My Approach

I have came to understand that ketamine can be a profound facilitator of growth through offering us a chance to experience ourselves, our past, and our place in the universe from a unique perspective that is often hidden behind pain and defenses. The direct experience of this vantage point that ketamine offers can be helpful in and of itself but long term change appears connected to a consistent and ongoing integration practice. Ketamine does not “cure” but rather offers an experience that is deeply felt for you to learn from. My approach strongly emphasizes both the direct experience that ketamine provides and an individualized integration practice that you and I develop together in psychotherapy work.

Please reach out to me through my contact page to see how I can be of support throughout your healing journey with ketamine.

What is Ketamine?

Ketamine is an FDA-approved medication and is a Schedule III drug in the United States. The FDA approval is for ketamine as a sole anesthetic agent for diagnostic and surgical procedures. Currently, ketamine is not FDA-approved for other indications, but that does not prohibit its use for other indications, such as mental health care. Many drugs are used “off-label” at the discretion of the administering or prescribing physician.

There has been significant research and practice in the last few years for using ketamine in mental health care (see Walsh et al. 2022 for a comprehensive systematic review). Research studies have shown “robust, rapid and transient antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects of ketamine” as well as similarly positive results for other mental health indications.

How is Ketamine used in therapy?

There are a variety of options for ketamine treatment for mental health conditions such as clinics that provide lozenge, IV(intravenous), and/or IM (intramuscular) treatment. Some clinics provide on-site therapy support but many do not. Research has found that ketamine treatment alongside psychotherapy, also known as ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), to be an effective method of treatment (see Dore et al. 2018). It can be immensely helpful to have a therapist support you throughout the process of ketamine treatment to maximize the benefits and to have assistance navigating any obstacles.