What to Expect During Ketamine Therapy Sessions for Trauma Recovery
You’ve been engaged in trauma therapy for some time, exploring various methods like CBT, DBT, prolonged exposure, narrative therapy, inner child work, and perhaps even EMDR. These therapies have helped to some extent, allowing you to unearth and understand aspects of your trauma.
However, you've noticed that just as you begin to delve deeper, it feels as if an armed protector within you guards the door to your deepest wounds, preventing full access and healing.
This inner protector seems to stand in the way, keeping you from truly confronting and healing from your trauma, making you feel stuck, always close yet unable to fully engage with the healing process.
Amidst this struggle, the idea of ketamine therapy has entered your thoughts, perhaps recommended by your current therapist or discovered through your research. You’ve learned that ketamine-assisted therapy could potentially help you navigate past this inner protector, offering a different approach to trauma recovery. Naturally, this raises many questions about what the therapy entails, and making a decision can feel daunting.
At Spilove Psychotherapy, we understand the importance of feeling prepared and informed. Knowing what to expect during ketamine therapy sessions can greatly assist your decision-making process. These sessions are designed to foster a safe and controlled environment where you can explore your thoughts and emotions with professional support. Ketamine therapy could be the key to unlocking the door that your inner protector has been guarding, allowing you to access and heal from the deeper traumas that have seemed just out of reach.
So, let's answer some questions you might have and dive deeper into what ketamine therapy can offer you!
Understanding the Role of Ketamine in Trauma Therapy
Trauma can leave deep psychological scars, affecting an individual's ability to lead a fulfilling life. Traditional therapies have made significant strides in addressing these wounds, but for some, the journey towards healing remains fraught with challenges. This is where ketamine therapy comes into play. Unlike traditional methods, ketamine therapy is noted for facilitating deeper emotional processing and providing quicker symptom relief. For those seeking new paths to heal from trauma, it represents a novel and effective option.
How Ketamine Works for Trauma
Ketamine acts on the brain's neurotransmitters in ways that are fundamentally different from traditional antidepressants. It primarily affects the glutamate system, the most common neurotransmitter in the brain, which is involved in most cognitive functions, including memory, learning, and emotion. Trauma can disrupt the normal functioning of glutamate pathways, leading to persistent symptoms of PTSD and other trauma-related disorders. Ketamine helps by resetting these neural pathways. Its rapid action can decrease symptoms of acute stress and dissociation, which are often barriers to engaging in therapeutic work. By modulating the brain’s response to glutamate, ketamine can help 'rewire' brain circuits that have been dysregulated by trauma. This provides a "window of opportunity" where the brain is more receptive to forming new, healthy neural connections.
Before the Therapy—Preparation and Assessment
Ketamine therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Specifically, when it comes to the nuanced needs of trauma recovery. At Spilove Psychotherapy, we prioritize a thorough and meticulous preparation phase to ensure that ketamine therapy is tailored to each client’s unique circumstances. This preparation begins with an initial screening phone call, during which we engage in a detailed conversation to understand your medical history, current medications, and the specific nature of your trauma.
During this initial call, we ask key questions to assess your eligibility for Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). We delve into various aspects of your health and previous treatments. We’ll also discuss any past experiences with psychedelics, as this information can be crucial in planning your treatment. If this conversation suggests that ketamine therapy might be beneficial for you, the next step involves completing a detailed screening form. This form collects comprehensive information about your medical history, mental health concerns, current medications, and any previous psychedelic experiences. Overall, it allows us to gain a fuller picture of your health and needs.
Once we review your responses and determine that you might benefit from ketamine therapy, the process moves forward to ensure your safety and suitability for the treatment. You will be referred to a prescribing provider for a medical evaluation. This step is vital as it confirms that ketamine therapy is safe for you, taking into account your overall health and specific medical conditions.
At Spilove Psychotherapy, we ensure that our clients are fully informed and feel comfortable before initiating treatment. We address any questions or concerns you might have, providing clear information about what to expect during the therapy sessions. Our goal is to make sure that every client feels supported and confident in their journey towards healing, knowing that they are receiving care that is not only effective but also highly personalized.
During the Session—Setting, Administration, and Experience
Ketamine therapy sessions at Spilove Psychotherapy are conducted in a serene environment, meticulously designed to ensure you feel safe and relaxed. Our offices provide a quiet, calming space where you can lie down with a fluffy pillow and a weighted blanket, adding a physical sense of security. We offer an eye mask and the option to listen to soothing music or bring a personal comfort item to make the experience as comforting as possible.
Administration. We only offer the lozenge form of ketamine, which clients self-administer under our supervision. This method promotes a sense of control and empowerment during the treatment. Before the session begins, you and your therapist will agree on the dosage, ensuring that it is tailored to your specific therapeutic needs.
The Experience. Once the ketamine is administered, you may quickly begin to feel its effects, typically within minutes. Patients often describe a sensation of floating or detachment from their usual mental patterns. This dissociative effect is crucial as it allows you to view your thoughts and feelings from a new perspective, often reducing the immediacy and impact of negative or painful emotions. It’s common to experience altered perceptions of time and space. While these sensations can be surprising, they are generally well-managed with the guidance of our experienced therapists.
Support and Integrated Therapies. Throughout the session, a therapist will be present to monitor your physical and emotional state. This ensures your safety and comfort, providing support and facilitating the processing of any thoughts or insights that arise. In addition to ketamine, we may integrate other therapeutic approaches as needed, such as EMDR, inner child work, somatic sensations, or parts work. These methods can enhance the ketamine experience, helping to further lower the defenses of the 'inner protector' and allowing us to open the door to deeply buried trauma, making the therapy session even more effective.
At Spilove Psychotherapy, we are committed to creating a treatment experience that not only addresses your immediate symptoms but also supports your long-term healing and personal growth. Our thoughtful integration of ketamine with other therapeutic techniques ensures that each session contributes to your journey toward recovery in a meaningful and sustainable way.
After the Session—Integration and Support
The effects of a single ketamine therapy session can be profound and transformative, particularly for those dealing with deep-seated trauma. As the effects of ketamine gradually wear off, which typically happens within minutes to hours after the session concludes, you may find yourself deeply reflecting on the experiences and insights gained. This period of reflection is critical, and it’s why integration therapy forms a cornerstone of our approach at Spilove Psychotherapy.
Why Integration is Important For Trauma Therapy
Integration is essential in trauma therapy because it helps transform the profound dissociative experiences and insights gained during ketamine sessions into lasting emotional and behavioral changes. Without this crucial step, the insights might not fully translate into everyday life, potentially leaving significant therapeutic breakthroughs unanchored. Effective integration ensures that the emotional revelations and cognitive shifts experienced during the ketamine session are consciously and constructively woven into your ongoing healing process.
Techniques for Integration in Trauma Therapy
At Spilove Psychotherapy, we provide a supportive framework in the days following your session, which is designed to help you make sense of your ketamine experience and weave the insights into the fabric of your life. Integration therapy can take various forms, depending on your individual needs and the nature of the insights gained during the session:
Talk Therapy. Engaging in guided discussions with a therapist can help you articulate and explore the meanings behind the thoughts and feelings that arose during the session. This can be invaluable for contextualizing the experience and for addressing any emerging challenges or revelations.
Journaling. Writing down your thoughts and reflections can be a powerful tool for processing complex emotions and ideas. It provides a private space to express yourself and can serve as a tangible record of your evolving thoughts, helping to track your progress over time.
Art. A non-verbal avenue for expression and can be particularly effective for clients who find it difficult to articulate their thoughts and emotions. Creating art can help externalize feelings and memories, making them easier to address and integrate. Activities might include drawing, painting, or sculpting, which can facilitate a deeper exploration of the ketamine experience and promote healing from trauma.
Mindfulness Practices. Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or guided imagery can help maintain the calm and centeredness experienced during ketamine therapy. They can also enhance your awareness and acceptance of emotions and thoughts, fostering a mindful approach to challenges and stressors.
Sustained Support and Reinforcement
The journey through trauma recovery does not end with the integration phase. At Spilove Psychotherapy, we are dedicated to providing ongoing support that reinforces the therapeutic advancements achieved through ketamine therapy. Continued therapy sessions, whether they involve ketamine or other therapeutic modalities, are aimed at reinforcing and building upon the initial breakthroughs. This ensures a trajectory towards lasting healing and resilience. Integration in trauma therapy is not just about making sense of the experiences during ketamine sessions; it's about transforming these experiences into stepping stones towards profound recovery. Our approach is designed to support you in this journey, helping to ensure that the insights and shifts achieved lead to meaningful and sustainable changes in your life.
Ongoing Care and Considerations
Ketamine therapy for trauma recovery is not a linear process and often requires a personalized and adaptive approach. The journey might involve multiple sessions, and the exact number can vary significantly depending on individual responses and therapeutic goals. It’s important to maintain an open line of communication with your therapy team, who will adjust the treatment plan as necessary. The goal is to find the most effective and sustainable path to recovery.
Regular Assessments and Adjustments
As you progress through your ketamine therapy, regular assessments will be vital to monitor your response to the treatment. These assessments help in understanding how your symptoms are evolving and how you are integrating your insights into daily life. Based on these evaluations, your therapy team can make informed adjustments to the dosage of ketamine, the frequency of sessions, or the integration techniques used, ensuring that the therapy remains aligned with your healing process.
Long-Term Strategy and Support
Recovery from trauma is a long-term endeavor. Ketamine therapy is often just one part of a broader therapeutic strategy. At Spilove Psychotherapy, we emphasize creating a comprehensive treatment plan that may include other therapeutic modalities such as:
EMDR
inner child work
IFS
Somatic experiencing
This integrated approach ensures that the gains from ketamine therapy are supported and reinforced by other therapeutic techniques, fostering deeper and more sustainable healing.
Building a Support Network
We also recognize the importance of a supportive network in the recovery process. Engaging family members or close friends in your healing journey can provide additional emotional support and understanding. Our therapists can facilitate sessions where loved ones learn about the nature of your therapy and how they can assist in your recovery process, fostering a supportive environment at home as well as in therapy.
Lifelong Tools and Techniques
Finally, our goal is not just to help you recover from trauma but also to equip you with lifelong tools and techniques that promote mental well-being. We focus on building resilience, emotional regulation skills, and personal growth. All of which are crucial for long-term emotional health and can help prevent relapse into severe symptoms. Through ongoing care and careful consideration of each client’s journey, we strive to provide a holistic and empathetic approach to trauma therapy, ensuring that each step taken is a step toward lasting recovery and well-being.
Ketamine therapy in Bryn Mawr, PA, and Philadelphia offers a transformative approach for those struggling to heal from trauma. By providing a unique mechanism that facilitates deep emotional processing and rapid symptom relief, ketamine can be a pivotal element in the journey toward recovery. However, it's important to recognize that this treatment is just one part of a comprehensive therapeutic strategy. At Spilove Psychotherapy, we are committed to guiding you through each step of this journey, from the initial assessment and personalized treatment planning to ongoing integration and long-term care.
Our goal is to not only alleviate the immediate symptoms of trauma but to empower you with tools and insights that promote enduring healing and resilience. With a combination of advanced therapeutic techniques and the supportive environment we foster, we aim to unlock your potential for a fuller, more rewarding life post-trauma. As you consider ketamine therapy, remember that our team is here to ensure that your treatment is safe, effective, and tailored to your specific needs.
Embrace the possibility of a renewed sense of self and the freedom to live beyond your past experiences.
With Spilove Psychotherapy, embark on a transformative journey that respects your unique story and fosters deep, lasting change.
Let’s Talk About Whether Ketamine Therapy Is Right for You
You don’t have to keep doing this alone. If you've come this far in your trauma work, you know how much strength it takes to face what hurts. And if something inside still feels stuck—if that inner protector is holding the door closed—ketamine-assisted therapy might help you gently open it. At Spilove Psychotherapy, we’re here to guide you through this next step with care, clarity, and compassion. If you’re curious or have questions, let’s talk. You deserve a healing experience that truly meets you where you are.
Reach out today to schedule a consultation and discuss whether ketamine therapy could be part of your path forward.
Learn more about trauma recovery by reading our blogs.
Let’s explore a new path to healing.
About the Author
Julia Castagna, M.S., LPC, is a seasoned trauma therapist licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She earned her Master of Science in Counseling from Villanova University and currently serves as the Assistant Clinical Director at Spilove Psychotherapy. Julia specializes in addressing complex trauma, including generational trauma, through a variety of therapeutic approaches such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and more recently, ketamine-assisted therapy.
With a profound understanding of the dynamics of trauma, Julia is adept at fostering resilience, identifying emotional triggers, and building personalized coping strategies for her clients. Her approach is compassionate and client-centered, focusing on creating a safe space where individuals can explore their emotions and begin their journey towards healing.
Besides her clinical expertise, Julia's role as Assistant Clinical Director allows her to influence therapeutic practices and innovations within her team, ensuring that the care provided is both effective and empathetic. If you are ready to reclaim joy and fulfillment in your life, connect with Julia for virtual sessions available across Pennsylvania and New Jersey!
Other Therapy Services We Offer in Pennsylvania
While intensive therapy and ketamine therapy are core services of ours, we offer a range of other services to support your mental and emotional well-being. This includes couples therapy, LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy, and therapy for college students navigating stress, transitions, or identity work.
We also provide EMDR and trauma therapy, family and relationship therapy, and yoga therapy for clients looking to reconnect with their body as part of the healing process. For those wanting structure and skill-building, we offer DBT skills groups as well.
If you're more interested in future-focused support, our life coaching services are available in-person throughout Pennsylvania and online across the U.S.
No matter where you're starting from, we’re here to meet you with care, insight, and options that truly fit your needs.
