Lone Wolf Psychological Services
Denver Relationship Therapy and
Couples Counseling
1221 South Clarkson Street, Suite 417, Denver, Co 80210
And
2460 West 26th Ave, Denver, CO 80211
info@lonewolfpsychologicalservices.com 720-547-9621
Ketamine Therapy Denver, CO
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
Have you been struggling with unhealthy patterns or mental health symptoms that don’t seem to resolve, even after years of hard work, medication, and therapy? This can feel like you are disconnected from yourself and the ones you love and are lacking fulfillment or purpose in your life.
For some traditional talk therapy and mental health medications aren't enough and can leave you feeling stuck and unable to make the changes you want.
You are not alone in feeling this way, and there is a different approach to helping you achieve the changes you want to see! Ketamine assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is at the forefront of mental health treatment that has been shown to be fast acting and highly effective, especially for people who haven't had success with traditional approaches in the past. Our KAP trained providers will be able to guide you through the process and jump start your therapeutic work.
What is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy and What is the Process at Lone Wolf
What is Ketamine
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a revolutionary treatment approach that leverages the unique properties of ketamine to enhance the therapeutic process. Ketamine was originally synthzised in the 1960's to serve as a safer, alternative method of anesthesia compared to PCP (which was commonly used at that time). it has been FDA approved since the 1970's and is included on the world health organizations list of essential medications. Ketamine is considered a very safe medication when administered and monitored under medical supervision to individuals who have been medically cleared.
After using ketamine as an anesthetic doctors noticed that patients had a decrease in depression symptoms. This prompted further research into the potential application of ketamine for mental health concerns. Studies of ketamine have shown significant benefit for people with a range of mental health diagnoses.
Our model prioritizes your comfort and safety. We aim to maximize the effectiveness of ketamine by fostering a space conducive for personal growth through psychotherapeutic integration. The goal in this context is not merely symptom reduction (though you may also experience this). We aim to facilitate a space in which you can observe your internal experience with curiosity and compassion, heal parts of yourself that carry pain, and learn ways to engage with yourself and/or relate to your experiences in new ways.
How It Works to Create Efficient Long Lasting Change
Ketamine utilizes a different neural pathway than traditional medication for depression and anxiety. Unlike traditional antidepressants, which can take weeks to become effective, ketamine often produces rapid improvements in mood and symptoms within hours to days. Ketamine promotes neuroplasticity, putting your brain in a state where it can quickly and permanently rewire past neuropathways. This helps individuals break free from negative thought patterns and develop healthier ways of thinking.
While Ketamine itself can offer rapid alleviation of distressing symptoms, it is not a miracle cure. The medicine can put your brain in a state where change can occur, but therapeutic integration can help you experience deep introspection and/or spiritual experiences that can add new perspective to long-standing problems.
At Lone Wolf Psychological, we aim to maximize the benefits of ketamine administration through the use of therapeutic integration. We strive to facilitate a space in which you feel safe enough to examine your internal experiences with openness, receptiveness, and curiosity.
Potential Benefits of Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP)
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Improved Mental Health - rapid and sustained relief from depressive symptoms, anxiety, and trauma-related distress after treatment, which when combined with psychotherapeutic integration, can lead to improved overall well-being and quality of life.
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Enhanced Emotional Resilience - developing better coping mechanisms for dealing with stress and emotional challenges. This enhanced resilience can lead to a more stable and fulfilling life.
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Personal Growth, Self-Discovery, & Existential Benefits - The dissociative effects of ketamine can provide new perspectives on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, leading to greater self-awareness and personal growth, and serving as a catalyst to make positive changes in you life. The altered state of consciousness induced by ketamine can lead to profound experiences that can help you find greater meaning and purpose, while fostering a more positive outlook on the future.
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Improved Relationships - By alleviating symptoms of mental health disorders and enhancing emotional regulation, KAP can improve the quality of relationships with family, friends, and partners.
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Increased Productivity and Functionality- With improved mental health and emotional stability, you may find that you feel more productive and functional in your professional and personal life. This can lead to career advancement and a more harmonious lifestyle.
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Enhanced Creativity and Problem-Solving - KAP can enhance creativity and cognitive flexibility, helping you to think outside the box and approach problems from new angles.
What the Process Looks Like at Lone Wolf
Step 1. Getting Started:
Schedule a phone consultation with one of our two KAP providers Dr. Rinderer or Dr. DePretis. They will do brief screening to see if ketamine treatment would be a good fit.
Step 2. Assessment and Treatment Planning:
Schedule your first session with our KAP providers. During this session there will be a more in-depth assessment and further instruction about the process. During this session you will be provided contact information for the physician that we partner with.
Step 3. Medical Appointment:
Schedule an appointment with the physician we partner with or another provider who prescribes ketamine. During this appointment a Physician will discuss your medical and mental health history, and answer any questions you may have about ketamine. If you are medically cleared, your designated therapist and physician will collaborate with you to determine which protocol is most appropriate for your goals.
Step 4. Preparation Sessions:
Once medically cleared, you will meet with your KAP therapist for 1-4 preparatory sessions. The purpose of these sessions is to build a trusting therapeutic relationship/alliance, discuss your personal history, and to begin setting intentions for your ketamine sessions. Your therapist will help prepare you for what to expect during dosing (or experiential) sessions and explore your preferences for how your therapist can best support you during and after your experiential sessions.
Step 5. KAP Experiential Sessions:
There are several different routes you can take for sessions with you are utilizing ketamine. For therapeutic integrations we suggest either ketamine lozenges or intramuscular ketamine injection. Your therapist and medical provider will help you decide the best option for you and your goals. You will never be left alone during your ketamine experience and will be with your therapist or medical provider. Sessions range from approximately two - three hours (with additional recovery time if needed). After the session, you will share your recollection of what you experienced on the medicine, which your therapist or medical provider will transcribe. On your experiential days, you should plan to take the rest of the day off. You will also need a ride home after each ketamine session.
Step 6: Integration Session:
You and your KAP therapist will take advantage of your brain's increased neuroplasticity and will meet in the days following each Ketamine Experiential Session (ideally the day after) to explore themes that came up for you in your experiential session and more deeply internalize/integrate the experience. You and your KAP therapist will engage in further integration sessions to continue building upon connections and maximize the long-term benefits of KAP.
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy Services in Denver, Colorado
We are here to help you overcome stuckness you have felt in your previous mental health treatment so you can live your best life in the future! Follow the steps below to begin your journey to healing.
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We encourage you to get to know a little bit about our therapists, their specializations, and credentials. Get to know our therapists here.
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If you think ketamine assisted therapy would benefit you, reach out to us! You can use our convenient online phone consultation scheduling included in this link.
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Jump start your healing journey with quick and effective treatment.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Other Counseling Services in Denver, CO
Not only does our therapy practice in Denver offer Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, but we also offer a wide variety of services at any relationship stage. Each relationship is unique in its personal journey and we are here to provide, insightful and productive Relationship Counseling, Divorce and Break-up Recovery Counseling, and Couples Counseling as well. We also offer Self-Help Resources to help supplement your therapy or to better prepare for upcoming therapy sessions!
