Ketamine and Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) are not just medical treatments. They are deep emotional experiences that redefine the healing process for those trapped in the tenacious grip of mental health conditions like PTSD, Treatment Resistant Depression and ADHD.
Ketamine is an anesthetic administered in low (anxiolytic) doses, ideally with indispensable emotional support from an experienced, compassionate Marriage and Family Therapist like Andre Moore, LMFT. The medicine takes patients on a deep, introspective journey that alters their emotions and helps them discover hidden beauties deep inside, beauties that can inspire them to make profound changes in their daily lives.
Ketamine works like a gentle Buddha. It enhances the mind’s innate neuroplasticity and capacity to heal. The number of sessions varies depending on the needs and desires of patients. Most people ask for six weekly sessions, others for up to 12 weekly sessions. The healing power of Ketamine in these sessions lies in its ability to stimulate the brain’s glutamatergic pathways, causing tiny emotional excavations that result in fresh ways of seeing things, enhanced optimism and hopefulness. Imagine the possibilities!
The best experience of Ketamine occurs in three essential stages:
- One or more preparatory psychotherapy sessions in which a therapeutic alliance is created with an experienced, compassionate therapist like Andre Moore, LMFT. During these sessions Andre will learn about your current life stresses, early childhood attachment, past or recent traumas and other struggles such as Treatment Resistant Depression, ADHD, OCD or Dyslexia.
- You can choose to take a Ketamine capsule sublingually under your tongue and let it be absorbed into your bloodstream or as a nasal spray directly into each of your nostrils. Nasal Ketamine is usually absorbed more quickly than sublingual Ketamine. Both are taken with you wearing eye shades, listening to music chosen from a playlist provided by Andre Moore in previous sessions. Andre will sit with you during the entire time you are on the medicine which generally lasts from 1 ½ to 2 hours.
- In post administration psychotherapy sessions, the meaning and emotional impact of the Ketamine in your daily life are explored working closely with Andre.
At Marriage Couples Counseling in New York City, Andre Anthony Moore, LMFT, Ketamine and Psychedelic Assisted Therapist certified by the Integrative Psychiatry Institute, brings over 20 years of experience in helping individuals and couples navigate relationship challenges. He uses Emotionally Focused Therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and now Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy to deepen and enhance the emotional impact of these three older therapies.
The Psychedelic Renaissance in Clinical Practice
The resurgence of psychedelic-assisted therapy marks a renaissance in clinical practice, a revival of interest in the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics that were extensively and safely studied on thousands of patients in the mid-20th century.
Anxiolytic (small dose) Ketamine is approved by the FDA. Although it is not a psychedelic like MDMA Ecstasy, Psilocybin Mushrooms and Ayahuasca Plant Medicine, it augurs well for the greater psychedelic renaissance that offers hope to individuals and couples who have built a solid therapeutic alliance working with a licensed, compassionate marriage and family therapist like Andre Moore.
This resurgence not only reflects a shift in societal attitudes towards these once stigmatized drugs but also highlights the potential for positive changes in treating a spectrum of psychological disorders, including substance abuse and:
- Treatment-resistant depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Anxiety disorders
- Addiction
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder, and
- End-of-life anxiety
Psychedelic-assisted therapy with MDMA Ecstasy, Psilocybin Mushrooms and Ayahuasca Plant Medicine has shown promising results in clinical trials with many patients reporting profound and lasting emotional improvements in their daily lives. As research continues, these three psychedelic therapies – always working with an experienced, compassionate therapist – have the potential to become an increasingly important therapeutic tool in mental health. As with Ketamine, the unique, non-ordinary states of consciousness induced in psychedelic therapy can result in profound emotional healing in everyday life.
How Ketamine Works Differently from Traditional Antidepressants
The magic of ketamine lies in its unique mechanism of action, distinct from traditional antidepressants. By blocking NMDA receptors in the brain, ketamine ignites a cascade of rapid-acting antidepressant effects, offering a lifeline to those with treatment-resistant depression. This action profoundly impacts mood, cognition, and pain perception, distinguishing ketamine as a treatment modality in its own right.
At higher doses, ketamine’s ability to foster patient rapport, reduce defensiveness, and evoke transpersonal experiences can profoundly affect the therapeutic process, supporting transformative outcomes. Furthermore, ketamine’s influence on the glutamate system and its potential to forge new synaptic connections may underlie the lasting antidepressant effects that have eluded so many patients with severe depression.
A Closer Look at Ketamine Infusions
Ketamine infusions represent a core aspect of ketamine therapy, where administered ketamine is delivered intravenously, often with tailored dosages and medication co-administration to suit the unique needs of each patient. This personalized approach in a controlled medical environment ensures that ketamine’s therapeutic benefits are maximized while minimizing potential risks.
Besides intravenous infusions, other acknowledged routes of administration include intramuscular, sublingual, and intranasal, each offering a different profile in terms of onset, duration, and intensity of effects.
From Infusion to Integration: The Importance of Post-Session Care
After a ketamine infusion, patients might traverse a terrain of changed perceptions, with integration sessions serving as the guide that aids their understanding of these experiences. This post-session care is crucial, not only for processing the ketamine-induced disorientation and vivid dreams but also for minimizing risks, like accidental injuries, related to the substance’s dissociative effects.
Integration work in the form of talk therapy sessions provides a vital bridge between the inner world uncovered by ketamine and the patient’s everyday reality. By assimilating the treatment effects into their psyche, patients can effectively integrate new insights and positive changes into their lives.
Addressing Mental Health Conditions with Ketamine Therapy
Ketamine therapy caters to a broad spectrum of mental health conditions, yielding promising results that have garnered interest from the medical community and individuals seeking psychological relief alike. Patients with major depressive disorder have experienced a rapid reduction in depressive symptoms, often within hours following a ketamine infusion, showcasing an unprecedented rate of response.
In the realm of PTSD, ketamine’s ability to soften the emotional impact of traumatic memories has provided significant relief, with effects lasting several weeks post-treatment. The rapid symptom reduction reported by patients extends beyond depression and PTSD, encompassing conditions such as anxiety, OCD, and intrusive thoughts, highlighting the versatility of ketamine in addressing a spectrum of mental health challenges.
Clinical trials and patient testimonials have illuminated the potential of ketamine across various diagnoses, with notable decreases in anxiety and depression scores, particularly among patients with severe depression. The high response rates observed are a beacon of hope for many who have struggled with conventional treatments, positioning ketamine therapy as a powerful ally in the fight against mental illness.
Ketamine and Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy at Marriage Couples Counseling NYC
Andre Moore, LMFT applies Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy to individuals and couples in marriage and couples counseling in several structured phases to ensure safety, efficacy, and integration of the therapeutic experience. Here’s a detailed overview of how Andre ensures a compassionate and comprehensive treatment:
Screening and Assessment: Before starting Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, a thorough and sensitive evaluation is conducted to determine if this treatment is suitable for you. This includes understanding your current life circumstances and mental health status. Conditions such as ongoing anxiety, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), or TRD (Treatment Resistant Depression) are carefully considered. Additionally, any history of past trauma or complex PTSD is taken into account to tailor the treatment effectively.
Integration Support: The effectiveness of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy extends beyond the ketamine sessions themselves to include the integration of the emotional experiences encountered during the treatment. This involves processing and making sense of your deepest, often confusing, and sometimes terrifying feelings with a trusted psychotherapist. Moore emphasizes a therapeutic relationship that is respectful, empathetic, compassionately curious, and deeply understanding of your true self.
Safety and Monitoring: Ensuring a safe setting is paramount. If you choose to undertake ketamine sessions at Moore’s home office, whether sublingually with a small tablet or via a nasal spray, he will be present throughout the entire session, which typically lasts between one to two hours. Moore will ensure you feel calm and stable before you leave his office, ready to face the external environment of Manhattan.
Personalized Treatment Plan: Your treatment plan is developed through close consultation with Andre Moore, addressing your unique needs and goals. This collaborative approach helps determine the optimal dosage preferences and the desired frequency of your ketamine sessions, ensuring a tailored and effective therapeutic experience.
Informed Consent: Andre Moore will provide you with comprehensive information about the potential risks and benefits of Ketamine Assisted Therapy. You will receive an informed consent document, which precedes a referral to a trusted medical provider. This provider will conduct a complete medical examination and prescribe the optimal dosage for your treatment.
Support System: Having a supportive network of friends or family can significantly enhance the benefits of ketamine therapy. In the absence of such a support system, the therapeutic alliance with Andre Moore becomes crucial. His respect, empathy, and compassionate curiosity are instrumental in enhancing the therapeutic effects of the medicine. This emotional support is essential when engaging in treatments involving ketamine or other psychedelics like Psilocybin Mushrooms, MDMA Ecstasy, or Ayahuasca plant medicine.
Embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery with Andre Moore, LMFT, a certified Ketamine and Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist by the Integrative Psychiatry Institute. Andre is dedicated to providing the essential emotional support needed to navigate your ketamine journey, helping you uncover hidden aspects of yourself that remain unseen by those around you.
True self-understanding arises in the presence of a trusted, empathetic individual—a friend, a loved one, or when those are absent, a compassionate therapist like Andre Moore. Don’t wait to find the deeper understanding of yourself that you’ve been seeking. Contact Andre Moore today and take the first step towards a more profound and authentic self-awareness.