Ketamine Therapy
Ketamine assisted therapy in Denver
Ketamine assisted therapy in Summit County, CO
Proud to be Summit County’s first Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy provider
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is the first legally prescribed psychedelic that can be used for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in Colorado.
Ketamine is a safe, effective, and legal medicine that has been used for decades. Ketamine is well-researched, and is considered an essential medicine by the World Health Organization.
What does ketamine feel like?
Ketamine is a dissociative, and creates a sense of feeling detached from the body and overall sense of self. Most clients experience this as pleasant and interesting. The ketamine experience is different for each client but clients report any of the following experiences: pleasant body sensations, a sense of relaxation, shifts in the emotional experiences, and a dream like state, which can include visual experiences.
Ketamine assisted psychotherapy may be a good option for you if:
-you have done talk therapy in the past but still feel “stuck”
-have a lot of insight into what you need to change in your life, but struggle to maintain changes
-you have chronic, treatment resistant depression and have tried medications, talk therapy, or other modalities to address depression. Research supports that ketamine is effective in improving symptoms of depression in over 70% of treatment resistant patients.
-you struggle with persistant symptoms of anxiety, trauma, OCD, or substance use.
-want to dive deeper into your healing journey
What is ketamine assisted psychotherapy?
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is the process of combining the medicine (ketamine) with the work of a trained, psychedelic therapist (psychotherapy). The combination of using the medicine as the tool, along with the relationship and guidance of the therapist is what makes this treatment extremely effective.
There is amazing research supporting the use of ketamine itself for many different mental health issues and ketamine can currently be used as a medication without psychotherapy.
However, there are benefits to having a therapist working with you for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. You may benefit if you:
-want to focus on repairing relational patterns and wounds
-want to get to the root of your mental health symptoms and underlying distress
-want to focus on preparation and integration, which is designed to help you make sustainable, long-lasting changes
Client feedback about KAP
As long as I can remember, I have had anger problems and dark depression. Ever since middle school I can remember getting so depressed every Sunday, knowing that the next morning I had to start the whole week again. I had childhood trauma, terrible relationships, even worse break ups and more that my fair share of family drama. I had no tools or self-awareness to even begin to know how to handle the feelings building up inside of me or why they were even there. I started traditional therapy at the age of 28, for the last 28 years I have been through it all. I have talked, listened, and taken just about every anti-depressant available. Occasionally I would have good periods, but they never lasted very long. When 2020 and the pandemic hit, my life flipped upside down and I just couldn’t handle anything, I could not sleep and my mind raced, I truly thought I might be having a mental breakdown. I started looking for a new therapist and came across Hannah Buzzo and Ketamine Assisted Therapy. I read everything I could find on it and decided to schedule a consultation. That was the turning point. I didn’t know what to expect but after several sessions, all I can say is that it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. With ketamine and Hannah’s integration sessions I’ve learned so much about myself, my mind is clear and focused, and every day just gets better and better. It’s been a lot of hard work and self-realization and with Hannah’s guidance I can finally say at the age of 56 “it feels good to feel good”.
The KAP Process
Ketamine requires a prescription from an authorized medical provider, who will complete a medical evaluation and advise on proper dosing. You are welcome to work with your current psychiatrist, or I can provide you with a trusted referral. I proudly partner with Mandy Glasmeyer CRNA as my prescriber and work with her closely on each client’s individual treatment plan for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
The ketamine-assisted psychotherapy process will consist of:
-a free 15-20 minute phone consultation with Hannah Buzzo LPC to connect, share more about ketamine and KAP, answer any additional questions, and decide if KAP could be a good fit for you
-Mental health intake with Hannah Buzzo LPC
-2-3 preparation sessions (dry sessions, without the ketamine), that are similar to traditional talk therapy sessions. During these sessions we will work together to identify your goals, intentions, and work together on creating a treatment plan and make sure you feel prepared for your medicine sessions
-Medical evaluation/meeting with prescriber, who, if medically appropriate, will provide prescription and advise on dosing of the ketamine
-2-4 medicine sessions per month using ketamine for total of 6-8 sessions. During these sessions, clients will self-administer their medicine in session with the therapist and we will work together to address symptoms, process difficult experiences, and work on treatment plan goals
-Optional integration sessions in between medicine sessions, or after the first round of medicine sessions are completed. These sessions are recommended, although not required, can can help support you during this process, integrate and process the psychedelic experiences that come up in medicine sessions, and help you create long-lasting sustainable change
Ketamine THerapY in Summit County, CO
I offer ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in Summit County, CO in my Frisco, CO office.
I am proud to be Summit County’s first Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy provider, as well as the creator and facilitator of Summit County’s first Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy group!
Ketamine THERAPY in denver
I offer ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in Denver, CO at my Highlands office.
Benefits of KAP
Ketamine is a great medicine to pair with therapy because it is fast acting, safe, with few side effects. Other benefits of KAP are:
-ketamine creates a physical change in your brain, while also increasing neuroplasticity, which is your brain’s ability to heal and create new, healthy neural networks and increase the brain’s ability to create new, positive behaviors and beliefs.
-you are able to stay on most other medications while engaging in a ketamine-assisted psychotherapy program
-research supports positive impacts on wide variety of concerns and symptoms including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and trauma
-allows you to do deep healing work, by helping you to gain access to the subconscious and heal deeply rooted patterns and beliefs
-allows you to process difficult emotions, experiences, and patterns without the normal fear and shame responses, which helps us get through normal defense mechanisms
Will insurance cover KAP?
The great news is that with the amazing research supporting this effective modality, there are steps being taken towards insurance companies being able to cover ketamine and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. At this time, ketamine is still considered an out-of-network expense for most insurance companies. With that in mind, some insurance companies will pay for the preparation and integration sessions, and may reimburse your out-of-network expenses with a superbill that can be provided to you by your ketamine therapist. We can make a financial treatment plan together to address any financial concerns and identify what your insurance plan may cover.