Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy

Coming Soon in FAll 2022….Doylestown, PA

The Guest House
This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness,some momentary awareness comes As an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond 
-Rumi

  • What is Ketamine?

    Ketamine, a Schedule III medication used in assisted psychotherapy, is an off-label treatment for various chronic treatment-resistant mental health conditions. Medical professionals have used this medication as an analgesic and anesthetic agent. Today, it helps treat alcohol addiction, depression, PTSD, substance dependencies, and other psychiatric diagnoses. Additionally, it aids in the treatment of spiritual, psychological, and existential crises.

    Ketamine is the only legally available medicine with psychedelic properties, the first in our toolbox.

  • How does Ketamine work?

    The medication can stabilize patients with severe depression swiftly. Scientists from the University of Texas (UT) have identified the key protein that helps activate the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine in the brain. Their study, published in the journal Nature, revealed that ketamine inhibits a protein responsible for an array of normal brain functions. The medication blocks the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, an ion channel protein and glutamate receptor found in nerve cells. Inhibiting NMDA produces an initial antidepressant reaction. A metabolite found in ketamine is responsible for prolonging the effect’s duration.

    Ketamine, when taken in a psychotherapy session, can be beneficial. Stabilization is not the only effect of ketamine depression therapy. The blocking of the NMDA receptor also induces the hallucinogenic responses of ketamine. When taken with proper care, however, the drug may help severely suicidal or depressed patients get effective and fast treatment.

  • The Benefits

    Individuals taking ketamine in our office may experience positive changes in cognition, mood, and personality during treatment and in the days and weeks that follow. The medication allows people to access and benefit from it. The psychotherapy support they get will help make their experiences understandable and valuable to them.

    We recommend 3 sessions over a 2-3 week period while continuing with regular therapy sessions. We provide ketamine to patients in the form of a low-dose, sublingual lozenge.