Ketamine Therapy
We are now offering IV and IM as well as intranasal Spravato as well as at-home use of compounded ketamine for intranasal or oral troche treatment when used with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP).
Both IV and oral troche forms of ketamine have been shown to be highly effective in treating depression.
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
KAP includes preparatory, experiential, and integration sessions. Just like with surgery, good preparation and proper post-procedure rehabilitation are essential to good outcomes.
Ketamine
Ketamine is now considered the best antidepressant available! It is often safer than SSRIs and sometimes allows for deprescribing of typical antidepressants. Is also showing great promise is treating PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and OCD.
- Conventional psychiatry options haven’t worked for you.
- Not making improvements in your depression, anxiety, bipolar, OCD, ADHD, or other forms of psychological distress.
- Side effects don’t counteract the level of improvement received with conventional approaches.
History Of Ketamine
Ketamine was developed in 1962 as a safer version of PCP for anesthesia as cardiovascularly stable and reduces the sensation of pain. Both ketamine and PCP are found in nature, as they are both produced by a fungus-like mushroom and have antiparasitic properties similar to ayahuasca. Thus, ketamine is a very safe version and legal psychedelic that can bring about transformative healing for patients suffering from depression, and trauma (including that from acute, chronic as well as from attachment, transgenerational, and narcissistic abuse-related trauma). Ketamine is used in general surgery, and particularly in trauma and pediatrics because of how safe it is. The typical route of administration is intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM) but can also be administered through highly vascular spaces in the body such as intranasally or sublingually.
Ketamine was first used in the Vietnam War to help reduce pain and mental anguish on the battlefield. It is currently being used all over the world with different protocols for several sessions and when paired with specific ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, the durability of response is greatly enhanced. A typical course of IV or IM ketamine is twice-weekly for 2-3 weeks, while low-dose ketamine delivered intranasally or sublingually takes 4-6 weeks or longer if needed.
Intravenous And Intramuscular Ketamine
Ketamine treatments, other than Spravato, are still not covered by most commercial insurance plans and treatment is considered experimental and requires cash-payment for treatment.
Insurance typically still covers a 2nd opinion for psychiatric evaluation and recommendations that may include the use of ketamine. Our team will always offer several other holistic treatment suggestions that include improving lifestyle issues, getting biological and genetic testing, considering other adjunctive antidepressant approaches, and adding psychological approaches to help change thoughts, behavior and meaning-making.
At low doses commonly prescribed intranasally or sublingually in ketamine clinics, it has a dissociative and true psychedelic effect that lasts for approximately 90 minutes. The effects are felt immediately and the antidepressant effects can last up to a week. A typical course of outpatient low-dose ketamine is 6 weeks but may be shorter or longer depending on the needs of each person. Ketamine promotes neuroplasticity allowing the brain to disconnect from old unhealthy patterns and realign with new beliefs. When combined with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), it allows for expedient and deep breakthroughs to heal spiritual and mental trauma and bring about profound and lasting change.
Spravato (eskatemine) – Insurance-covered version of Ketamine
In office use only
Most insurance plans only cover the FDA-approved Spravato (S-ketamine) intranasal ketamine treatment for treatment resistant depression. This approach requires insurance prior authorization to determine if coverage is possible for a 6-week in-office-only program.
Compounded (racemic) Ketamine – Inexpensive cash version of Ketamine for home use when combined with
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
We also offer cash rates for a similar form of compounded ketamine (R-ketamine) that allows more flexible dosing and can be prescribed as an intranasal or oral sublingual troche to be used at home or in the office. I use a similar 6-week program to that of Spravato in addition to Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) to enhance positive outcomes for not only treatment-resistant depression, but also PTSD, anxiety, and OCD. Research is showing that this form of compounded ketamine treatment may be more effective than Spravato or intravenous ketamine therapy.
We are now offering Ketamine + Oxytocin-Assisted Psychotherapy.
This combination therapy is a powerful treatment for C-PTSD, depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, and relational trauma. Ketamine works on the habenula, which lines the 3rd ventricle and pineal body (3rd eye) to increase levels of the main monoamines involved in mood and anxiety regulations (serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine), while oxytocin works on the amygdala to reduce fear and anxiety and increase feelings of empathy and understanding for self and others. A few weeks of Ketamine + Oxytocin-Assisted Therapy is like MDMA therapy and can accelerate the therapeutic process, allowing you to achieve what you might after many years of traditional talk therapy.
Dr. Aaron McDonough, PharmD
Dr. Aaron McDonough, PharmD is a Co-Owner and the Chief Innovation Officer of Towncrest Pharmacy Corporation
KAP FAQs - Tara Mind
We collaborate with several off-site KAP and/or psychedelic + IFS trained therapists and can help train your current therapist to assist with integration to get the most out of your ketamine experiences.
Ketamine-Assisted Therapy | High Efficacy | Short Treatment Course | Sustained Effect | Low Cost |
Traditional Therapies | Low Cost | Lifetime Treatment | Symptoms worsen off meds | High Cost |
Please read more about the importance of creating a safe container and preparing for set and setting before KAP, and the power of setting intentions, and integration after the experience.
Psychedelic Integration
The therapeutic use of psychedelics (in addition to ketamine, psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and other plants) can lead to profound spiritual healing as a root cause of mental and physical ailments. There are several recent studies showing the clinical importance of this emerging treatment for several psychiatric conditions, in particular psilocybin and MDMA for PTSD.
Integration is a process in which a person revisits and actively engages in making sense of, working through, translating, and processing the content of their psychedelic experience. Through intentional effort and supportive practices, this process allows one to gradually capture and incorporate the emergent lessons and insights into their lives, thus moving toward greater balance and wholeness, both internally (mind, body, and spirit) and externally (lifestyle, social relations, and the natural world). I can help you find legal centers to seek this type of therapy and can also help you process your new perspectives and meaning making to transform your life.
Acknowledging to the growing acceptance of the therapeutic value of psychedelic treatment, the American Medical Association (AMA) has officially released a new billing code for continuous in-person monitoring and intervention during psychedelic medication therapy that goes into effect on January 1, 2024.
For an excellent history and review of psychedelic integration practices please read:
Psychedelic Research
Psychedelic drug MDMA moves closer to US approval following success in PTSD trial. Long-awaited trial data show drug is effective at treating post-traumatic stress disorder in a diversity of people (published in one of the most prominent research publications in the world.
Long-awaited trial data show drug is effective at treating post-traumatic stress disorder in a diversity of people (published in one of the most prominent research publications in the world.
All psychedelics work have different mechanisms of action, but all lead to similar wide-spread brain wave synchrony that lead to reduced entrenched beliefs and less rigid thoughts and behaviors, which were adaptive during adolescence but lead to stuckness and depression in adulthood.
Depression
The depressed brain encourages rigid thought patterns that impact well-being. This can be viewed as a “landscape” with deep wells that make it difficult for patients to “move between” different thoughts and perspectives. Image by Richard Daws, Kings College London
Psilocybin
Psilocybin therapy “flattens” the brain’s landscape and “opens up” the rigidity of the depressed to allow new thoughts, insight, and perspective to emerge. Image by Richard Daws, Kings College London
Post-treatment
Post-treatment, a flatter landscape makes it easier for patients to experience healthier flexibility and diversity in their thought patterns. Image by Richard Daws, Kings College London
Getting Started With KAP
Please Purchase Before Your 1st Ketamine Treatment. | TRIP JOURNAL FOR JOURNALINGEYESHADESDEEP THETA |
Please Use These Additional Mindfulness Options To Enhance Your Kap Experience | BYU BASS BREATHWORKCHOPRAINSIGHT TIMERDOWNLOAD TRIPP APP (FREE) |
Chose Your Flight Music From Curated Playlists For Your Ketamine Sessions In Person Or At Home. | SPOTIFYKRIYA INSTITUEISHAWONDERMEDYOUTUBEITUNES |
Care Credit Financing Is Available
If you haven’t met your deductible, or it resets for the year, we accept the #CareCredit credit card to help bridge the gap between insurance and the cost of care.
Did you know you can pay online anytime, anywhere with your #CareCredit credit card? Don’t worry about coming to the office, mailing a check or calling. Ask us for more info.
You shouldn’t have to compromise on care because of cost. That’s why we accept the #CareCredit credit card with special financing options.
If you’ve been putting off visiting us because healthcare costs are rising, we accept the #CareCredit credit card to help you pay for care. Ask us for details.
Whether you’ve been sick or just need a checkup, your health can’t wait. Come see us today. We accept the #CareCredit credit card with special financing options.