There are three phases to Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) at The Catalyst Center. The first phase is the preparatory phase which includes a medical evaluation and a preparation meeting with a Certified Psychedelic Assisted Therapy Provider to ensure you are properly prepared for the treatment experience. The second phase is the active treatment phase and involves participating in a series of ketamine dosing sessions with your therapist and subsequent integration therapy sessions to help process the experiences you are having during the ketamine experiences. The final phase is the maintenance phase, where you can return for occasional KAP booster sessions if symptoms or old patterns begin to return. The maintenance phase is an important but often underemphasized component of maximizing and preserving therapeutic gains. This brief overview helps clarify how the maintenance phase looks and how clients can be attuned to when they might need to consider KAP booster sessions.
Many clients will need KAP booster sessions at some point to help maintain the positive gains achieved from the treatment phase. An initial course of KAP can help initiate significant growth and healing, but the physiological and psychological benefits can also wane to some degree over time. KAP booster sessions are one of the ways to help the brain regain the benefits that were initially experienced, which allows you to reestablish momentum in your growth journey. These booster sessions could occur several weeks after your last dosing, or you could go several months before needing a booster dose. It is important not to be disheartened if your symptoms start to return over time because one or two booster sessions could be enough to help you feel back on track. Some clients might need as many as three to six booster sessions to re-establish gains. In any case, the maintenance phase allows you to hold onto your progress with periodic booster sessions, which can assist you with sustained health over longer periods.
Try and be attuned to yourself as best as you can so you can track your progress and remain observant of your patterns over time. When you notice early warning signs that your symptoms are returning, it is important to contact your KAP provider to discuss whether it might be time for a booster course. Growth and healing are ongoing processes, and working with your providers can help you develop a plan for integrating maintenance KAP into your treatment regimen. Much like we take our cars to be serviced or clean out our houses for “spring cleaning,” KAP booster sessions are about an ongoing strategy to work toward optimal mental and emotional wellness. Being attentive to your needs and patterns can go a long way in helping you discern when it might be time to engage in your periodic maintenance course.
Considering that many conventional psychotropics require daily use and could take several weeks to begin working in the first place, periodic and fast-acting KAP booster sessions provide a compelling alternative. The maintenance phase looks different for everyone, but it is an important stage in treatment. Be sure to work with your KAP provider to customize a maintenance plan that’s right for you. This ensures that you will continue to experience the most value from your investment into your health and wellness through KAP.
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