What is Ketamine Therapy?
If you’ve ever had surgery, the anesthesiologist may have used ketamine for your sedation. Now, ketamine has also proven to be beneficial in psychiatry. When administered in small therapeutic doses under the guidance of a mental health professional trained in evidence-based best practices, SPRAVATO® (esketamine) therapy can be valuable for treating major depression and other mental health concerns.
Conditions Ketamine Therapy Treats
The Benefits of Ketamine Therapy
Ketamine therapy is a tool in your mental health toolbox that should be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as cognitive behavior therapy, medication and lifestyle changes. When administered safely and effectively, ketamine may increase glutamate, the most abundant excitatory neuron in the brain. It can also decrease inflammation, and ketamine’s dissociative properties help to encourage brain plasticity, quite literally opening brain pathways to new perspectives helping you to become your best self.
How to Prepare for Ketamine Therapy
Prior to your first session, you will meet with a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner to determine if ketamine therapy aligns with your needs. Prior to your first session, you’ll meet with the therapist who will guide you through the ketamine experience. Here, you set treatment intentions, learn about meditation and other strategies for calming yourself, and the value of journaling before, during and after ketamine sessions. Great focus is placed on building trust with your counselor, since he or she will sit with you during the experience and guide you through the treatment sessions.
Your First Ketamine Therapy Session
Nevada Mental Health follows evidence-based best practices. We use small therapeutic ketamine doses, about one-third or less than the amount used for sedation. You should set aside three hours for each ketamine therapy session, which is conducted in a quiet room with soft music, dim light, and a white noise machine outside to assure privacy. At the start of the session, you will use centering and breathing techniques to ready yourself. Journaling is encouraged before and after your session, and your trusted counselor never leaves your side.
Is Ketamine Therapy For Me?
A full psychiatric assessment is recommended to see if ketamine therapy is right for you.
The Nevada Mental Health team is committed to providing you with a thorough assessment prior to treatment, so that you have the best experience possible. We work with all insurance providers and will also educate you on the therapeutic practices that work best alongside your ketamine therapy sessions. If you struggle with treatment-resistant depression, suicidal ideation or trauma symptoms from PTSD, ketamine therapy may be the perfect addition to your treatment regimen.
Ketamine Therapy may not be advisable if you have:
Our Dedicated Ketamine Therapy Team
Our ketamine therapy team ensures comprehensive and effective mental health care. Together, we stand as advocates for mental wellness, working to guide our patients on a journey towards lasting positive change and a healthier, more fulfilling life. Your well-being is our priority, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
