Why Ketamine-Assisted Therapy?
A few years ago, when organizations started offering ketamine through online prescriptions, several of my veteran clients asked for my opinion. Citing benefits from research is one thing, but providing experiential data is a different animal. So, I decided to try a six-week at-home, self-guided protocol, with my husband as my chaperone. To say that I gained nothing from the treatment would be untrue. As we navigate life, our constant internal chatter can be overwhelming. Having an hour twice a week to experience a non-ordinary state, free from my inner critic and taskmaster, reminded me that a profound peace within me is always accessible. It reaffirmed my deep sense that there is a different way to live—one marked by ease and grace.
That said, as I educated myself about the function of ketamine and the processes that make the medicine so impactful, I realized that I had left much of the benefit on the table.
Dr. Carlos Zarate, a leading psychiatrist and researcher in ketamine’s use for depression, famously described it as "Miracle-Gro for your brain." Ketamine not only promotes neuroplasticity (the brain's ability to reorganize and adapt by forming new neural connections), but also restores brain connectivity. Over time, particularly when dealing with mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, our focus tends to narrow. Many of us have experienced times in our lives when we’ve lacked robust motivation to engage, and our thoughts were colored by a negative hue.
This phenomenon can be likened to a snowy mountain covered in ski tracks, where our emotions get stuck in ruts and our thoughts and behaviors follow suit. Ketamine acts like a fresh layer of snow, allowing new tracks to form and making those new possibilities more enduring. The new paths we create are more likely to become habits, which underscores the importance of both the preparation and integration phases of ketamine treatment.
Preparation not only educates you about what to expect, significantly reducing anxiety, but also helps you identify what you want to change. With your therapist, you can set intentions for your journey and develop a roadmap for achieving them.
During integration, after your dosing session, you can process the experiences and insights that emerged. Exploration and interpretation encourage new ways of thinking about your problems. You will develop an actionable plan and identify key areas for change. Your therapist will equip you with tools to maximize the impact and significance of your treatment. The insights you gain and the steps you take will lead to lasting, positive transformation in your life.
Once I realized how much more impactful the treatment could be, I decided I wanted to change the way ketamine is offered so clients can fully benefit from their treatments. I was dismayed to see that many clinics—actually, all of them—simply insert an IV, leave the room, and then send you on your way. While you will undoubtedly gain some value, as I did on my first journey, the benefits are likely to be short-lived. When ketamine is used as a tool to support psychotherapy, clients can experience truly life-changing shifts.
