Ketamine Assisted Therapy: What it is like and what to expect

Ketamine Assisted Therapy has recently become more well known as a viable option for people experiencing treatment resistant depression, anxiety, and trauma. And we are here for it! Omni Counseling is now offering Ketamine Therapy in our Denver office. Ketamine is a medication that has been FDA approved as an anesthetic since 1970. Ketamine causes what doctors describe as a “dissociative experience” and what others might refer to as a “trip”. I like to call it a “journey”. 

Ketamine can produce feelings of unreality; visual and sensory distortions; a distorted feeling about one’s body; temporary unusual thoughts and beliefs; and a euphoria or a buzz,” says John Krystal, MD, chief of psychiatry at Yale-New Haven Hospital and Yale School of Medicine in Connecticut, where he is a leader in studying ketamine’s antidepressant effects.

There are several different forms of Ketamine, IV, IM, Nasal Spray, and sublingual tablets. At Omni, the latter is the form we use for Ketamine Assisted Therapy. The medication typically lasts approximately 40 minutes-1 hour. People describe feeling warm, safe, and confident as they are going through their journey. Oftentimes they will experience different scenarios in their minds, some that may have been suppressed for long periods of time. When they come out of their journey, our therapists are there to help them process what they have experienced, and integrate it into their life. This is where the real magic happens; helping people integrate into their lives what they have experienced during their journey leads to profound changes in their life. 

Some people have reported that they no longer worry about food, or their body. They feel happier overall, less stressed and anxious. They allow themselves to be more vulnerable which leads to deeper connections with their friends and family. We typically recommend 6 consecutive sessions of Ketamine Assisted Therapy to get the full benefits of the medication. 

We are excited to be able to offer this as a treatment option in our Denver office! Please reach out if you have questions about it. 

Help starts here. We’re a few clicks away, always.