Personal Insights & Therapeutic Lessons From a Ketamine Therapist
Hello, My Name is Kirsten
I thought I would take a moment to re-introduce myself here. I am a somatic trauma therapist specializing in EMDR and ketamine therapy and run a Denver-based group practice. I am especially passionate about ketamine therapy, one of the tools in my trauma therapy toolbox. I am very interested in what a holistic approach to mental health can offer that’s different from the traditional mental healthcare model. I believe that the groundwork for a deeper sense of integration and healing arises from an environment of deep compassion and empathy within a safe and supportive therapeutic relationship. This is also referred to as “set and setting” in the psychedelic world.
As a therapist specializing in ketamine therapy, I see how my clients benefit from ketamine as an alternative healing approach to trauma therapy, in part because it becomes a vehicle for them to access their inner wisdom, which is sometimes referred to as the “inner healer.” I help my clients access this by offering somatic and mindfulness-based support during their ketamine therapy sessions to bring them back into the present moment awareness of their bodies and emotions… and allowing stuck energy to move through and out.
What Ketamine Therapy Research Tells Us
Decades of research tell us that there are many positive benefits of ketamine therapy. For example, ketamine has been proven to be effective in the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. In a study on ketamine use for PTSD, the National Library of Medicine found that at 14 days post-treatment, 80% of the sample were in remission from post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.
There is a lot of information out there about the numerous benefits of this type of therapy.
Research shows us that ketamine is one tool that can create faster and more lasting change, and I remain humbled and awed by the rapid and effective effects of ketamine on my clients.
A Few Things I’ve Learned as a Ketamine Therapist
Inner Child Healing & Other Big Shifts
I regularly notice that clients who have been doing attachment work with me already can connect with their inner child with relative ease within the container of a ketamine therapy session. In preparing for the ketamine session itself, I work with clients to help them connect with their “parts,” meaning the various identities that they hold, including younger child parts. While I can't go into too much detail to protect client confidentiality, in general, a lot of the work that happens is related to healing the younger child parts. I’ve had clients who can bring their inner child to safety on their ketamine journey. I’ve had clients go from suicidal to no longer suicidal within 1-2 sessions. I’ve had clients report that their “baseline” for depression seems to have shifted entirely, and now when they have dips, they no longer go to the lows that they used to. A lot of people report that their depression symptoms (while they don’t necessarily go away completely) have improved and they are no longer quite so weighed down by depression. There seems to be a sense of connecting to something “greater” than themselves which has included connecting to their ancestors for support and visitations from loved ones that they’ve lost.
I Use Ketamine Holistically
I wish that people knew how different this treatment is from ketamine used in the party scene. I also want to clarify that my sessions are not stand-alone ketamine therapy sessions (although folks can certainly go to IV clinics for this purpose, and no shade! Sometimes this approach is exactly what folks need as it’s more accessible and affordable). Essentially, I consider ketamine a tool to treat trauma symptoms in the same way that I consider EMDR and somatic therapy tools. I like to use it holistically. Sometimes people come specifically wanting ketamine therapy and that’s not how I work. I like to blend ketamine therapy into a larger and more thoughtful attachment-focused piece of work. So, it’s critical that there is a safe container (the relationship) and that the client has learned plenty of skills and tools to regulate their nervous system beforehand. I will be there to guide and support you as needed. So before we dive into ketamine therapy I like to make sure that we have done a lot of preparation and resourcing work ahead of time.
Choosing a Braver Path
Doing this work is deeply humbling; it can be very mysterious and surprising. I have learned that it’s important to not make any promises about a “good trip” or “cure-all.” Ketamine is a shape-shifter of a medicine and I try to warn people that it’s not a panacea. I’ve learned that there’s a tendency to want to make big promises in the psychedelic therapy world that often comes from a place of care and the desire to help people feel better immediately, especially if they’re at the end of their rope. Working with ketamine has reminded me that ultimately the work is all about coming back into presence and non-judgment of what is. To try to change that experience is violent on a certain level; learning to befriend the discomfort is a much harder and braver path… and it’s ultimately what leads us to freedom.
We're Here for You!
Please know that whatever you might be going through, there are treatment options available for you. If you choose to explore the profound benefits of ketamine therapy, alongside other modalities of therapy, our team is here to support you on your healing journey and help you connect with your inner wisdom. Get in touch today to schedule a consultation!