Ketamine Therapy in Denver

What Is Ketamine Therapy?

Ketamine therapy, also known as ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), combines carefully administered ketamine medication with psychotherapy to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions that haven't responded well to traditional treatments.

Unlike traditional antidepressants that can take weeks or months to show effects, ketamine works through a different brain pathway and can provide rapid relief - often within hours or days. When combined with therapy, ketamine can create windows of neuroplasticity that allow for deeper healing and lasting change.

Ketamine therapy may help with:

• Treatment-resistant depression

• Chronic anxiety and panic disorders

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Complex trauma and developmental trauma

• Chronic pain with mental health components

• Certain eating disorders

• Suicidal ideation (in clinical settings)

How Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Works

Preparation Phase: We'll work together to prepare you mentally and emotionally for the ketamine experience, setting intentions and addressing any concerns about the process.

Ketamine Session: During the session, you'll receive a carefully monitored dose of ketamine while I provide therapeutic guidance and support throughout the experience.

Integration Phase: After each ketamine session, we'll process your experience and integrate insights into your ongoing therapeutic work and daily life.

The combination of ketamine's neuroplasticity effects with targeted psychotherapy creates opportunities for breakthroughs that might not be possible with either treatment alone.

My Specialized Approach to Ketamine Therapy

Trauma-Informed Ketamine Work: Many clients seeking ketamine therapy have complex trauma histories. I provide specialized support for processing traumatic material that may arise during ketamine sessions.

Integration with Ongoing Therapy: Ketamine therapy works best as part of comprehensive treatment. I integrate KAP with approaches like EMDR therapy, somatic work, and other modalities you may already be using.

Liberation-Focused Healing: We'll explore how systemic oppression, cultural trauma, and social factors contribute to your mental health struggles, using ketamine sessions to address these deeper wounds.

Eating Disorder Considerations: For clients with eating disorder histories, ketamine therapy requires special considerations and careful monitoring. Learn more about eating disorder therapy.

Who Can Benefit from Ketamine Therapy

Treatment-Resistant Depression: If you've tried multiple antidepressants and therapy approaches without significant improvement, ketamine therapy may offer new possibilities for healing.

Complex PTSD and Trauma: Traditional trauma therapy can sometimes feel stuck or too overwhelming. Ketamine can create a window of reduced reactivity that allows for deeper trauma processing. Learn more about trauma therapy.

Chronic Anxiety: When anxiety feels treatment-resistant or interferes significantly with daily functioning despite other interventions.

Suicidal Ideation: Ketamine has shown rapid effects in reducing suicidal thoughts, though this requires careful medical supervision and safety planning.

Breakthrough Therapy Needs: Sometimes therapy reaches a plateau. Ketamine can create opportunities for new insights and emotional breakthroughs.

What to Expect During Ketamine Therapy

Medical Evaluation: Before beginning ketamine therapy, you'll need medical clearance to ensure ketamine is safe and appropriate for you.

Preparation Sessions: We'll spend time preparing you for the ketamine experience, discussing expectations, setting intentions, and addressing any anxiety about the process.

Ketamine Sessions: During treatment, you'll be in a comfortable, safe environment while I monitor your experience and provide therapeutic support as needed.

Integration Work: Between ketamine sessions, we'll process insights, work through material that emerged, and integrate learning into your daily life.

Ongoing Support: Ketamine therapy typically involves a series of sessions over several weeks or months, with ongoing therapeutic support throughout the process.

Safety and Medical Considerations

Ketamine therapy requires careful medical screening and ongoing monitoring:

Medical Clearance Required: Not everyone is a candidate for ketamine therapy. Medical conditions, certain medications, and substance use history all factor into safety considerations.

Supervised Administration: Ketamine sessions take place in a controlled clinical environment with proper medical oversight and emergency protocols.

Drug Interactions: We'll carefully review all medications and supplements to ensure safe ketamine administration.

Aftercare Planning: Each session includes proper aftercare instructions and safety planning for the hours following treatment.

Ketamine Therapy and Mental Health Integration

Depression Treatment: Ketamine can provide rapid relief from depressive symptoms while therapy addresses underlying causes and builds long-term coping skills. Learn more about depression therapy.

Anxiety Management: The neuroplasticity effects of ketamine can help reshape anxious thought patterns when combined with targeted therapeutic work. Learn more about anxiety therapy.

Trauma Processing: Ketamine may reduce the overwhelming nature of trauma memories, allowing for safer processing of difficult experiences.

Identity and Self-Worth: Many clients experience profound shifts in self-perception during ketamine therapy, which we'll explore and integrate therapeutically.

What Ketamine Therapy Recovery Looks Like

Recovery through ketamine therapy often involves:

Rapid Symptom Relief: Many clients experience significant improvement in mood, anxiety, or trauma symptoms within days of their first session.

Increased Neuroplasticity: Ketamine creates windows where your brain is more adaptable to change, making therapy more effective.

Deeper Insights: Clients often report profound realizations about themselves, relationships, and life patterns during ketamine sessions.

Enhanced Therapy Effectiveness: Regular therapy becomes more productive as ketamine reduces emotional barriers to healing.

Sustained Improvement: With proper integration work, the benefits of ketamine therapy can create lasting positive changes.

Is Ketamine Therapy Right for You?

Ketamine therapy may be appropriate if you:

• Have tried multiple traditional treatments without sufficient improvement

• Experience treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, or PTSD

• Are stable enough to engage in intensive therapeutic work

• Have realistic expectations about the process and commitment required

• Are able to participate in integration therapy between sessions

Ketamine therapy may not be appropriate if you:

• Have certain heart conditions, high blood pressure, or other medical contraindications

• Have active substance use disorders

• Have certain psychiatric conditions that could be destabilized by ketamine

• Are seeking a quick fix without commitment to ongoing therapeutic work

Taking the Next Step

Ketamine therapy represents a significant commitment to your healing journey. It requires medical clearance, ongoing therapy work, and dedication to integration between sessions.

If you're ready to explore innovative treatment options for mental health challenges that haven't responded to traditional approaches, ketamine therapy might offer new possibilities for healing and transformation.

Schedule a consultation to discuss how postpartum therapy can support your healing and recovery.

Related services: Depression Therapy | Anxiety Therapy | Trauma Therapy | Body Image Therapy | EMDR Therapy | Relationship Therapy | Postpartum Therapy | Nutrition Therapy

More about my approach: My therapeutic philosophy