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Ketamine is a psychedelic medication that has traditionally been used as an FDA-approved human and animal anesthetic since 1970. Ketamine has been studied in clinical trials for mood disorders since 1997, and over the past decade, the research into ketamine’s groundbreaking effects on depression and trauma became too substantial to ignore. Today, ketamine treatment is used to treat depression, PTSD, anxiety, chronic pain, and more.
While most medications for depression and anxiety take at least 8 weeks to start working, ketamine can start working after
the very first session. Here’s why: Ketamine is unique in that it has a different mechanism of action than other antidepressants. Most medications work on neurotransmitters, like serotonin or norepinephrine. Ketamine works on a special type of neurotransmitter called glutamate. Glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the brain, and also the fastest. When ketamine is administered, the glutamate system has a unique ability to open up a critical period for neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity can allow for profound healing to occur.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) combines two powerful treatment modalities: self-administered ketamine therapy and psychotherapy. The two treatments work synergistically: Ketamine increases neuroplasticity and can help reduce resistance in therapy. Psychotherapy helps reinforce positive habits, thought patterns, and alignment with treatment goals. The combination of ketamine treatment and psychotherapy can help patients heal faster while producing enduring results; It is not uncommon for our patients to tell us that their KAP session was “like 50 therapy sessions in one.”
If you have been struggling with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, or suicidal ideations, ketamine-assisted therapy may be a good treatment option for you. If you’re already planning on completing ketamine treatment, assisted therapy sessions can improve the effectiveness of your treatment. Call us today or schedule an online appointment to learn more about ketamine-assisted therapy.
KAP is available through our PHP and IOP. As of 2024, Bespoke Treatment offers completely virtual ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in California.
Anyone in California can join Bespoke Treatment’s PHP or IOP under the Psychedelic Medicine track and begin KAP treatment. Our PHP and IOP programs offer a personalized combination of therapeutic modalities, including but not limited to yoga therapy, nutrition counseling, group classes, psychiatry, naturopathic medicine, and occupational therapy.
Unlike some virtual at-home ketamine programs, with Bespoke Treatment you’ll have complete holistic care. Meet in real-time with a therapist who knows you and in a supportive environment from the comfort of your home. Our program can suit your work schedule and help you find hope. Experience relief and access to clinicians, therapists, nutrition support, lifestyle modification tips, and more when you choose Bespoke Treatment for ketamine-assisted therapy near you in California.
After your first KAP session, the programmatic goal switches to Integration. In Integration, we help you process what has gone on in your KAP sessions and bring those lessons, insights, and feelings into the real world.
Integration is a key component of our program, allowing you to reinforce positive thoughts, habits, and skills and to process your ketamine experiences with professional guidance in a community setting.
As you progress through the program, you’ll build emotional skills and resiliency and start seeing fewer benefits from ketamine over time.
Before any KAP treatment occurs, the Psychedelic Medicine track of the PHP and IOP have set aside time for Preparation. This is meant to adequately prepare you for what to expect from the KAP experience and get to know you better. That way, we can tailor-make a virtual KAP program that’s right for you and help you feel fully prepared for your ketamine therapy experience.
We’re here to ensure your journey in our IOP’s Psychedelic Track is comfortable and that you feel confident throughout the process and can answer any questions you may have around treatment.
During your first KAP session, one of our therapists will monitor you taking the ketamine over a HIPAA-compliant video platform such as Zoom. As it kicks in, the therapist will begin a 90-minute therapy session.
At the dosages we use, ketamine can be seen as a psycholytic drug—meant to induce a non-ordinary state of consciousness at a low, sub-anesthetic dose of ketamine. During treatment, you may experience a sensation of floating, mild hallucination, strong emotions, or otherwise an altered state of consciousness.
Your therapist will be with you along your journey to ensure your comfort and safety.
After your first KAP session, the programmatic goal switches to Integration. In Integration, we help you process what has gone on in your KAP sessions and bring those lessons, insights, and feelings into the real world.
Integration is a key component of our program, allowing you to reinforce positive thoughts, habits, and skills and to process your ketamine experiences with professional guidance in a community setting.
As you progress through the program, you’ll build emotional skills and resiliency and start seeing fewer benefits from ketamine over time.
Everyone’s dose may look a bit different. Your dosing will vary based on your physiology, comfort, and tolerance of ketamine. With your full medical history, we’ll determine your best starting dose. Your initial ketamine prescription is for oral troches or lozenges. We’ll use troches and lozenges to find your perfect dose: they allow for a gradual titration of the dose to find the optimal level for you. Once your dose has been found, all of your following prescriptions will be for ketamine RDTs (rapid dissolve tablets), which are a more advanced method to administer oral ketamine with a higher bioavailability and faster absorption time and consistency.
KAP is administered twice per week for 8-12 weeks, with some patients staying up to 16 weeks if clinically indicated. However, we view KAP as a short-term treatment, and our goal is for patients to use ketamine only as an acute intervention.
Wondering, “Am I a candidate for KAP”? If you’re feeling depressed, anxious, hopeless, or struggling with PTSD, ketamine can be a powerful tool help to accelerate your healing journey. If you tick any of those boxes, get in touch. Our providers are here to determine if ketamine is a good fit.
We will start with a thorough evaluation of your physical- and mental health before any ketamine is prescribed. Together, we’ll go over your medical history and ensure that none of your current medications will interact poorly with ketamine.
It’s our goal to ensure everyone has a safe and healing experience. Therefore, if you are not medically cleared during our evaluation, or there is a potential for a negative interaction between your current medications, ketamine will not be prescribed. However, we are still committed to helping you get back to feeling your best. Our Virtual IOP is available to anyone in California, and Santa Monica and Los Angeles residents may benefit from visiting us in-clinic for alternative, drug-free therapies such as TMS and Prism Neurofeedback.
