Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
in conjunction with Ketamind Clinics SA
What is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy?
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is an innovative mental health treatment that integrates the use of ketamine infusion therapy (KIT), a well-researched treatment, with psychotherapy.
Originally developed as an anaesthetic, ketamine has shown substantial benefits in treating conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic neuropathic pain due to its unique effects on brain chemistry.
KAP (Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy) is not simply a ketamine infusion; it is a structured therapeutic process that involves a licensed psychotherapist leveraging the benefits derived from KIT. During KIT (Ketamine Infusion Therapy), clients receive ketamine intravenously in a controlled, supportive setting, inducing a temporary altered state of consciousness. KAP is designed to integrate subsequent psychotherapy with this experience, helping clients process and make meaning of the insights gained during the KIT session.
It is important to note that KAP does not mean engaging with a patient during the infusion process, a common misconception. The shift in mental state induced by KIT facilitates deeper self-exploration and can help clients process difficult emotions and experiences, particularly those that may feel overwhelming in a regular state of mind.
The goal of KAP is to leverage the transformative shift in perception facilitated by KIT to create a therapeutic environment where clients feel safe and open to new perspectives. This experience can help clients achieve greater insights, emotional breakthroughs, and new ways of thinking, which they can then integrate into their daily lives with continued therapeutic support.
How Do Ketamine Infusions Work?
Ketamine infusions involve the administration of ketamine via an intravenous (IV) drip under the guidance of medical professionals. The dosage is carefully monitored to induce a state of dissociation without leading to unconsciousness. The experience is often calming, and clients remain aware of their surroundings, though they may feel more detached from habitual thought patterns and reality. Synaesthesia or a mixing of the senses is common, which is one of the main reasons we do not engage with patients during infusions.
The Science Behind Ketamine
Ketamine works by interacting with the brain’s glutamatergic system, rather than serotonin, noradrenaline or dopamine pathways targeted by most traditional antidepressants. This effect on glutamate, a neurotransmitter critical for brain plasticity, enables ketamine to trigger the growth of new neural connections. These new pathways can support healthier ways of processing thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Neuroplasticity and synaptogenesis make ketamine a promising treatment for mental health, as it offers the potential for establishing long-term changes in thought patterns.
The Infusion Experience
During an infusion, clients may experience a dreamlike, detached state, often described as “floating” or “observing.” This shift in consciousness can provide a sense of distance from everyday worries and anxieties, allowing clients to explore their inner thoughts and feelings with less fear or resistance.KIT programs involve a series of infusions, typically spaced a few days apart. Following these infusions, clients engage in KAP sessions, usually once or twice a week, to facilitate the integration process. During these sessions, clients work with their therapist to process any new insights or emotions that emerged from their ketamine experiences.
What Makes KAP Different from Traditional Psychotherapy?
While traditional psychotherapy works with the conscious mind over time, KAP engages both the mind and body on a deeper level:
● Altered Consciousness: Ketamine temporarily alters brain activity, providing a shift in perspective that can make it easier to engage with painful memories or emotions.
● Neuroplasticity and synaptogenesis: Ketamine promotes neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to form new neural pathways. This can accelerate the changes clients are working toward in therapy.
● Enhanced Insight: In this altered state, clients often gain access to thoughts and emotions that may feel more difficult to reach in regular therapy, leading to insights that feel more profound and potentially transformative.
● Immediate Reduction of Depression Symptoms: While traditional therapy can take time to reduce symptoms, KIT has been shown to have a near-immediate impact on these symptoms in most depressed people. This is significant because clients struggling with severe mental health challenges may often feel discouraged by how long traditional treatments can take to show noticeable results.These unique aspects of KAP allow for more intense therapeutic breakthroughs than traditional talk therapy alone might achieve.
Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Right for You?
If you have been struggling with mental health challenges that have not improved with other treatments, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy may be worth considering. KAP offers a path for clients seeking to explore their minds in new ways, achieve deeper healing, and make lasting changes in their lives. Please speak with one of our licensed therapists to learn more about whether KAP could be a beneficial addition to your mental health journey.
In summary, while KIT is powerful on its own, the transformative potential lies in the combination of KIT with skilled psychotherapy. Ketamine opens the door to new perspectives and emotional healing, and through therapy, the client is able to make sense of these experiences, apply them to their lives, and build a foundation for long-lasting mental and emotional well-being.
How to Find Out More
If you would like to find out more about Ketamine, Ketamine infusions or Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy please send us an email, or visit the KetaMind Clinics website at www.ketamind.co.za.