Traditional Ketamine vs. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
There are a couple main types of treatment utilizing ketamine. The original treatment was a series of ketamine injections/infusions over the course of a couple weeks – referred to as Traditional Ketamine (Treatment). The newer treatment is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy which is utilizing ketamine as a medicine to help with a psychotherapeutic session.
Traditional Ketamine Treatments
Traditional Ketamine is what most people probably think about when they hear about ketamine therapy. The intended benefit is utilizing the inherent qualities of the medicine on our systems to create a rapid, effective, and safe antidepressant effect. We have decades of research showing the effectiveness of this treatment for depression, as well as general beneficial effects such as the growth of new neurons, the formation of new neural pathways, and changes in how we process information.
Usually, this therapy involves a series of 6 treatments in an office over the course of two weeks. There is some flexibility to this schedule but most people try to stick with this regimen as it seems to be the most effective. It is most often used to treat depression with around a 70% response rate, often after the first few sessions. Often this is one treatment option that people use after trying other therapies, including SSRIs (e.g. Zoloft, Paxil) that haven’t been effective. Traditional ketamine treatment (usually) does not involve any associated psychotherapy. Given that, these sessions are shorter than Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy sessions. Usually Traditional Ketamine clinics do not offer preparation or integration before and after sessions.
Currently this treatment is provided by a licensed medical professional. These include Psychiatrists, Integrative Medicine Physicians, Anesthesiologists, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners or Physicians Assistants, and Nurse Anesthetists. Although all of the above are able to prescribe the medicine and conduct the treatment, we recommend going with a trained mental health professional that has experience working with the broad spectrum of symptoms specific to mental health. In the Middle Tennessee area the only Psychiatrist currently doing this work is Dr. Daniel Barton at the Nashville Ketamine Center. He opened the first ketamine clinic in the Southeast and has been providing excellent and proven services since.
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is better suited for clients who want to work on some deeper personality changes, mental health, interpersonal relationships, or general psychological and personal growth. This option is a lot more flexible with scheduling and does not require a series of 6 sessions over two weeks. We often work with people on a weekly, bi-weekly, or a la carte basis.
This process starts with Preparation sessions that include getting to know the client, getting information on your current life including what you want to work on, historical life information, and any other information pertinent to you as a person. These sessions also involve specific information around ketamine, what to loosely expect, how to work with whatever may come up during the session, and setting the groundwork for understanding and processing the experience to cement personal growth.
After a few Preparation sessions we schedule the first KAP session with our clients. These sessions are around 2.5-3 hours. The first 30-45 minutes is day-of preparation, then the medicine portion of the session, usually around 60 minutes, and some integration afterwards. During the medicine portion of the session clients are experiencing a non-ordinary state of consciousness which allows for a different way to access parts of self, personality, and history. During the KAP session the therapist serves as a guide, helper, and meaning-maker.
Combination
At the Nashville Psychedelic Center we have utilized a combination approach by combining the regimens of Traditional Ketamine and KAP. We have clients schedule several KAP sessions in a condensed time period, sometimes the 6 over 2 weeks, to combine the effectiveness of ketamine as a medicine with the psychotherapeutic benefits of KAP and integration therapy.
Parting Thoughts
Both Traditional Ketamine treatment and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy are effective, safe, and evidence-based treatments. At the Nashville Psychedelic Center we offer Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, however as part of our screening process we help you determine what would be the best option for you as we want you to get the most out of your healthcare time, money, and effort investment.