Ketamine-assisted
psychotherapy
“KAP”
Ketamine can be an effective tool to augment the therapeutic process. It permits people the ability to step out of their typical thought patterns (the default mode network or “DMN”). Ketamine temporarily reduces defensive barriers, increases neuroplasticity, and facilitates access to unconscious material. This state allows clients to engage more openly with therapeutic processes, integrate insights more effectively, and break through entrenched patterns that might otherwise resist change in traditional therapy alone.
I have worked with this medicine for over three years and continue to be excited about how effective it is. The set and setting in this work is extremely important. At Zola, our therapists are experienced, and the space is comfortable. Participants feel nurtured and safe.
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You contact Zola (because our KAP is a collaboration), and we will share a screening form. Our medical provider (usually Dr. Dawn) will review it. If there are no contraindications, we’ll schedule you for a medical clearance appointment (30 mins).
Once cleared, you’ll have a prep appointment with the therapist. You can ask questions, receive an overview of the process, get familiar with the space, and meet with other participants (if attending a group).
Next is the medicine session.
Finally, the integration group to process the medicine session and your experiences afterwards.
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We have a screening process that involves having you fill out a form that is reviewed by Dr. Dawn or another Zola medical provider before we schedule you for your medical clearance appointment.
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Part of the screening process is to review medications that you are taking. Most medications, including anti-depressants, are not contraindicated. Some medications, like benzodiazepines and opiates, are contraindicated depending on the frequency of use.
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There are situations where we may recommend individual treatments, but most of the time it’s up to you. We encourage attending groups as these can foster a sense of community. Another benefit to group work is that it can be more economical.
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We typically give it by injection into the shoulder muscle (with a very small needle). This has a few advantages over oral lozenges including the dosing being more predictable, faster onset, no drooling, lower risk of nausea, and the post-treatment grogginess doesn’t linger as long.