KETAMINE TREATMENT

Ketamine has been shown to improve several mental health conditions and may produce dissociative or psychedelic experiences, which may be leveraged to stimulate the process of growth and change. Ketamine may be a powerful tool to aid in your healing journey by providing symptom relief and perspective on your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Ketamine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as an anesthetic agent for many years. The use of ketamine in lower, sub-anesthetic doses to treat mental health conditions is a newer, off-label use of ketamine. While the FDA has only approved racemic ketamine as an anesthetic, there are now many studies that demonstrate ketamine may be an effective treatment option for depression, PTSD, anxiety disorders, and OCD.

THE KETAMINE PROCESS

Through the process of ketamine therapy your brain will start to grow new connections, re-wire and strengthen the healthy patterns that we are trying to maintain.

Our clinic utilizes intramuscular or intranasal routes of administration. For dosing, administration, safety precautions, and contraindications, our clinic follows best practices supported by mental health scientific literature and model protocols established by the Integrative Psychiatry Institute’s Ketamine Medical Provider Program.

Initial Consultation: We’ll discuss your goals for treatment and review what’s ahead in the treatment process.

Preparation Session: We’ll develop your individual treatment plan and prepare for the initiation of treatment.

Initiation: 6 to 8 initial ketamine treatments over 3 to 4 weeks accompanied by integration therapy.

Maintenance: You will receive a ketamine treatment every 2 to 8 weeks, on average. We’ll pair your treatments with further recommendations to help you keep new patterns of thought and behavior strong and healthy. The number and frequency of treatments will be limited to the minimum necessary to reach your goals.

THE PIECES OF RECOVERY

Ketamine can be a powerful tool to aid in your healing journey by providing symptom relief and perspective on your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This helps you face the challenges in your life and, ultimately, change your life.

The process does require work, but it is work worth doing. Recovery involves looking in depth at the four core areas where people experience disconnection. It is important to begin with the areas you can control, rather than tackling everything at once. We encourage you to work with our clinic team or your individual therapist to create a road map for recovery. Once you have been feeling well consistently, our goal is for you to no longer require ketamine as you continue your healing journey.

REPAIR THE PAST

Resolve individual past trauma

Evaluate inherited family trauma

Examine maladaptive coping skills

PHYSICAL HEALTH

Nutrition

Sleep

Exercise

Medications

Supplements

AUTHENTIC LIVING

Engagement in life

Community

Healthy Relationships

Meaning

Accomplishment

MENTAL HABITS

Positive emotions

Gratitude

Mindfulness

Meditation

Psychotherapy

THE SCIENCE

One of the current theories being explored around how ketamine works centers around the Default Mode Network (DMN) in our brain. The DMN is a collection of brain regions that are connected to each other and are thought to involve internal mental state processes.

A ketamine treatment allows the unhealthy neuronal pathways that are constantly “on” in your brain to turn off for a period of time. One can consider all the unhealthy thoughts that continuously occur – such as automatic negative thoughts, obsessive thoughts, anxious thoughts – as unhealthy pathways. When your brain comes back “on-line”, you can then access the more healthy pathways or loops in your brain. Through the process of ketamine therapy your brain will start to grow new connections, re-wire and strengthen the healthy patterns that we are trying to maintain.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Determining if you’re a good candidate for ketamine therapy involves a comprehensive evaluation at Southeast Virginia Psychiatry. Through a 60 minute in-person consultation, you have the opportunity to meet our expert providers. This session is designed to thoroughly review the risks and benefits of ketamine treatment, address your inquiries, and prepare you for the potential initiation of ketamine treatment. Our commitment to your health journey extends to offering the right tools and resources for success, which includes considering alternative or complementary therapies tailored to your specific needs.

  • At Southeast Virginia Psychiatry, we carefully evaluate each individual’s suitability for ketamine therapy. Candidates who may not be ideal for this treatment typically include individuals with certain medical conditions or histories, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, active substance misuse, or severe psychiatric disorders not stabilized by medication or therapy. During our initial in-person consultation, lasting sixty minutes, our providers review your medical and psychological history in detail to assess risks and benefits specific to your situation. This session ensures all your questions are answered and explores alternative options that may be more suited to your needs. Our priority is your safety and success, guiding you towards the most effective treatment path.

  • No, you do not require a referral to begin treatment with us. Our approach involves evaluating each patient on an individual basis to ensure we tailor our treatments to meet your specific needs.

    What to Bring to Your Appointment: To aid in your evaluation, we encourage you to bring any relevant medical records you may have. This includes documentation from your psychiatrist, therapist, or primary care physician. These records can provide valuable insights into your medical history and assist in creating a comprehensive treatment plan.

    Special Considerations: Prospective clients with certain mental health conditions, to include Bipolar I Disorder and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, may be expected to establish a relationship with a mental health medication provider and/or therapist prior to starting ketamine treatment. Although SeVA offers medication management and therapy services, we also collaborate with clinicians external to our practice.

  • To start, one of our medical assistants will take you back to your individual treatment room and obtain vitals (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation). Once finished, the provider will enter to discuss treatment. You will always see a provider before a session starts. You and your provider will agree upon a dosing plan and the provider will then administer the ketamine via intramuscular (IM) injection. IM treatments usually last 120 minutes and injections are generally administered initially and again within 20 to 30 minutes of the first injection. A medical assistant and your provider will be on site and accessible at all times. Although we aim to leave you to your journey, expect several vitals checks during your session. Medication will be offered on an as needed basis to manage side effects.

  • Every treatment session will last at least 120 minutes from the time you receive your first injection. By the end of that time, most clients feel well enough to leave the clinic. If more recovery time is required, it is given until clients are able to make the journey home. We recommend reserving the rest of the day to recover from residual effects from ketamine treatment. By the following morning, clients are able to return to their normal activity level without issue.

  • If you’re concerned about experiencing side effects during treatment, your provider may advise pre-treatment for side effects prior to your session. Otherwise, we may offer you medication during treatment to manage side effects, to include ondansetron for nausea, hydroxyzine for anxiety, propranolol for anxiety/rapid heart rate, and clonidine for high blood pressure.

  • Abstain from alcohol/cannabis/substances 24 hours before and after a treatment. Take your medications as you normally would unless otherwise specified by one of our providers. Think on an intention for the treatment session. Our therapists have some intention setting resources if requested. If possible, do not plan on any activities that have the potential to be intense or stressful before or after the treatment as well.

  • There is no right or wrong way to experience a treatment. Everyone finds what suits them best (be it lighting, music, supportive others, etc.) and allows them to relax into the session as they progress through their treatment plans.

  • This varies from client to client. Some people appreciate knowing their support person is right next to them if needed. Others find it easier to settle into the session without others in the room. Until you find your preference, you can start with whatever you think will work best for you. During the session, we can always ask your supportive other to leave or come back to the room as needed.

  • Yes, SeVA Psychiatry offers ketamine assisted psychotherapy (KAP), which may be provided before, during, and/or after treatment sessions.

    Prior to treatment, a therapist can work with you to develop the right mindset in preparation for your ketamine session.

    During treatment, our therapists can facilitate intention setting and provide a supportive presence during the experience.

    After treatment, our therapists will work with you on integration, the practice of processing and making meaning of the experience to facilitate change.

    What about a non-SeVA therapist? Yes, in most situations we are happy to allow your therapist to join you in-person or virtually during your treatment session. Please just discuss this with your provider first.

  • No. Your thinking may be impaired for up to 24 hours, and we require you to have someone to drive you home before starting the treatment.  We also ask that you refrain from operating heavy machinery and avoid strenuous activities for the next 12 hours.

  • We offer private rooms with comfortable reclining chairs, blankets, eye masks, iPads with Spotify, headphones, soft lighting and/or projector lighting

WHY CHOOSE US?

Expertise: Our team includes clinicians trained in ketamine medical administration, ketamine assisted psychotherapy, psychotropic medication management, TMS, additional psychotherapeutic modalities (e.g., EMDR, CBT), and more. Employing a collaborative team of clinicians under one roof improves client outcomes.

Location: With convenient access to I-64 and I-264, we are within a 15 minute drive from most of Hampton Roads. Given driving restrictions post-treatment, our central location and ease of access makes receiving treatment seamless.

Support: We offer options for therapy within treatment sessions, either from one of our trained ketamine assisted psychotherapists or your own external therapist. We offer individual treatment rooms with space for a support person, be it a therapist, family member, or friend. We will provide comfortable reclining chairs, eye masks, noise cancelling headphones, and music recommendations to enhance your treatment experience.

Affordable: Our most recent prices can be seen here.