A Guide to Ketamine Treatment and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) Sessions: From Initial Assessment to Integration
Written By: Dr. Beata Lewis, Ilya Bernstein, Anne Gellenstein
A Walk Through the Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Journey at Mind Body Seven
In this final piece of our series, we invite you to explore how ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) sessions are set up. We’ll walk through every phase, from the preliminary assessment through the integration, follow-up, and maintenance.
Process
At Mind Body Seven, we prioritize patient safety and personalized care. Beginning treatment with our clinicians entails the following steps:
An initial phone call or email to our office to inquire about treatment options, clinicians, and pricing. We have a number of clinicians providing treatment and a wide range of prices including low-cost ketamine treatment options.
Optional: You can schedule a no-cost 10-minute consultation call with one of our Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (Natasha Felton PNP, Anne Gallenstein PNP, and Ilya Bernstein NP and PNP intern) to discuss your treatment goals and options. Note that this step is optional, and some patients prefer to skip it and move directly to scheduling an intake appointment with one of the clinicians on our ketamine treatment team.
Schedule an in-person or telehealth initial appointment with one of the clinicians on our ketamine treatment team.
Complete your online intake “paperwork” before your appointment.
An initial evaluation appointment - this is your opportunity to connect with your clinician, share your story, discuss any medical issues, and ask any questions you may have about treatment options. This will help you and your clinician determine if ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is safe for you, and will be helpful for your unique needs and mental health goals.
Optional: Goal setting and preparation session(s) for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Some patients prefer to have one or several appointments with their clinician to get to know each other better and more comprehensively discuss their stories and goals. Much, but not all, research on KAP includes several preparatory talk therapy sessions before beginning the medicine treatment sessions.
Ketamine treatment session - usually around 2 hours, though sometimes slightly longer. You will collaborate with your clinician to determine the mode of administration - oral or by injection - with the option to adjust from session to session depending on what works best for you. Your clinician will be with you through the entire experience, and save time to talk before and after the session. Plan on a light, calm day after the treatment.
Optional, but strongly recommended: A 45-minute long integration session within 72 hours of your ketamine treatment session to optimize its effect. In this window of time, your brain has a much higher capacity for neuroplasticity (the growth and rewiring of functions in some way that differs from how it previously functioned) which allows you to make more rapid and significant progress toward your mental health goals.
Repeat - We recommend an initial series of four to eight ketamine-assisted psychotherapy treatments followed by integration sessions over two to ten weeks.
Long-term integration - For months or even years after the ketamine-assisted psychotherapy sessions, you can continue to discuss the rich material that comes up in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy sessions in ongoing therapy with your ketamine clinician or another therapist.
Maintenance - For some people a series of four to eight treatments is sufficient. For others, ongoing maintenance treatment with ketamine ranging from once a month to every six months is a way to hold on to the benefits of treatment and remain well.
Ketamine Administration and Psychotherapy
Ketamine treatment will be provided by a licensed clinician and a licensed psychotherapist, psychiatrist, or psychiatric nurse practitioner who will be with you to ensure your safety the entire time. These mental health professionals will be present in preparatory and integration meetings, as well as ketamine treatment sessions.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) sessions can be quite powerful and allow you to explore areas of life such as childhood traumas that are difficult to address in regular therapy. Ketamine makes your brain more “flexible" and helps you learn new ways to think and act, giving you more freedom, satisfaction, and happiness in your life.
To that end, some patients who are under the care of an outside therapist may opt for a slow ketamine infusion, administered through an IV and done without psychotherapy from one of the clinicians on our ketamine treatment team.
Ketamine treatments are available in our Park Slope, Brooklyn office. Sessions typically last about 2 to 2.5 hours. You and your clinician will have time to set up the psychotherapeutic part of the session as well as the active medicine journey. We suggest four to eight treatments spread out over two to ten weeks. This time frame allows for flexibility and can be adjusted depending on your needs.
Set-Up and Integration
Following the KAP session, set-up and integration sessions can begin. While not required, they are recommended as they allow you to get the most out of KAP. Here, you collaborate with your therapist to integrate the insights and transformations experienced during the session into your day-to-day life. This might involve the formulation of new coping mechanisms, addressing unresolved emotional issues, or reframing thought patterns that aren’t serving you. The integration phase is vital for reinforcing and prolonging the positive shifts catalyzed by ketamine-assisted therapy.
Monitoring and Follow-Up
After your KAP session, your clinician at Mind Body Seven or your established therapist will monitor your progress and provide continuous support. This could mean developing a new treatment plan, scheduling additional KAP sessions, or introducing other therapeutic interventions to maximize your well-being.
Conclusion
Ketamine-assisted therapy offers a great approach to mental health treatment, especially for individuals who tend to be “stuck” despite ongoing talk therapy and medications. By integrating ketamine administration with psychotherapy, KAP addresses both the neurochemical and psychological dimensions of mental health, fostering enduring recovery and growth.
We have navigated through the multifaceted world of ketamine treatment and KAP in this series, examining its applications, benefits, efficacy, risks, limitations, and the structure of a ketamine treatment session. At Mind Body Seven, we are committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care, and sharing information to help individuals on their quest for mental health and well-being.
At Mind Body Seven, we offer various therapeutic services, including individual psychotherapy, group therapy, medication management, and mind-body psychotherapy approaches such as hypnosis, EMDR, biofeedback, neurofeedback, mindfulness-based therapy, and somatic psychotherapy. Our team stays up-to-date with cutting-edge research and best practices, ensuring that you receive excellent care tailored to your unique needs and goals.
If you're considering ketamine-assisted psychotherapy or other mental health treatments, we welcome you to contact our team at Mind Body Seven. We are here to address your questions, discuss your thoughts and concerns, and assist you in charting the best course of action for your specific needs. Join us on the path toward healing, growth, and improved mental health and well-being.
Thank you for joining us on this exploration of ketamine therapy. We hope that this series has furnished you with valuable insights and information, and we eagerly anticipate supporting you on your journey to healing and well-being.
Continuing Education and Resources
In our commitment to providing comprehensive mental health care, we at Mind Body Seven dedicate ourselves to staying informed about the latest developments in the field and sharing this knowledge with our patients and the broader community. We encourage you to explore additional resources on mental health topics, attend workshops or seminars, and engage in ongoing learning to support your journey toward healing and personal growth.
Mind Body Seven clinicians offer treatment in Brooklyn and via teletherapy for adolescents and adults. If have not worked with us and want to get started please contact us here, so we can set you up with the clinicians that best suit your individual needs. If you are an existing patient get in touch with us here to set up your next appointment.