Sauna Therapy a Boutique Mental Health Studio in Dallas, Texas
What is Ketamine?
Combining medically supported ketamine treatment with guided therapy anchored in creative arts, movement and mindfulness to address the root cause of mental health conditions which are resistant to first-line treatment options like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medication.
Safe and Effective Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy and Medicine in Dallas
After decades of misunderstanding, psychedelics are, once again, being researched for their enormous potential to heal anxiety, depression, distress and addictions. Ketamine assisted psychotherapy is finding scientific credibility and recognition amongst the treatment and research community. Sauna Therapy stays up-to-date on the best research-backed methodologies for treating mental health conditions, and believes in harnessing the leading tip of the psychedelic wave, including the use of MDMA, psilocybin, ibogaine and other medications as they become licensed.
Prolonged stress, anxiety, and depression can lead to the deterioration of neural pathways associated with cognition and emotional well-being. Ketamine operates in a unique manner compared to conventional pharmaceuticals, fostering the restoration and reinforcement of these neural connections.
This revolutionary medication presents a swift and profound remedy for individuals dealing with depression and anxiety.
In instances where conventional approaches have proven ineffective, ketamine emerges as a beacon of possibility, holding the promise of improved health and recovery.
Ketamine's unique mechanism promotes the restoration and strengthening of neural connections, aiding in the reversal of the negative impact of prolonged stress and mood disorders on the brain.
Ketamine's influence on brain function can promote a heightened state of emotional receptivity and introspection during psychotherapy sessions. This can facilitate the exploration of difficult emotions, traumas, and underlying psychological issues.
Ketamine has shown promise as a viable option for individuals who have not responded well to traditional medications or therapies, offering a potential lifeline when other avenues have fallen short.
Research suggests that the benefits of ketamine treatment can extend beyond the immediate effects, potentially providing lasting relief and improved mood regulation over an extended period for some individuals.
Find out if Ketamine Therapy is right for you at Sauna Therapy
Howe does it work?
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is an approach in which psychotherapy is intentionally incorporated before, during, and after medically supervised ketamine treatment.
The medication component and psychotherapy component serve different purposes.
A qualified medical provider determines whether ketamine is medically appropriate, prescribes the medication, and establishes the medical treatment plan.
Psychotherapy may then help you prepare for the experience, explore emotions and patterns that arise, and integrate meaningful insights into everyday life.
At Sauna Therapy, we place particular emphasis on the therapeutic relationship, preparation, and integration rather than viewing the medication experience as a stand-alone intervention.
How Does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Work?
Ketamine interacts primarily with the brain’s glutamate system, including NMDA receptors. Research has associated ketamine with changes in signaling involved in synaptic plasticity and mood regulation.
Psychotherapy provides another layer of treatment.
During ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, some people describe feeling less attached to their usual patterns of thinking or more able to observe memories, emotions, and internal experiences from a different perspective.
The goal of psychotherapy is not simply to produce an altered state. It is to help translate whatever emerges into meaningful psychological work.
1. Assessment and Medical Screening
Before beginning ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, prospective clients complete appropriate clinical and medical screening.
The prescribing medical provider evaluates whether ketamine is medically appropriate and discusses potential benefits, risks, contraindications, and alternatives.
2. Preparation
You meet with your therapist before the medication session to establish goals, discuss concerns, and develop resources for approaching the experience.
Preparation may include grounding, intention setting, nervous-system regulation, and identifying themes you would like to explore.
3. Ketamine Session
When ketamine is prescribed as part of your treatment plan, medication is administered according to the medical provider’s instructions and appropriate monitoring requirements.
Your therapist’s role is to provide psychological support and help maintain a therapeutic environment.
Experiences can vary considerably from person to person.
4. Integration
Integration occurs after the ketamine experience.
Together with your therapist, you may explore emotions, memories, perspectives, or insights that emerged and consider how they relate to your relationships, behavior, and therapeutic goals.
Integration helps move the experience from something that happened during a session into psychological work that can continue afterward.
You'll start meeting our team to walk through your medical history and treatment goals. We will run a battery of various different assessments to determine if you're eligible for ketamine-assisted therapy. Your safety an well-being are our number one priority.
The key to successful ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is careful preparation. We'll work together to develop a mature and established therapeutic alliance: setting goals, preparing somatic and creative interventions and looking at the root cause of disturbance.
Dosing sessions are 3 hours long and involve an oral lozenge. These experiences are accompanied by a psychotherapist who will meet you whether your experience may be blissful, challenging, mild or intense.
The 3-hours will include the following:
1. 90-minute stimulation session
2. 30-minute art therapy, sound healing and talk integration
3. Enjoy complimentary herbal teas, matcha lattes and an in-house ceremonial herbal bone broth
Integration is one of the most important parts of ketamine therapy, helping to maximize the healing potential. In the days following the ketamine therapy, you'll work with your therapist to unpack the experience. Ask about insurance coverage.
Howe does it work?
Why Combine Ketamine With Psychotherapy?
Medication and psychotherapy address mental health from different directions.
Ketamine may temporarily affect perception, mood, and cognitive flexibility. Psychotherapy provides a structured relationship in which those experiences can be explored and contextualized.
At Sauna Therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy may incorporate elements of:
Trauma-informed psychotherapy
Somatic therapy
Mindfulness
Grounding and nervous-system awareness
Experiential therapy
Creative expression
Attachment-oriented psychotherapy
Psychological integration
The specific approach depends on the client, therapist, and treatment plan.
Mechanism of Action: Ketamine works through a different mechanism compared to traditional antidepressants. While most antidepressants primarily target neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine, ketamine acts on the glutamate system in the brain. Specifically, ketamine blocks N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, leading to rapid increases in synaptic connections and changes in brain function.
Speed of Onset: One of the most significant differences is the speed of onset of antidepressant effects. Ketamine has been shown to produce rapid and robust antidepressant effects, often within hours or days after administration, whereas traditional antidepressants typically require several weeks or even months to achieve noticeable improvements in mood.
Treatment Resistance: Ketamine has shown promise in treating individuals with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), meaning those who have not responded adequately to multiple conventional antidepressant medications. This makes ketamine therapy a potentially valuable option for individuals who have not found relief with traditional treatments.
Duration of Effects: While traditional antidepressants require continuous daily dosing to maintain their effects, the antidepressant effects of ketamine are relatively short-lived, typically lasting for days to weeks after a single administration. This necessitates repeated infusions or doses to sustain the therapeutic benefits over time.
Side Effects: Ketamine may have different side effects compared to traditional antidepressants. Common side effects of ketamine infusion therapy may include dissociation, changes in perception, increased heart rate, and transient increases in blood pressure. However, these side effects are usually short-lived and tend to diminish after the infusion.
Setting of Administration: Ketamine infusion therapy is typically administered in a clinical setting under the supervision of trained medical professionals, whereas traditional antidepressants are taken orally at home. The controlled setting of ketamine administration allows for careful monitoring of vital signs and immediate intervention if any adverse reactions occur.
Specific appointments can be reimbursed with insurance, schedule an appointment and speak with our billing team.
Initial sessions of ketamine infusion therapy often occur more frequently, such as once or twice per week, to establish the initial antidepressant effects and gauge the individual’s response to treatment. During these sessions, the dose and duration of ketamine infusion may be adjusted based on the individual’s symptoms and tolerability.
After the initial phase of treatment, the frequency of ketamine sessions may be gradually tapered down while still maintaining a schedule that optimally supports the individual’s therapeutic response. This may involve transitioning to maintenance sessions spaced further apart, such as once every two weeks or once per month.
Overall, the duration of ketamine therapy can vary from a few weeks to several months, depending on the individual’s treatment goals, response to treatment, and ongoing monitoring and assessment by their healthcare provider. It’s essential for individuals undergoing ketamine therapy to maintain open communication with their healthcare provider throughout the treatment process to ensure that their needs are being met and that adjustments to the treatment plan can be made as needed.
Call our billing team at 210-650-2459 for more information.
Holistic, clinically grounded therapy designed to regulate your nervous system and support lasting change.
Therapy Offerings