Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)

Understanding Ketamine Assisted Therapy in Portland: An Invaluable Tool for Relief

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) Q & A

What is ketamine-assisted therapy?

Ketamine-assisted therapy (KAP) combines ketamine administration with psychotherapy to treat depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). KAP is a short-term treatment custom designed to meet your individual needs and goals.

The goal of KAP is to accelerate and promote improved self-awareness and understanding while helping you get relief from your mental health symptoms.

Am I a candidate for ketamine-assisted therapy?

For potential new clients a psychiatric and medical evaluation will be used to determine that you are safe for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

KAP is most useful for patients who fail to get relief from their mental health symptoms with traditional psychiatric medications and therapy. KAP is ideal for conditions like CPTSD, depression, Autism, anxiety, and ADHD.

How does ketamine-assisted therapy work?

Ketamine is a general anesthetic used during surgical procedures. It’s a dissociative anesthetic that works by preventing the reuptake of glutamate by the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in the brain. During surgery, these actions block pain sensations and short-term memory formation during the procedure.

For mental health conditions, you will receive al low dose of ketamine as an intramuscular injection or oral lozenge.

During treatment, the medication stabilizes the activity of the glutamate receptors in your brain, providing immediate relief from your symptoms. It also activates a protein that encourages the growth of new neurons and synapses, creating new pathways of communication in your brain, called BDNF.

With psychotherapy, your therapist helps you make use of these new neural pathways, creating new ways of responding to old hurts.

What can I expect during ketamine-assisted psychotherapy?

We will customize your KAP treatment plan to match your needs and goals and reviews what you can expect during treatment at your “pre-flight” prep sessions. Afterwards you will meet with your therapist or Justin Rice, PMNP for an hour to discuss your treatment, insights, and the behavioral changes you can make to enhance the benefits, this is called "Integration".

Ketamine treatment takes about two hours. During your treatment, you sit in a plush reclining chair while listening to music chosen specifically for you.

To schedule your ketamine-assisted therapy consultation, call Sakura Recovery and Wellness or book an appointment online today.