Taking a holistic approach to mental health and healing depression, tackles not only the symptoms, but also the negative thought patterns, coping skills, and chemical systems in the brain. An effective way to achieve this is by combining ketamine with psychotherapy. There is mounting evidence to suggest that by combining these two tools, improvements in depression severity are much longer lasting where other treatments have failed.
Ketamine is a dissociative drug that has been used medically since the 1970s primarily as an anesthetic but also for various psychiatric applications. The effects associated with ketamine are different from those found with other treatments such as antidepressants. Ketamine works by stimulating certain receptors in the brain responsible for mood regulation. This simulation is believed to cause changes in the brain that help treat depression without adverse side effects.
The idea of harnessing psychotherapy with pharmacotherapy is not a new concept. The effects of combining conventional antidepressants and psychotherapy are well established in the mental health realm. Recently, there is compelling research that has emphasized the use of ketamine in combination with psychotherapy for mental health conditions. Studies are finding that using this treatment approach yields a greater benefit than biological ketamine infusions alone.
This strategy serves a variety of purposes. It addresses non-response to treatment, residual symptoms, and relapse and recurrence involving psychiatric illness. There is also an added emphasis on the fact that combining ketamine and psychotherapy has the potential to improve psychological flexibility, quality of life, and overall functioning beyond symptom reduction while promoting drug safety and tolerability.
The research around combining different approaches to mental health is exciting for us here at Aloha Integrative Health. We believe that combining ketamine and psychotherapy really does provide the best results for our clients and this is why these services are all provided under one roof, a new one at that! As of early September 2022, we finally moved into our brand-new space located at 4510 Executive Drive, Suite 108, San Diego, CA 92121.
Reach out today to speak with a patient care specialist and see if our services are right for you.