Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy

Ketamine is a legal, safe, and effective medicine used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. It has rapid antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects, often noticeable within hours and can last for weeks. It works by targeting the neurotransmitter glutamate, which influences mood and thought patterns.It promotes neuroplasticity — the brain's ability to form new connections. Ketamine can be administered in a variety of ways, including IV infusion, intramuscular injection, nasal spray, and sublingual lozenges. At Journey Clinical we use the sublingual lozenge form.

The effects of ketamine, which most patients find pleasant, last for approximately 45 minutes. These effects can make you feel “far from” your body, and facilitate shifts in perception that can often feel expansive in nature. Many people report having unique emotional or visual experiences that can give you a break from habitual thoughts and gain a new perspective on traumatic situations. Your motor and verbal abilities will be reduced, so you’ll be lying down in a comfortable position during the experience. Once these effects subside, your psychotherapist will spend the remainder of your appointment giving you space to process and discuss your experience. While it may feel hard to articulate what happens during the experience, patients feel like the insights gained are clear.