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ketamine

therapy

Ketamine Therapy for Depression, Anxiety and PTSD

Ketamine therapy is a legal, safe and effective treatment option for treatment resistant depression, PTSD, and anxiety. Research suggest that the antidepressant effects of ketamine arise from its relationship with glutamate, a neurotransmitter in the brain that sends messages related to motor function, emotion, and memory.  Ketamine has the potential to catalyze and accelerate the healing process in individuals suffering from an array of symptoms.

 

Ketamine-assisted therapy is unique in that it combines the therapeutic effects of the drug with the support of a trained guide. Whereas many ketamine infusion clinics will hook the patient up to an IV and leave the room, in this model the doctor is with you the whole time, supporting you through the experience and helping you to unpack what you may discover.  This component allows for the integration of insights gained through the experience, and thereby sets the foundation for long-term relief.  As my mentor, psychiatrist Phil Wolfson teaches, ketamine is "a time out from ordinary mind," allowing a much needed respite from the psychological exhaustion brought about by depression.

Treatment Regimen: Ketamine will be prescribe by the doctor and the patient will come in the office for a guided first session. The recommendation is that ketamine is administered twice per week for 3 weeks. (The first session must be done in the office with the doctor.) The remainder of the sessions may be done at home, if the patient feels comfortable doing so. It's crucial that the patient has organized support for this three week period (and ideally, beyond). This means a minimum of one session per week with their therapist or Dr. Kalstein in order to integrate the ketamine experiences.

Potential Patients: Please download and read the Ketamine Info Packet below before scheduling an initial evaluation.  Many questions will be answered by reading through this packet.

"Ketamine’s potential lies in its ability to catalyze individual transformation. The primary effect of ketamine seems to be its ability in recipients to shift their awareness from one fixated mind-state or perspective to a new one. Hopefully and usually, this kind of paradigm shift leads to a more enlightened view of their human condition. With adequate attention given to set and setting in its application, this can lead to better personal behavior." - Michael Ziegler

 

 

Learn More about Ketamine Therapy:

The Role of Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Systematic Review

MAPS: Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies

Ketmaine-Assisted Psychotherapy, Phil Wolfson, MD

The Scientific Evidence for Ketamine in Acute and Chronic Depression

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