Psychedelic Therapy in Colorado: A Beginner’s Guide to Ketamine
You’ve likely heard about the potential benefits, but what does ketamine-assisted psychotherapy actually look like? How does it feel? And could it be the right fit for your journey? Let’s dive in.
IMPORTANT NOTE
The field of psychedelic therapy is rapidly evolving. Laws, regulations, and scientific understanding surrounding psychedelic medicines are subject to change. The information presented in this blog post reflects the current state of psychedelic therapy in Colorado as of August 2024. It is essential to recognize that this information may not be applicable to other locations or future dates.
This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical, legal, or therapeutic advice.
Individual experiences with psychedelic medicines can vary widely. Factors such as individual physiology, psychological state, and environmental conditions can influence the effects of these substances.
Always prioritize safety and consult with medical professionals before considering psychedelic therapy.
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is a legal medication that was approved by the FDA as an anesthetic in 1970. Currently, it’s used as a treatment for various mental health conditions, including treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
What is ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP)?
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) refers to the intentional use of ketamine in conjunction with psychotherapy, creating a synergistic experience that tends to enhance therapeutic outcomes.
In other words – you go deeper, faster and feel better, sooner.
What are the effects of ketamine?
As a dissociative anesthetic, ketamine causes a temporary sense of detachment from the body and surroundings.
In this state of “conscious dissociation,” you might experience shifts in your thoughts, perceptions, and senses, as well as deep emotional processing.
People who use ketamine often report a sense of relaxation and calmness throughout their body. They may also experience their self, identity, and life events from an observer’s perspective.
Some individuals describe this as a floating sensation or feeling like they are witnessing themselves from outside their body.
For individuals with depression and anxiety, it can be liberating to experience themselves as separate from their depressed and anxious thoughts.
Depending on the dosage, ketamine can induce either:
a psycholytic experience: slightly altered state of consciousness, while remaining aware of the present-moment environment; a sense of being in the “driver’s seat” of the journey
or a psychedelic experience: a highly altered state of consciousness, with less awareness of the present-moment environment; a sense of being in the “passenger’s seat” of the journey
How long will I feel the effects of ketamine?
The most noticeable effects of ketamine last around 1-2 hours. Exact duration depends on dosage, your mind-body system, and set & setting.
The long-term therapeutic effects of ketamine can last multiple days, weeks, or months. Research indicates that ketamine enhances the brain’s ability to form new neural connections, a process known as neuroplasticity.
This brain rewiring is essential for healing and post-traumatic growth, as it allows individuals to strengthen positive neural pathways (calm, joy, clarity) and weaken negative pathways (self-criticism, shame, hopelessness).
Across the course of KAP treatment, many clients report a significant decrease in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
With skillful post-journey support and integration, the benefits of ketamine can last far beyond the duration of the actual ketamine experience.
Pssst… want to learn more? Check out these blog posts:
—>> How to Prepare for Psychedelic Therapy
—>> What is Psychedelic Integration Therapy? (+ How to Choose a Therapist)
—>> What Does Ketamine Therapy Feel Like?
How is ketamine consumed?
There are various routes of administration for the ketamine medicine.
ORAL — you put a lozenge in your mouth, letting it dissolve under the tongue
INTRANASAL — you self-administer ketamine into your nose, as a nasal spray
INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION (IM) – you receive an injection of ketamine in the arm, administered by a medical professional
INTRAVENOUS INFUSION (IV) – you receive ketamine through an IV, administered by a medical professional
The route of administration will impact the amount of ketamine that is absorbed into your system (i.e., the “bioavailability” of the medicine).
IV ketamine is 99-100% bioavailable, since it enters directly into the bloodstream. IM ketamine is around 93% bioavailable. Intranasal varies between 8% - 45%; and oral ketamine varies between 17-29% bioavailability.
Some individuals report that the depth and intensity of the ketamine experience shifts depending on the route of administration – with oral and intranasal ketamine facilitating more “gentle” experiences, while IM and IV ketamine may induce more “immersive” journeys.
(Remember, too, that each experience is unique, and highly influenced by set and setting – so anecdotal accounts are not necessarily predictive of your KAP experience.)
Your personalized treatment plan, including the frequency, dosage, and total number of ketamine sessions, will be developed collaboratively with you, your medical provider, and your KAP therapist.
What are safety considerations for ketamine?
Ketamine is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance, indicating a lower potential for abuse compared to other drugs.
That being said, the medication does have potentially challenging side effects. Individuals under the influence of ketamine have reported experiencing: impaired balance and coordination, blurred vision, slurred speech, confusion, anxiety, nausea, increase in blood pressure and heart rate, and (in extreme cases) vomiting.
Before starting ketamine therapy, you must undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation and intake process to confirm that this medicine is a safe and suitable fit for you.
While ketamine has received negative attention in the news, due to instances of recreational misuse or non-intentional use combined with other substances, it’s important to emphasize that ketamine abuse is uncommon in clinical settings.
As a result of thorough medical screenings, education on responsible use, and limited access to the medication itself, KAP clients are unlikely to engage with ketamine in an unsafe or addictive way, and more likely to experience therapeutic effects.
In what contexts can I work with ketamine?
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can look a few different ways, offering flexibility in how you receive support.
AT-HOME SESSION
Individuals prescribed oral ketamine lozenges may have the option to self-administer a low dose at home under strict medical guidance.
A support person (friend or family member) should be present, to assist with physical tasks as needed (walking to the bathroom, getting a glass of water).
The lozenge is dissolved under the tongue for 10-15 minutes. Afterward, individuals typically lie down, experience the gentle effects of the medicine, and listen to a ketamine playlist (soothing, calming music with no lyrics) for 1-2 hours.
This approach is ideal for those who prefer a home setting for altered states of consciousness, and who are unable to access in-person ketamine therapy due to geographical, physical, or financial constraints.
To maximize the benefits of this at-home treatment, it’s strongly recommended to engage in therapy sessions with a psychedelic-informed therapist both before and after the ketamine experience.
GUIDED KAP SESSION: INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
Individual KAP sessions offer personalized attention and tailored therapeutic support. Each session lasts 2-3 hours, and takes place in a comfortable indoor setting (sensory-soothing office or retreat center).
Typically, the client consumes oral ketamine (lozenge) in a 1:1 KAP experience.
A psychedelic-trained therapist guides the ketamine experience, providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support throughout the session and integration process. The therapist may play music on speakers, or use sound healing instruments, to guide the client’s journey through an altered state of consciousness.
This one-on-one setting allows for deep exploration of personal themes and challenges.
Therapist Liz Zhou's sensory-soothing office in Denver, Colorado.
GUIDED KAP SESSION: GROUP THERAPY
Group KAP sessions provide a shared experience among individuals working towards similar goals (healing trauma, connecting with self, spiritual growth).
In group settings, the participants may consume ketamine orally (lozenge), or through intramuscular injection (administered by a medical professional on site).
A psychedelic-trained therapist (or multiple therapists and medical practitioners) will guide the group through the ketamine journey. Their job is to provide emotional, psychological, and spiritual support; ensure that all participants’ needs are met (including access to water and bathroom); and facilitate group dynamics.
Participants of a group ketamine experience can benefit from shared insights, peer support, and the collective energy that arises in the healing space.
Looking for holistic, trauma-sensitive ketamine-assisted psychotherapy & psychedelic integration therapy in Colorado?
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RESEARCH
Dai, D., Miller, C., Valdivia, V. et al. Neurocognitive effects of repeated ketamine infusion treatments in patients with treatment resistant depression: a retrospective chart review. BMC Psychiatry 22, 140 (2022).
Philipp-Muller AE, Stephenson CJ, Moghimi E, et al. Combining ketamine and psychotherapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Psychiatry. 2023;84(2):22br14564.
About the Author
Liz Zhou is holistic trauma therapist providing therapy services in Colorado. She helps highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults and couples heal from the past and connect with their authentic selves. Liz’s specialties include EMDR, IFS, psychedelic integration, and therapy intensives.
