The Problem with Psychedelic and Ketamine Therapies

More than 99% of clients report total success in just 1 to 3 sessions

The Problem with Psychedelic and Ketamine Therapies

It seems like psychedelics and ketamine are the newest “craze” in the therapy world these days. Therapists can now get trained in how to administer ketamine assisted psychotherapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, and depression. Was Timothy Leary right? Are we finally in a new age of expanding consciousness and revolutionizing psychiatry? I don’t think we know just yet. 

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But what is clear is that the use of psychedelic and ketamine therapies for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorders has gained attention in recent years due to some promising preliminary research. However, despite the potential benefits, these therapies come with a host of risks and reports of negative effects that must be carefully considered.

Psychedelics such as psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms), MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy), and LSD have shown potential in treating various mental health conditions, including PTSD and anxiety disorders. The theory behind their use is that by restoring the brain’s capacity for plasticity through reopening “critical learning” periods, these drugs can facilitate profound psychological insights, emotional breakthroughs, and a sense of connection that may help individuals process and overcome traumatic experiences. However, the journey is fraught with potential dangers. 

I recently helped someone who was traumatized during their psychedelic “therapy” session when the therapist did something that they believed would be “grounding” for the client. But since the client was in a somewhat incapacitated state while on their “trip”, they could not give consent for this intervention and thus experienced it as a boundary violation.  Being that they were in a vulnerable state and unable to articulate their needs, the session itself became another trauma for that client, further compounding previous traumatic events in their life.  Fortunately, we were able to have that trauma resolved in two sessions through the Total Reset method. Afterwards, this client no longer had flashbacks of their psychedelic “therapy” session. 

Like this experience, other reports have shown that psychedelics can induce extreme psychological states that may be distressing for some individuals. These adverse effects can include panic attacks, intense anxiety, paranoia, and feeling disconnected from reality. In some cases, these experiences can exacerbate existing mental health conditions rather than alleviate them. If it is indeed the case that psychedelic experiences resensitize the brain for new learning as if it were a child’s brain again, then unless the environment is uniquely tailored to provide the right corrective emotional experience for that individual, then there can be a significant risk of psychological distress and new damage done. 

Additionally, there have been numerous reports of a phenomenon experienced on psychedelics called “ontological uncertainty,” where individuals may struggle with the nature of their existence and reality. Psychedelics can also trigger or worsen sleep-related issues like nightmares, which can be particularly problematic for individuals with PTSD as was the case for the client I recently helped. The intensity of these experiences can lead to a sense of hopelessness and increased anxiety. 

Ketamine Therapy: Fast-Acting but Fraught with Risks

Ketamine, a horse tranquilizer that has been repurposed for its rapid antidepressant effects, has gained traction as a treatment for PTSD and phobias. It is typically administered in a clinical setting, often as an intravenous infusion. While ketamine therapy offers some advantages, such as quick symptom relief, it also presents notable risks. Ketamine is known to cause dissociation, where individuals feel detached from their surroundings and themselves. This can be a disorienting and uncomfortable experience for many. Other side effects include dizziness, nausea, increased blood pressure, and hallucinations. These effects are generally short-lived but can be distressing, especially for those unprepared for the intensity of the experience.

What is more concern is that thus far all the research on ketamine for anxiety disorders, including specific phobias, shows that its main usefulness is as a maintenance drug, which means that to get the benefit of it, people must be continually taking it. This opens up a whole new set of issues that are similar to the issues that I noted in the article about why anti-anxiety meds don’t really help with flying phobia. And the literature demonstrates that ketamine has a well-documented potential for abuse and addiction. Regular or high-dose use can lead to psychological dependence, which complicates its therapeutic use. Patients must be carefully monitored to prevent misuse and addiction.

Cost and Accessibility: Ketamine therapy can be expensive, particularly if multiple sessions are required to maintain its benefits. The cost can be a barrier for many patients seeking treatment. Additionally, access to clinics offering ketamine therapy is limited, particularly in rural areas, making it less feasible for widespread use.

It is understandable why clinicians have looked at things like ketamine and psychedelics in their treatment of trauma, anxiety, and phobia. They are trying to get around the issues that I talk about in my article describing the pitfalls of exposure therapies, the main one being the distress involved in making clients revisit and relive their worst fears and memories. It seems that ketamine and other psychedelics are quite effective at removing the distress inherent in exposure therapies. But unless the precisely correct setting is created, one that produces a healing narrative for that particular individual, there is a significant risk of increased distress with more damage being done than good. 

In the Total Reset method, we achieve the same or better removal of distress, without any of the risks or costs of psychedelics or ketamine. That is because in the Total Reset method, the client retains complete control of what happens during the rescripting of the narrative. The therapist is coaching the client on how they can change details of their memory. But it is the client who is directing how precisely their memory is reworked and changed. As I tell my clients: “You are the director. You are the projectionist who controls all aspects of what you see.” My client, not I, is always in control of Total Reset. In psychedelic and ketamine assisted therapies, the therapist is controlling the administration of the drug and other aspects of the experience. The risk of not getting that just right is that new trauma and damage can easily occur during the brain’s re-opened critical learning period. And since psychedelic and ketamine assisted therapies are so new as a therapeutic intervention, they are still learning how to do it correctly and safely. Do you want to take a chance on something so new and untested, only to hear years later that they weren’t quite doing it right in this early period? Perhaps in 20-30 years they will figure out how to do psychedelic assisted therapies in the safest and most effective ways. 

If you are interested in learning more about how the Total Reset Method can change your life by enabling you to attend family events, go on stress-free vacations with your romantic partner, and supercharge your business by allowing you to easily meet with clients and potential clients anywhere in the world, then use the link below to schedule your free strategy session. 

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