journal

In recent years, the landscape of mental health treatments has witnessed a growing interest in the intersection of psychedelics and psychotherapy. With the small, but slowly-rising options of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and ketamine therapy, many are curious about how these emerging treatments compare to traditional methods. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between at-home ketamine therapy, ketamine assisted psychotherapy, and traditional psychotherapy to help you understand the nuances, benefits and any risks associated with each approach.

A Brief History of Psychedelic Psychiatry

Psychedelic psychiatry is not a new concept. It dates back to the mid-20th century when substances like LSD and psilocybin were explored for their therapeutic potential. In the 1950s and 60s, researchers began to study how these substances could help treat various mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, due to legal and political pressures, research was halted for several decades.

The resurgence of interest in psychedelics for mental health treatment began in the late 1990s, with a growing body of research demonstrating their efficacy. This renewed interest has led to the development of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, where substances like psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD are studied in controlled, therapeutic settings. These therapies aim to help patients process and heal from deep-seated psychological issues.  The results have been promising, but the body of research is still growing and both legal and regulatory frameworks have yet to catch up. 

Ketamine in particular is of interest, because of its use in operating rooms around the world since the early 1960s. Ketamine has shown a robust safety profile in people ages 2 and up for surgical procedures when administered at “anesthetic” doses — i.e. with the intention of anesthesia, a relatively high dose of ketamine is delivered. Recently, ketamine therapy and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy both have shown great promise and efficacy in treating treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and mental health conditions at “sub-anesthetic” doses, meaning at doses that are low enough to not induce anesthesia. This has proven to be a more accessible alternative to traditional psychedelic molecules due to its ubiquitous legality, safety, and efficacy. 

How Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy Works

Psychedelic assisted psychotherapy combines the use of psychedelic substances with traditional therapeutic techniques. During a session, a patient is administered a psychedelic drug, such as ketamine, psilocybin or MDMA, under the guidance of a trained guide, therapist, or facilitator — depending on the type of program. The psychedelic experience is designed to open the patient’s mind, allowing them to explore their thoughts, emotions, and memories in a profound and often transformative way. A lot is happening neurochemically too, involving the re-wiring of behavior patterns and the creation of new neural pathways. When used in conjunction with behavioral support such as health coaching, integration therapy, traditional psychotherapy and/or more, psychedelic assisted psychotherapy can have profound effects on a person’s life and mental health. xx

Benefits

A key benefit of psychedelic therapy is its ability to help patients access and process difficult emotions or traumas that may be hard to reach through traditional talk therapy.  Research has shown that this approach can lead to significant reductions in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Additionally, the effects of a single session can last for several months, offering long-term relief for patients.

Risks

However, psychedelic therapy is not without risks. The use of psychedelics can lead to challenging experiences, including intense fear. These experiences, if not managed properly, could potentially exacerbate a patient's condition. Therefore, it is crucial that these experiences are conducted in a controlled environment with professional guidance. Moreover, not everyone is a suitable candidate for this type of therapy, as certain mental health conditions, such as psychosis, may be worsened by psychedelics.

What’s the Difference Between Psychedelic Therapy and Traditional Psychotherapy?

Traditional psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy or behavioral therapy, is a well-established method for treating mental health disorders. It involves regular sessions with a therapist where patients discuss their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The therapist helps the patient develop coping strategies, change negative thought patterns, and address emotional challenges. Traditional psychotherapy is conducted in partnership with a licensed therapist or psychotherapist, and is typically covered by insurance. A final note is that there is typically no estimated time frame of treatment for behavioral therapy, in that patients can typically be with a therapist for years or decades, as a partner in healing towards building healthier habits and processing emotions. 

The main difference between psychedelic therapy and individual psychotherapy lies in the use of psychedelic substances. While traditional therapy relies solely on dialogue and therapeutic techniques, psychedelic therapy uses these consciousness-altering substances to facilitate deeper exploration and healing. The altered state of consciousness induced by psychedelics can provide patients with insights and perspectives that may not be achievable through traditional methods alone. While psychedelic therapy can be administered by those with proper training, it is not yet regulated like talk therapy and is generally not covered by insurance. A typical program consists of 4-6 sessions over several weeks, with behavioral support sessions scheduled in between.   

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy vs. At-Home Ketamine Therapy

Ketamine assisted psychotherapy is an emerging treatment that blends the use of ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, with traditional psychotherapy. Ketamine is known for its rapid antidepressant effects, often providing relief within hours or days, compared to the weeks or months required by traditional antidepressants.

In a clinical setting, ketamine assisted psychotherapy is mainly conducted by administering ketamine either intravenously, intranasally, or through intramuscular injections. Patients are closely monitored by medical professionals during the experience, and the therapy sessions are designed to help patients process the thoughts and emotions that arise during the ketamine experience. 

These therapy methods can often employ traditional talk therapy protocols, and can be by-and-large more resource intensive, as clinicians, therapists, clinical spaces and more are required to conduct this type of treatment. 

At-home ketamine therapy is a newer, more accessible approach where patients take ketamine in the comfort of their own home in the form of oral lozenges. This method offers a much more heightened convenience and accessibility piece, while still offering comprehensive behavioral support if conducted correctly. Nue Life offers this support through virtual medical visits, behavioral coaching, and integration sessions to ensure that patients have high-quality guidance and care throughout their treatment. Please note that the Nue Life model explicitly makes use of this at-home model and is not to be confused with psychedelic-assisted therapy or ketamine-assisted therapy, which makes use of psychotherapy components. 

Learn More with Nue Life

Psychedelic therapy and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy represent exciting advancements in the field of mental health treatment. These therapies offer new hope for individuals who have not found success with traditional methods. However, they also come with unique considerations and risks that require careful management.

At Nue Life, we are committed to providing safe and effective treatment options that cater to the individual needs of our clients. Whether you are interested in learning more about psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy or exploring the benefits of at-home ketamine therapy, our team is here to support you every step of the way. Connect with our welcome team to learn more and explore if at-home ketamine therapy is a fit for you. 

‍