Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
A Transformative Treatment Option
What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)?
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a transformative approach that combines the therapeutic benefits of ketamine with traditional psychotherapy. This innovative treatment has shown promise in accelerating the healing process for individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions. At Hopemark Health, our MAPS-trained
therapists are committed to guiding you through every step of this journey.
What Can KAP Treat?
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy has been found effective in treating:
The KAP Process at Hopemark Health
Initial Consultation:
Before introducing any medicine, you will first meet with your therapist to build rapport and establish a trusting relationship.
Ketamine Sessions:
The combination of ketamine with psychotherapy accelerates the healing process. Intentional preparation inside the therapeutic container allows for patients to face issues in a meaningful way without becoming overwhelmed.
Therapeutic Integration:
Our therapists provide a safe and supportive therapeutic container around each medicine dosing session.
Our clinics have the largest concentration of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy trained therapists in Illinois
At Hopemark Health, we integrate ketamine with psychotherapy, providing a comprehensive approach to psychedelic-assisted therapy.
We take pride in having a highly trained staff, including MAPS-trained, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPC) who specialize in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT). Unlike regular therapists, our PAT therapists have undergone extensive training, including specific interventions designed for use with psychedelic medicine and hands-on practicum experiences. This specialized expertise ensures that our patients receive the safest and most effective care tailored to the unique needs of psychedelic therapy.
This support also ensures that whatever comes up during treatment, you’ll handle it with confidence, knowing someone is behind you, encouraging you every step of the way.
Common Questions About KAP
Yes, if you want to stop, there are measures that can be taken. You have an empowered choice. Medical intervention is part of our commitment to the right set and setting. This provides the reassurance that if you want to lessen the effects of the medicine, we have the ability to do so. We will encourage you to stay with the experience, use your breath, and trust the process however the decision is ultimately yours.
Patients often have different experiences, but it is common to feel a sense of detachment from ordinary reality, deep relaxation, and introspection. It’s important to take the time to integrate these feelings with the help of your therapist.
We recommend taking a day off work, especially if work is a trigger for you. This is not just a quick appointment; it’s a significant disruption that requires intentional time and protection. Treat it with the same importance as an open wound that needs care.
A regular Licensed Clinical Professional (LCP) therapist is trained in traditional therapeutic methods, while a MAPS-trained PAT therapist has specialized training working with psychedelic medicine. Our PAT therapists have each undergone a program that includes specific interventions designed for use with psychedelics.
It is essential to work with one of our PAT therapists during KAP sessions to ensure you receive the most effective and safe treatment tailored to the unique nature of psychedelic therapy. However, that does not mean we are replacing your current therapist.
We see ourselves as partners in your care, complementing the work you do with your home-base therapist rather than replacing them. KAP is an episodic treatment, with about 80% of patients experiencing significant benefits. However, the insights gained during KAP need to be quickly integrated with your primary therapist to ensure they don’t fade away, much like much like how the visceral experience of a fireworks display quickly reduces to a one dimensional memory.
After KAP sessions, we return patients to their therapists with a detailed roadmap for continued integration, fostering long-lasting behavioral change. It’s a collaborative effort where your traditional therapist plays a crucial role in carefully integrating the insights gained from KAP.
Have more questions?
Self-Care and After-Treatment Protocols
After your ketamine session, self-care is crucial to enhance and let the medicine work. We provide guidelines for driving to appointments, ensuring a quiet and serene environment without loud music or mundane chatter.
Setting boundaries with family and friends post-appointment is also important. Patients may experience changes in behavior, and we offer guides for family and friends to help with re-entry into their lives, ensuring they support the patient’s healing journey.
Proven Record of Safety
Because Ketamine has been in use for approximately 40 years with an outstanding record of safety, you needn’t be concerned about the safety of receiving Ketamine infusions. Currently, the medication is still used worldwide as an anesthetic, primarily in children. It has a distinct advantage over other anesthetic drugs since Ketamine does not slow down vital bodily functions such as respiration rate. Ketamine can increase blood pressure and heart rate for some patients, but this is a very temporary and transient effect. Ketamine is considered much safer than traditional anesthetics.
Perhaps even more importantly, Ketamine, when administered by infusion for psychiatric reasons, is administered at much lower doses than when used as an anesthetic. Its side effect profile during the time it has been in psychiatric use is considerably better than that of oral antidepressant medications. All studies thus far performed during the past 10 years have not shown negative outcomes.
Experience the transformative power of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy at Hopemark Health. Let us help you achieve your mental health goals with innovative, compassionate care. Contact us to learn more and start your journey to wellness.