top of page
Garden Waterfall

Who Should and Who Should Not Have KAP?

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy has emerged as a ground-breaking treatment for a number of mental health conditions.  People with depression, PTSD, and anxiety disorders who have not had an adequate response to traditional therapies may consider this as an innovative treatment. For those who are entrenched in negative thoughts or ruminations that leave them stuck, it can be very helpful.

​

Not everyone is a candidate for KAP. Ketamine causes a rise in blood pressure and heart rate. The following conditions are contraindications to ketamine treatment:

​

  • uncontrolled hypertension

  • uncontrolled thyroid disease

  • most cardiac arrhtymias

  • a history of stroke or cardiovascular disease

  • a history of psychosis, including hallucinations, delusions, or disorganized behavior due to psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder

  • ketamine use disorder or prior addiction

  • dissociative disorders

  • severe personality disorders

Our group does not offer ketamine to people under the age of 18 or to women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Image by Sidekix Media

There are 5 group sessions and sublingual ketamine is administered at 3 of the sessions - all patients must have drivers  (not Uber or taxis) for these 3 sessions. Patients must commit to attending all 5 group sessions. Groups will be limited to 4 participants for a safe and individualized experience.

​

For a therapeutic experience, the setting is important, and we do everything possible to provide a comfortable and gentle environment. It is also important that patients come to treatment with a prepared mindset: you will be asked to make some changes in your lifestyle for the two weeks before the beginning of group. Healthy eating, gentle exercise, adequate sleep, and beginning a meditation practice all help to get the best results. Better living through chemistry still requires better living!

 

Our office is only doing Group KAP.  We are not taking new patients for ongoing ketamine treatment.  If ketamine helps, but the result don't hold, participants will be referred for treatment with Spravato, also called esketamine. Spravato is the only FDA-approved formulation of ketamine and it has an indication for treatment-resistant depression.

bottom of page