Fun times over here adding transformative medicine work to power-wielding of deep transformation.
I’ve guided tons of medicine journeys with the very hope to bring deep transformation and expanded consciousness. I give Ketamine Assisted Therapy (KAP) an A+ for treating Treatment-Resistant Depression.
Ketamine Assisted Therapy is a medicine that has been put on the “psychedelic continuum”. It is not a traditional psychedelic compared to MDMA, Psilocybin, and LSD. It is still an absolute game changer. It is low risk-high reward medicine.
KAP packs a beautiful punch in fighting treatment-resistant depression.
Known for its ability to shift perspectives, KAP creates an opportunity for neuronal change. KAP creates opportunities for new thoughts, feelings, and experiences. The Brain and nervous system changes are enhanced by psychotherapy during and after the medicine sessions.
Ketamine, as medicine, has a consciousness of kindness. Ketamine supports the un-coupling of the heavy, stuck, and negative feelings.
I’ve done Ketamine-Assisted Therapy myself. In the years after the traumatic loss of my dad, which intersected with 10/10 endometriosis deluge of pain (more on this coming to a blog near you). An excerpt of my experience is included below. With that said, the benefits of KAP are a welcome addition to our work here at Compass Healing Project.
The Nervous System + Depression
Depression is a result of both nature (genetics and genetic load) and nurture (environment). Regardless of the origin story (which IS important) depression is highly misunderstood. Depression is stigmatized. It is often thrown around when other realities aren't considered. Depression is a very complex systemic issue that needs to be treated as such.
The biopsychological system of depression is essentially a state of burnout. Depression should be looked at like a depletion of resources. The depletion may have been from previous generations, or accumulated during one’s short lifespan.
If nothing changes and you don’t get relief from what is burning you out, the vulnerability to develop depression is high. If nothing changes, the system uses up all the biopsychological resources and then goes into a freeze state.
Depression is a result of no relief and an attempt at a reset.
Low motivation, low self worth, low self esteem, low energy, low affect, low window of tolerance, low capacity, low….everything. It is the ultimate self-preservation state. A last ditch effort to restore depletions. Most people with depression are on auto-pilot, in a functional state of exhaustion, carrying burdens of grief and anger.
Psychological depletions and nutrient depletions are related.
Vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids are the pre-cursors to neurotransmitters. Needed for maintenance and support these pre-cursors are depleted from chronic stress.
Simplification of the difference between Stress and Chronic Stress
Regular stress goes like this: short term stress-->Activated Threat Response (fight, flight, freeze)->
Mobilization works-->rest, relief, and recovery. Round and round it goes.
Chronic stress goes like this: Stress-->Activated Threat Response (fight, flight, freeze)-
Mobilization doesn't end-->depletion. Round and Round it goes.
Without adequate relief, the threat response keeps the system from being able to restore depletions. Eventually the mind and body cannot keep up and will start to "depress" in order to survive.
This feedback system of depletion then starts to impact the organs, muscles, the heart, blood sugar, HPA axis, and vital tissues. Thus creating a recipe for chronic disease and depression.
Depression is a state of burnout. Fight, flight, fawn, freeze, or social engagement didn’t give relief.
What causes Burn Out and who could benefit from KAP:
Chronic Stress
Over-functioning
Masking
Relational Code-Switching
Co-dependent Relationships
Over-working
Lack of authentic relating
Scarcity mindset
Living and existing in a culture or society where you don't have privilege
Nutritional deficiencies
Avoidance
Anxiety
Phobias
OCD and Relational OCD
Insecure Attachment Styles
Sexual trauma
Relational betrayals or violations
Unhealthy relationship dynamics
Depression usually takes a significant about of time in the healing journey. Depression needs a dynamic and holistic approach in its treatment. The approach to treatment needs to involve mind-body psychotherapy, movement (psychological and physical), and nutritional and/or psycho-pharmaceutical.
What is Ketamine Assisted Therapy?
Ketamine Assisted Therapy is a medicine-assisted therapy process. Ketamine is a medicine usually used for anesthesia in hospital settings. Now, it has been researched for its efficacy in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
At safe and low doses ketamine is taken at the onset of a therapy session to enhance the therapy work. At moderate and safe doses, it can shift someone towards an internal and psychedelic experience. Ketamine Assisted Therapy involves low and moderate doses.
The medicine sessions are bookended by preparation work and integration sessions.
What is a typical sequence for Ketamine-Assisted Therapy (a.k.a. KAP) at Compass Healing Project?
Once you get matched to a ketamine provider here at Compass Healing Project, you and your therapist will assess if you are a good fit for KAP. Some therapists require only one preparation session. Yet, more therapy sessions before engaging in KAP may be necessary. Preparatory psychotherapy sessions help to prepare, build safety, and assess treatment goals.
During the preparatory phase we will develop the necessary conditions for safety and relational trust. Many people who need KAP have difficulty feeling safe and settled in relationships. We focus on relationship safety before we engage in medicine work.
A typical KAP process after we've established you are a good fit:
1 Medical evaluation with a Psychiatric Prescriber
1-2, 1 hr Preparation Sessions
1, 2-3 hr KAP Session
1, 1 hr Integration Session
1, 2-3 hr KAP Session
1, 1 hr Integration Session
On-going until we reach the end of the prescription. This sequence is usually spread out to accommodate for schedules, finances, and integration changes.
A standard approach to Ketamine Assisted Therapy is 6-8 Ketamine sessions. With at least one integration session between each medicine session. It is important to have an integration session within 3-5 days after your KAP session.
How can KAP help me release old patterns of fight, flight, or freeze?
KAP has a history, and now science, that reflects its ability to shift the autonomic nervous system out of stuck states of fight, flight, or freeze.
Not all KAP is equal. Deep shifts out of stuckness is greatly influenced by the integration. Utilization of the window of opportunity in the week after Ketamine supports the long-term change process.
The deep transformation of your relationship to yourself happens due to changes in the brain and nervous system. Insights and experience in the medicine session is incorporated into specific practices and intentional shifts in the days, and weeks, following your KAP session.
Some examples of how to optimize your KAP process, especially if shifting your nervous system out of a threat response is on your intention list:
Daily orientation to goodness and safety. Regular practices of orienting with your senses (smell, sight, touch, sound, taste).
Exposing yourself to positive stimuli like being in the sun, walking in nature, being with people that are safe and kind. Then, pausing to feel how those positive stimuli feel in your body.
Proactive shifts to your circadian rhythm. Starting and implementing new sleeping and rising routines like early morning sunlight. Since circadian rhythm is usually altered by depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms, the KAP process is an optimal time to make changes while your brain and nervous system are more malleable.
Engage in healthy emotion processing like journaling, mantra reciting, naming-acknowledging-feeling your emotions, etc.
Practice mindfulness and being in the present moment.
Amidst the KAP process you may include deciding to turn off or delete apps that are detrimental to your brain and mood (ah hem cough cough: SOCIAL MEDIA).
Embodiment practices like sitting/laying and sensing, yoga, mindfulness, and embodied movement.
For the people pleasures, the weeks following Ketamine is a great time to practice saying no. Have hard conversations and express your authenticity more.
Parts work with your inner child. The KAP process is helpful for building the capacity for someone to engage as a healer for their parts and their inner children. The time during and following the medicine session is a perfect time to build access to your core self.
How does Ketamine Assisted Therapy Work?
Where the body goes the mind flows. There are a lot of neuroscience aspects of ketamine. I'll leave that to the scientists (see our Ketamine Assisted Therapy service page for those resources). In short, the default mode network is dampened. This creates a window of opportunity for shifting perspectives and defaults. The open window, or different trail, gives new and unique options for thoughts and perspectives. The new trail, also gives different pathways of reactions in the nervous system.
The medicine work is likened to a “fertilizer” for the brain. KAP helps to nourish the brain and central nervous system. The medicine boost can alter the deep maladaptive grooves. This boost will start to restore burnout states (a.k.a depression). These burnout states often result from long-term chronic stress and unresolved trauma imprints.
How to get started with Ketamine Assisted Therapy?
Here at Compass Healing Project we have providers that work virtually and in-person in Colorado. Fill out our contact us form and indicate you are interested in KAP and we would love to connect you!
After you get connected and assess if KAP is appropriate for you, we will get you connected to a ketamine prescriber. Once you get your prescription sent to you in the mail, we’ll schedule your KAP medicine session.
We use Journey Clinical as our access point for ketamine psychiatrists. Journey Clinical handles medical evaluations and medication distributions.
Can I receive KAP treatment through online therapy or just in-person?
You CAN receive KAP treatment online and in person. Online KAP is a great option for folx who desire to be in their own home for medicine.
In person, you'll need a driver and chaperone for drop off and pick up. Online, you'll need a chaperone on the property before, during, and after the medicine portion of the treatment.
Personal Ketamine Reflection
“I was nervous to let go. I felt everything come to a glacial pace inside of me, like there was no more running or doing or pushing. I was a white monolith, I couldn’t be missed. You can’t miss me said the monolith. Like I could be seen without all the doing or proving. This felt feeling in my body was wholly novel. The idea of me–just being me–without all the doing, the ego, the accolades and accomplishments. All of that is protection, attempts to get a need met but keep me mobilized. Instead, I was a large, strong, massive white monolith--at home in nature. My true home. I can’t be missed just by being. The acknowledgment of this "being me" settled into my bones and body as I rested, so deeply, I rested."
Start Ketamine Therapy in Golden, CO
Compass Healing Project is in California (in-person in San Diego and Online Therapy statewide) and Colorado (in-person Golden and Online Therapy statewide). Our team offers free discovery calls where we explore whether ketamine therapy is a good fit for you. You can start your therapy journey by following these steps:
Fill out our discovery call inquiry form
Get matched with a caring therapist
Start addressing the depression symptoms affecting you most!
Other Services Offered at Compass Healing Project
Natalie Cooney is the owner and founder of Compass Healing Project. She created Compass Healing Project so people can receive healing deeper than just talk therapy. In addition to ketamine therapy, she and her team seeks to provide her community with holistic care for sex therapy, nutritional therapy, somatic therapy, EMDR, psychedelic assisted therapy, attachment healing for couples, relationships, and individuals. We also offer hypnotherapy and support for depression, anxiety, and grief.
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