Ketamine-Assisted EMDR TherapyTM (or KA-EMDR) is an emerging way to integrate the use of prescribed ketamine from a qualified medical provider with EMDR therapy.
Ketamine is broadly used in the medical field as an anesthetic. At lower doses, ketamine has also shown promise to alleviate chronic pain and treatment resistant depression. In fact, the FDA approved the first ever nasal form of ketamine (known as Spravato or Esketamine) specifically for treatment resistant depression. Some benefits from ketamine treatment include improvement in emotional flexibility and increased neuroplasticity.
KA-EMDR differs from Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (also known as KAP) in that KA-EMDR uses low dose sublingual ketamine troches and it is self-administered by the client right after Phase 3 of EMDR. After the ketamine has dissolved, Phase 4 is conducted as usual. At lower doses, clients are able to remain alert and grounded while remaining fully engaged in the EMDR reprocessing phases.
It's important to note that while KA-EMDR has shown promising results, it's still a developing field. It’s important to approach KA-EMDR with a clear understanding of your mental health needs and a commitment to working closely with trained professionals.
Click here to read more about the promising research conducted by the owners of the Ketamine Assisted EMDR TherapyTM Institute, Danielle Ciccone & Michele Topel.
For information regarding KA-EMDR services at Dynamic Healing Collective, please visit this page here.
Important reminder: Clients are led through treatment but therapists do not prescribe nor handle the ketamine involved in treatment. Clients who are interested in ketamine-based therapies must work with a qualified medical provider.
If you are curious to learn more about EMDR, KA-EMDR, or are interested in beginning your EMDR therapy journey, please reach out to me via the Contact Me page on my website. You can also learn more about EMDR as well as additional EMDR therapists in your area by visiting the EMDR International Association’s website here.
Reminder: these blog posts are meant to be purely educational and/or entertainment tools and do NOT replace psychotherapy and/or other medically necessary treatments.