model and a practitioner experiential program, to broaden access to ketamine-assisted therapy and education in the field.
“Inner Path is pioneering group therapy models and practitioner experiential programs to broaden access to ketamine-assisted therapy and foster a deeper understanding of its benefits. We're committed to a holistic approach, considering the interplay of psychological, physical, and spiritual health in fostering well-being.”
In conclusion, the presentation calls attention to the transformative potential of KAP when conducted with careful consideration of set, setting, and integration, underlining Inner Path Wellness's commitment to pioneering safe and effective psychedelic-assisted therapies.
Want to hear more? Get the recording above!!