What Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is a relatively new treatment that is gaining in popularity. This type of therapy involves ketamine, a drug that has been used for decades but only recently have we started to unlock its secrets to treat depression and other mental health conditions.

 

Today, we will look at what ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is and how it can be a benefit to the patient.

What Is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a fast-acting anesthetic drug that can treat many physical and mental problems. It is a dissociative anesthetic that can produce feelings of detachment or out-of-body experiences. Ketamine is also a powerful pain reliever.

 

Ketamine is usually administered using an IV, but it can also be taken orally or nasally. It also doesn’t have the side effects other anesthetics have, such as slow breathing and a slower heart rate.

 

Before medical breakthroughs, ketamine was mostly known as a party drug and would be placed in a drink or snorted. This would cause dangerous effects, also called a “trip,” that would give the user visual distortions and a sense of detachment from their body.

 

People who abuse ketamine put themselves at risk of developing an addiction, bladder problems, and even psychotic symptoms. We know today that it is important to only use ketamine under the care of a medical professional.

 

While ketamine has been known to produce dissociative effects, it has also been effective in the treatment of depression. A study published in The American Journal of 

Psychiatry found that ketamine was more effective than a placebo in treating patients with severe depression.

How Does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Work?

Psychotherapy works like any other type of therapy: helping the patient talk about their problems and find solutions. However, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy takes it further by including routine ketamine treatments.

 

Ketamine can help reduce stress and anxiety, which are two common symptoms of depression. It can also help to improve mood and increase energy levels.

 

You can choose multiple different ways to ingest the ketamine into your body, making sure whatever you choose is the most comfortable for you. Through a session, you and your medical advisor will be able to map out a plan that is catered just for you so that you can see how well ketamine can work firsthand.

How Can Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Benefit the Patient?

There are many potential benefits to ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Some of the most notable include:

 

• Improved mood
• Reduced anxiety
• Relief from pain
• Decreased suicidal thoughts and behaviors
• Increased ability to function in daily life

 

Ketamine is an effective treatment for depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and schizophrenia.

 

In some cases, it has been shown to be more effective than traditional therapies.

Sandhya Prashad’s Years of Experience Created One of the Best Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Clinics

A founder and current president of the American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists, and Practitioners, Sandhya Prashad, MD, has administered and helped over 5,000 patients with ketamine treatments.

 

Completing both medical school and psychiatry residency at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Prashad wanted the international medical world to take note of the vast benefits that ketamine could have on many patients suffering from conditions that did not have very many answers.

 

Since 2016, she has been building a comprehensive, cutting-edge ketamine program at her private practice in Houston that offers innovative treatments for various mental health conditions.

 

She also presents to other medical professionals on a national level to mentor others on the benefits of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

 

What Can You Expect When Experience Sandhya Prashad’s Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

Our Houston ketamine clinic offers a compassionate and safe environment for you to explore the potential benefits of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

 

Sandhya Prashad, MD, has years of experience administering ketamine treatments and will work with you to find the best possible solution for your mental health condition.

 

Each session is your choice between 1 hour or 3 hours in length, during which you will set goals that work alongside the ketamine treatment.

 

We offer individualized care in a private setting, with multiple ways to administer ketamine so that you can find what works best for you:

 

• Sublingual (oral)
• Intranasal (through the nose)
• Intramuscular (injection)
• Intravenous (IV)

 

It’s recommended that all patients commit to at least four sessions to see maximum results of your ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

 

Whether you are suffering from depression, anxiety, suicidality, or other conditions, ketamine can offer you a ray of hope.

 

It has been shown to be an effective treatment for various mental health conditions. With the help of Sandhya Prashad, MD, you can receive ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in a private and compassionate setting.

 

Schedule a free consultation today to see if ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can benefit you.

 

[Learn More About Sandhya Prashad, MD]