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Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) as a Safe Treatment Option
In line with our mission to provide cutting-edge, evidence-based, safe, and effective treatments to our clients, we offer ketamine as a medicine and psychotherapeutic tool. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy complements other treatments and programs at Mind Therapy Clinic, including intensive programming, supportive housing, and more.
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What does KAP treat?
For those suffering from depression who have tried other medications with little or no relief, ketamine may be able to help. Individuals struggling with acute suicidality, PTSD, OCD, bipolar depression, anxiety, and eating disorders may also benefit.
Ketamine is fast-acting, alleviating depression symptoms in many patients in hours or days. Many people feel relief after their first treatment. Our treatment protocol includes 6 weekly treatments.
Ketamine therapy significantly and rapidly reduced depression symptoms in 50 to 70 percent of patients.
Traditional antidepressants can take four to six weeks to take effect, and for some patients, they don't work.
What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)?
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) combines the use of ketamine with psychotherapy. It is a state-of-the-art treatment that involves administering a low dose of ketamine, a medication commonly used for anesthesia, through a carefully monitored intramuscular injections or oral lozenges called troches. KAP has shown promising results in treating various mental health conditions, particularly depression. Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is considered safe and effective, providing a potential breakthrough for individuals who have not responded to traditional treatments.
How does it work?
What is it exactly?
KAP is an effective treatment option for depression that works differently than traditional antidepressants. Instead of waiting weeks for improvement, ketamine can provide relief in just hours to a few days. By targeting specific brain receptors and boosting the release of a neurotransmitter called glutamate, increased connections in the brain occur, promoting neuroplasticity, which is essential for overcoming depression. It also stimulates the release of a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein, which helps our brain’s health and mood regulation. Again, ketamine-assisted therapy is part of a comprehensive approach to healing. Our healthcare professionals closely monitor its use to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Are there any side effects?
KAP is a safe treatment with no long-term side effects observed in a clinical setting. Most patients find the effect of the ketamine to be a pleasant experience. It is common to feel dissociation during the treatment, which is expected and not harmful. Short-term side effects, when experienced, include mild nausea and blurry vision, and are usually resolved after a couple of hours. To ensure safety, our clients are monitored by specialists before cleared to go home. Although you may not experience any, typical side effects include: feeling tired groggy for the rest of the day after the treatment, and temporary dizziness immediately afterward, usually resolving within a few hours
What does it look like?
KAP is administered under the guidance of Mind Therapy Clinic’s expert psychiatrists and therapists, who are a select set of clinicians with the expertise to offer this treatment. It is an office-based, outpatient procedure that starts with you reclining comfortably, conversing in preparation with your KAP therapist. You will be offered eye shades and music on headphones. When ready, the intramuscular injection is administered by a medical professional. If you prefer to use a lozenge, you will dissolve it in your mouth while sitting up. You may feel a sense of relaxation in your mind and body, a slight warmth, or a little lightheadedness. The affects last about 40-90 minutes. Clients can expect: supervision and monitoring by our highly-trained medical professionals, an experienced ketamine therapist, a thoughtfully prepared, comfortable environment and an Integration session the following day to help make the most of the experience.
How does it work?
Ketamine infusion therapy is an effective treatment option for depression that works differently than traditional antidepressants. Instead of waiting weeks for improvement, ketamine can provide relief in just hours to a few days. By targeting specific brain receptors and boosting the release of a neurotransmitter called glutamate, increased connections in the brain occur, promoting neuroplasticity, which is essential for overcoming depression. It also stimulates the release of a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein, which helps our brain’s health and mood regulation. Again, ketamine infusion therapy is part of a comprehensive approach to healing. Our healthcare professionals closely monitor its use to ensure safety and effectiveness.
What does ketamine infusion therapy treat?
What does ketamine infusion therapy treat?
For those suffering from depression who have tried other medications with little or no relief, ketamine may be able to help. Individuals struggling with acute suicidality, PTSD, OCD, bipolar depression, anxiety, and eating disorders may also benefit.
Ketamine is fast-acting, alleviating depression symptoms in many patients in hours or days.
Ketamine therapy significantly and rapidly reduced depression symptoms in 50 to 70 percent of patients.
Traditional antidepressants can take four to six weeks to take effect, and for some patients, they don't work.
Other psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin, the active ingredient in "magic" mushrooms and LSD, as well as MDMA, known as ecstasy, are being studied to treat various mental health conditions, but esketamine and ketamine currently are the only drugs of this kind that can be prescribed legally outside clinical trials
Are there any side effects?
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is a safe treatment with no long-term side effects observed in a clinical setting. Short-term side effects usually present themselves within an hour of treatment and are resolved after a couple of hours. To ensure the safety of our clients, there is a two-hour supervision window where they’re monitored by our specialists before cleared to go home. Although you may not experience any, typical side effects include:
Dissociation during the infusion, which is expected and not harmful
Feeling tired or groggy for the rest of the day after the infusion
Occasional nausea during or shortly after the infusion
Temporary dizziness immediately after the infusion, usually resolving within a few hours
What does ketamine infusion therapy treat?
For those suffering from depression who have tried other medications with little or no relief, ketamine may be able to help. Individuals struggling with acute suicidality, PTSD, OCD, bipolar depression, anxiety, and eating disorders may also benefit. Ketamine is fast-acting, alleviating depression symptoms in many patients in hours or days. Ketamine therapy significantly and rapidly reduced depression symptoms in 50 to 70 percent of patients. Traditional antidepressants can take four to six weeks to take effect, and for some patients, they don’t work. Other psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin, the active ingredient in “magic” mushrooms and LSD, as well as MDMA, known as ecstasy, are being studied to treat various mental health conditions, but esketamine and ketamine currently are the only drugs of this kind that can be prescribed legally outside clinical trials
Our Therapists
Matt Blagys, PhD
Clinical Director and Psychologist
Jen Zanoli, PsyD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Alex Del Prete, PsyD
Post Doctoral Fellow
Alex Peterkin, PhD
Post Doctoral Fellow
Katherine Dittmann, MS, RD
Registered Dietician and Nutrition Therapist
Helen Chao, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Stephanie White, LPCC
Professional Clinical Counselor and Family Therapist
Jacqueline Perlmutter, RAS, DASD
Case Manager, Group Facilitator
Amelia Howard-Smith, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Emily Clark, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Alina Belohlavek, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Julie Vaccaro, AMFT
AMFT Intern & Admissions
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