With so many treatment options available for mental health and the various settings and ways in which one can receive ketamine therapy, how do you know if Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) at Field Trip Health is the right fit for you? We’ve outlined all of the factors you should consider when looking into our treatment program.
Firstly, do you suffer from a mental health condition? Ketamine has been shown to be most effective in Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, PTSD and Trauma.
Though safe and effective for many mental health conditions, ketamine has the best clinical evidence for treatment-resistant conditions. When we use the term ‘treatment-resistant,’ we are considering those whose symptoms do not adequately respond to traditional antidepressant therapies, despite many attempts.
Our Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy programs take a holistic approach to healing, tackling not just the symptoms, but also the negative thought patterns, lifestyle factors, trauma, coping skills, and chemical systems in the brain, allowing it to be highly effective where other treatments have failed. Many of our clients who have tried everything finish our programs feeling the relief they’ve been searching for.
While our Field Trip In-Person programs are primarily designed for the mental health diagnoses above, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is also effective for the following conditions:
– Bipolar disorder
– Obsessive-compulsive disorders
– Substance use disorders
– Eating disorders
– Postpartum depression
As with any medical treatment, you should consult with your healthcare provider(s) to weigh the risks and benefits and rule out any potential contraindications prior to starting treatment. Our Ketamine-Assisted Therapy programs are not suited for those: younger than the age of 18, pregnant or trying to get pregnant, with a history of allergic reaction or hypersensitivity to ketamine and/or with a history of schizophrenia or psychosis. To ensure your safety, any chronic medical conditions should be stable and well-controlled when going through treatment. A medical consultation is the first step in our intake process to help you navigate any medical questions, ensure we’re the best treatment option for you and set you up for a successful journey.
Equally as important as the medical and psychiatric considerations are some psychosocial and environmental factors to think about when determining if Ketamine Assisted Therapy at Field Trip Health might be right for you.
1. Are you willing to be an active participant in your healing process?
Field Trip Health uses ketamine as a therapeutic tool to help clients open their minds and access their inner healer. Psychotherapy is combined with psychedelic experiences in order to optimize and sustain the benefits of ketamine. Your active engagement during your integration therapy sessions with your Field Trip Health therapist is key as those sessions are where you will process your experience, identify learning opportunities, and take steps to make meaningful, lasting changes in your life.
2. Are you comfortable with being uncomfortable?
Psychedelics can be a powerful catalyst for jump-starting your therapy and the healing process, however, there is a certain degree of vulnerability that comes with letting go, surrendering to the experience and trusting in the process. It is not uncommon for challenging memories, thoughts or feelings that were previously buried to resurface. Field Trip Health therapists are highly trained and skilled at supporting you as you address and process any difficult memories or feelings; however, because the process will not always be easy, you will want to check in with yourself and do an honest assessment of your willingness to deal with what comes up – whatever that may be – and your readiness for change.
3. Do you have adequate internal and external resources to help you during your treatment?
As noted above, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and the healing process are hard work and you will want to make sure you have resources that you can draw upon if you feel stressed or triggered or if you need logistical support (e.g. childcare, transportation, etc.)
Internal resources are your inner strengths and self-care practices that help you to relax and feel calm, safe and strong. Some examples of internal resources include: mindfulness, meditation, hope, determination, patience, and spirituality. External resources are the things outside of yourself (e.g. friends/family, spiritual community, physical or mental health care provider, exercise, hobbies) that you can call upon to feel calm, safe and supported.
4. What environmental factors are important to you and will impact your experience?
As mentioned, all clients at Field Trip Health centers undergo an in-depth psychiatric consultation and medical clearance process prior to starting treatment. Medical monitoring is performed non-invasively in an unobtrusive manner and every ketamine session has a therapeutic component (the extent of which depends on the client’s needs and preferences). Our centers are intentionally designed to invoke feelings of warmth and safety because your surroundings impact how comfortable you will be with letting go and starting the healing process. When considering the type of setting you want for your experience, you may find that doing ketamine therapy at home alone doesn’t feel right for you at this stage in your healing journey. Or perhaps you don’t want to receive ketamine treatment in a setting that looks or feels too clinical but you need the reassurance of an in-depth medical clearance process, thorough pre-KAP preparation with a therapist and the support of a clinical team in order to feel comfortable enough to fully let go and get the most out of your experience.
In summary, determining if Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is right for you requires you to look at several factors: medical, psychiatric, psychosocial, and environmental. Answering the questions outlined here will assist you in deciding if a KAP program with Field Trip is worth pursuing right now or if it is something you could consider in the future.
Does Field Trip Health Have a Ketamine Therapy Offering Near Me?
Field Trip Health has clinics across Canada in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Thunder Bay, and Sault Ste. Marie, and an at-home program for those who live more than an hour from the nearest clinic. If you are ready to begin your journey toward healing and build your personalized treatment plan, then book a free discovery call with one of our team members.
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