What is Residential Ketamine Treatment?

You may not associate ketamine with treatment for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and even addiction. The dissociative medication is mostly known for its use as a surgical anesthetic. In fact, its safe and effective pain-relieving properties have even earned it an “essential medicine” classification by the World Health Organization.

But in the last few decades, ketamine has grown in popularity as a therapeutic tool. And a robust body of medical research confirms its usefulness. In 2019, the first FDA-approved derivative of ketamine for medicinal use in cases of treatment-resistant depression. Since then, the benefits of ketamine-assisted therapy (KAT) have been further developed, and it’s now widely used to treat mental health and substance use disorders.

KAT is primarily used to help people who are either resistant to other forms of therapy, or who struggle to access their feelings during psychotherapy. Often in these cases, people find that ketamine therapy allows them to break through barriers to treatment.

The Sanctuary now offers ketamine-assisted treatment as part of our inpatient rehab program. If you’re considering whether or not ketamine-assisted therapy is a viable option for you, below is some information about our residential ketamine treatment center we hope you’ll find helpful.

Residential Ketamine Treatment at The Sanctuary

At The Sanctuary, our therapists and licensed clinicians take a distinctly holistic approach to your overall treatment and progress. This means that we don’t just offer KAT as an add-on therapy. If appropriate for you, we’ll thoroughly integrate ketamine treatments into your individualized healing program. This way, ketamine is used in conjunction with the variety of modalities you’ll experience, to create an overall synergistic effect that enhances your ability to heal.

Four weeks is the standard minimum length of stay for most residential rehab programs, including The Sanctuary. And while it may seem like a long time to spend in treatment, the truth is that it’s actually quite a short time to make such a major life change. In these situations, ketamine-assisted treatment can be an incredibly helpful catalyst for the treatment process. It can help you progress through and resolve your traumas faster than you might otherwise have been able to.

Why Choose Inpatient Ketamine Treatment?

There are hundreds of outpatient ketamine clinics in the U.S. Administered in this type of setting, though, KAT functions as a standalone experience. Typically, you’ll receive your supervised dose of ketamine over the course of 40 minutes to an hour. At some ketamine treatment centers, your KAT session may include an accompanying therapy session. But then you leave and go on your way. You navigate the next several weeks until your next ketamine session alone.

“The problem with this paradigm of [ketamine] treatment is that it puts the patient in a passive position,” says Raquel Bennett, Psy.D. “The patient is not called upon to participate in their own treatment (except to show up for the appointment), and all of the ‘magic’ is attributed to the chemical action of the medication.”

According to Bennett, ketamine sessions can “help the patient talk about material that is too painful or shameful to discuss otherwise” when used as an integrated part of the psychotherapy process. The benefits of inpatient ketamine therapy include:

Increased safety: In an inpatient setting, medical professionals will closely monitor you during and after KAT administration. This ensures that any side effects or adverse reactions are properly addressed, reducing the risk of complications.
Comprehensive care: Inpatient treatment provides a more holistic approach by incorporating complementary treatments and support systems that may not be available in an outpatient setting to enhance the overall effectiveness of KAT.
Focused environment: Residential treatment provides a distraction-free environment where you can fully immerse yourself in your healing journey. This focus helps you achieve deeper introspection and emotional processing that ketamine can facilitate.
Community support: Being part of a residential program allows you to connect with others who are undergoing similar experiences. This sense of community and shared experience can be therapeutic and empowering.

Our Residential Ketamine-Assisted Treatment Program

At The Sanctuary, we take great care to create a controlled and calming environment for you to safely experience your ketamine treatments. We design every aspect of our program to maximize not only the results of your ketamine treatment but also your potential for deep healing.

Our ketamine-assisted treatment sessions last for about two hours and include:

Intention-setting ceremony: We begin with an intention-setting ceremony that prepares your mind for the therapeutic journey ahead, which ensures each session is purposeful.
Comfortable, intimate rooms: The Sanctuary provides soothing spaces designed to help you feel safe, making it easier for you to fully engage in the therapeutic process.
Professional supervision: Your ketamine therapy will be administered by licensed medical professionals to ensure your safety and comfort.
Organic, anti-inflammatory meals: You’ll enjoy nourishing, healthy dishes to assist your physical and spiritual detox.
Shared meals and community building: On treatment days, you’ll share private meals with other fellow clients receiving KAT. These shared experiences provide a sense of connection and mutual support.
Expert guidance: Two to three staff members will be in the room with you guiding you through the experience so you feel supported every step of the way.
Therapist check-ins: Regular check-ins with your personal therapist to help you process your experiences and integrate the insights gained during your sessions.
Small group focus: With only six guests undergoing treatment at a time, you’ll receive the personalized attention you need to fully benefit from your therapy.
Closing ceremony: At the end of your treatment program, The Sanctuary hosts a closing ceremony to help you reflect on your journey, solidify the progress you’ve made and set intentions for continued healing.

Ketamine’s Healing Power and Potential

Today, biological and behavioral studies continue to prove the usefulness of ketamine as a behavioral health treatment. Ketamine aids in the treatment of various mental health conditions like addiction, anxiety, depression and PTSD. And the positive results of these studies have helped ketamine to become a much more commonly available treatment option.

Each session provides an extra opportunity to begin addressing and changing patterns. Some of our guests have even reflected that incorporating KAT into their treatment program helped them finally feel safe in their own skin. Others were able to feel self-compassion, self-love and self-forgiveness for the first time.

What Are the Effects of Ketamine?

Ketamine, when administered and monitored correctly, has the ability to increase neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to form and reorganize its neural pathways. Ketamine aids in the production of proteins that can strengthen the brain’s neurons. These neurons can then repair broken “connections,” reroute around them and even form new ones.

When administered in repeat doses over a period of time (typically several weeks), ketamine helps your brain physically change and create new neural pathways, thus breaking old, harmful patterns of thought and behavior. One report describes the mental health benefits of psychedelics like ketamine as being akin to “rebooting a computer to clear out glitches, except when the computer restarts, it has a new outlook on life,” one that’s more “childlike, playful, imaginative and creative — and less judgmental.”

That’s why KAT complements other treatments, like talk therapy, so well. Many clients find it allows them to break down mental barriers. This helps them to access the feelings at the core of their issues without becoming overwhelmed. Ketamine’s medicinal qualities can have a positive trickle-down effect on all aspects of your being during treatment – from the mind and body to the spirit and soul.

Research has shown that ketamine-assisted treatment can lead to transformative results within four to six sessions. Compared to conventional treatments, like antidepressants, that’s a relatively short time period for a significantly impactful outcome. When included as part of a residential rehab program, KAT has great potential to help you maximize your time for healing.

Although every guest responds differently to ketamine, there are some effects you may experience within 30 minutes to an hour of treatment. Here’s what you can expect during and after your sessions:

Dissociation: Ketamine often makes individuals feel detached from their body and surroundings. This can be disorienting if you’re experiencing it for the first time, but it allows you to explore your inner world without filters and defenses, leading to deeper self-understanding.
Creativity boost: You may experience a surge of creativity after ketamine sessions. This can manifest as new ideas, solutions to problems or a fresh perspective on challenges in your life.
Embodied feelings: The treatment sometimes brings about a heightened awareness of your body and physical sensations. This can lead to a deeper understanding of how your emotions are embodied and how they manifest physically.
Emotional regulation: Ketamine can help stabilize your mood and reduce emotional reactivity, making it easier to manage stress and emotional triggers in your daily life.
Enhanced productivity: The cognitive clarity and emotional balance that ketamine can bring may lead to improved productivity in both your personal and professional worlds.
Motivation and energy: Following ketamine sessions, you may experience an increase in motivation and energy, which can be beneficial if you’ve been struggling with low energy levels.

Start Your Personalized Ketamine Treatment Journey Today

We understand that you, like so many others, may have already tried countless other treatments for your condition. If those treatments didn’t work for you, that doesn’t mean you need to give up. The Sanctuary at Sedona offers ketamine-assisted psychotherapy treatment in a holistic, science-based program to support you on your journey to living your most authentic life.

Dr. Brett Forrest Shenkman

Dr. Forrest is a licensed Naturopathic Physician specializing in retreat-style holistic medicine, natural detoxification and cleansing, mind/body medicine, and regenerative medicine. Dr. Forrest brings to his work a sense of humility, respect, and compassion that is too often absent in the sterile, rigid world of modern medicine. He is deeply honored and grateful to be continuing this work as part of the community and healing that is taking place at the Sanctuary. [email protected]