Ketamine Assisted EMDR
Discover a transformative path to healing and personal growth with Ketamine Assisted EMDR (KA-EMDR). This specialized program combines the therapeutic power of ketamine with expert guidance, providing rapid relief for treatment-resistant conditions, deep insights, and lasting change. Experience the profound benefits of KA-EMDR and embark on a journey towards emotional well-being and a brighter future.
What is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)?
Ketamine, administered under professional guidance, has shown remarkable potential in unlocking deep-rooted emotions and facilitating breakthroughs in therapy. It has been particularly promising in addressing treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and PTSD. By working on a neurochemical level, ketamine acts as a catalyst, accelerating the therapeutic process and creating opportunities for profound insights and healing.
When combined with art therapy, KAP takes on a holistic and multidimensional approach. Art therapy, with its expressive and symbolic nature, enhances the introspective journey, allowing individuals to access and process emotions that may be difficult to verbalize. Through artistic expression, clients can tap into their subconscious, gain clarity, and explore new perspectives.
The integration of KAP and art therapy fosters a synergistic relationship, where ketamine's unique properties deepen the therapeutic experience, and art serves as a powerful tool for self-discovery and self-expression. This combination offers a safe and supportive space for individuals to explore their inner landscapes, promote self-awareness, nurture emotional well-being, and cultivate personal growth.
As a mental health counselor and art therapist specializing in KAP, I am dedicated to guiding individuals through this transformative journey. With a personalized and compassionate approach, I provide a nurturing environment where you can embark on a path of healing, self-discovery, and empowerment.
Experience the profound benefits of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy integrated with art therapy and unlock your potential for growth, resilience, and lasting change. Take the first step towards a brighter future today.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that was originally developed for medical purposes. It has been used for decades as an anesthetic agent in surgical procedures. In recent years, it has gained attention for its potential therapeutic applications, particularly in the field of mental health. Ketamine has been shown to improve symptoms related to depression and has mood-enhancing effects which usually last several weeks after treatment. A full course of treatment is between 3-6 ketamine sessions and some clients have reported lasting improvement after the treatment is complete.
What does Ketamine feel like?
Ketamine can induce a range of experiences. At lower doses, it may create a sense of relaxation, euphoria, and detachment from your body or surroundings. At higher doses, it can lead to more profound and psychedelic experiences, such as feeling disconnected from your body or having altered perceptions of time and space. It's important to note that the effects are temporary and wear off as the medication is metabolized by your body. A ketamine session last 2-3 hours long.
What is Ketamine Assisted EMDR?
An 8-Week Trauma-Focused Treatment Protocol
Ketamine-Assisted EMDR (KA-EMDR) is an emerging approach that combines the trauma-processing framework of EMDR therapy with carefully coordinated ketamine treatment. This approach is designed for individuals who may benefit from additional support accessing and reprocessing difficult memories, emotions, and deeply held beliefs within a structured therapeutic process.
Rather than using ketamine as a stand-alone experience, KA-EMDR integrates ketamine into a comprehensive EMDR treatment protocol that includes preparation, therapeutic processing, integration, and the development of more adaptive beliefs and responses.
The 8-Week Protocol
KA-EMDR is a structured eight-week treatment process. Each week includes two ketamine-assisted treatment experiences, along with the preparation and therapeutic sessions needed to support safe and intentional trauma processing.
Two Different Ketamine-Assisted Experiences
In-Session Psycholytic Session
During one session each week, a medically prescribed lower-dose ketamine experience is coordinated with EMDR reprocessing. The goal is to support access to traumatic material while maintaining enough awareness and therapeutic engagement to participate in the EMDR process.
This session focuses on trauma reprocessing, helping you explore and update memories, emotions, body sensations, and beliefs that may continue to influence your present-day life.
At-Home Integration & Adaptive Belief Session
The second ketamine experience occurs at home according to the treatment plan established with your medical provider. This experience is paired with therapeutic preparation and structured reflection focused on the adaptive belief identified during EMDR.
Rather than focusing on reprocessing trauma, this portion of the protocol emphasizes strengthening new perspectives, beliefs, emotional experiences, and ways of relating to yourself that emerge through the therapeutic process.
Preparation Matters
KA-EMDR is more than the dosing sessions themselves. Preparation is an essential part of the treatment.
Before beginning the active protocol, we will spend time establishing safety, developing EMDR resources and stabilization skills, identifying treatment goals, preparing for the ketamine experience, and determining whether this approach is clinically appropriate for you.
Preparation helps create a foundation for approaching trauma work with greater awareness, choice, and stability.
What Happens After the 8 Weeks?
The end of the active protocol does not necessarily mean the end of therapy.
A post-treatment session is used to review your experience, assess changes, integrate what you have learned, and identify what additional therapeutic support may be helpful moving forward.
KA-EMDR is intended to be a focused therapeutic protocol rather than an ongoing ketamine treatment program. However, after the initial 8 week protocol you can choose to work with the medical provider and therapist to discuss maintenance dosing sessions to follow.
Is KA-EMDR Right for Everyone?
No. KA-EMDR is not appropriate for everyone.
Because this treatment combines psychotherapy with a medically prescribed medication, participation requires an evaluation of both psychological and medical suitability. Before beginning treatment, you will need medical clearance from an appropriately qualified medical provider. If you do not already have a medical provider who can complete this evaluation, I can provide a referral to an appropriate provider.
We will also complete a clinical assessment together to determine whether KA-EMDR is an appropriate fit for your current needs, goals, and level of stability.
Medical clearance does not guarantee that KA-EMDR will be clinically appropriate, and I reserve the right to determine whether this treatment is appropriate within the scope of my practice.
An Important Note
KA-EMDR is an emerging therapeutic approach, and research examining the combination of ketamine and EMDR is still developing. Current research is promising but limited, and more rigorous research is needed to establish the effectiveness and best practices of this approach.
Ketamine is a prescription medication and is not provided or prescribed by me. Medication decisions, medical screening, dosing, and medical monitoring are handled by an independent medical provider.
If you are interested in learning whether KA-EMDR may be appropriate for you, we can begin with a consultation to discuss your treatment history, goals, and questions about the process.
