I have noticed recently how many Ketamine Therapy clinics are popping up around Nashville and online. So, I want to take some time to explain the difference between Ketamine Therapy and what we do here at Sacred Wellness: Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). Ketamine Therapy usually requires six infusions of ketamine through intramuscular injection or IV. Clients are usually left alone for the infusion and sent home directly after. This is a great option for anyone looking solely for temporary symptom relief. Most clients experience around six months of symptom relief taking this route. I refer to this as passive therapy. At Sacred Wellness, we are doing what I call active therapy – Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. The ketamine is always taken between preparation and integration sessions in what we call a dosing session. All the work is done with a therapist present. Our goal is to get symptom relief coupled with therapy that is actively seeking to uncover what is under the symptoms. We work with clients to go deeper into self-discovery to find the origins of pain AND joy. We aim to empower clients to lean into their inner healer’s wisdom and address the root cause of their distressing symptoms. We use preparation sessions to identify client goals and intentions for KAP. Next, we use dosing session to work directly with the ketamine and begin processing what is coming up for clients. Lastly, we use integration sessions to talk about what happened in dosing sessions and how clients are making meaning and how it is applicable to their lives. It is in these moments of process that most clients do the work that moves them beyond symptom relief. I cannot begin to explain how powerful it is to witness clients access healing and parts of self that provide long lasting relief. I encourage anyone looking into ketamine to go the route of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy—everyone deserves more than symptom relief.
