Creating an optimal environment for a therapeutic ketamine session can enhance the patient’s experience and improve treatment outcomes. The following recommendations can help patients get the most out of their therapy sessions:
- Music: Listening to music during ketamine therapy can promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and facilitate introspection. Calming, instrumental music without lyrics is recommended, as words may interfere with the patient’s thought processes. Ambient, classical, or nature sounds can create a soothing atmosphere and promote a positive experience (1).
- “Ketamine Saved Me” on Spotify
- “Infusion” on Spotify
- Subnautica Below Zero Soundtrack
- Eye mask: Using an eye mask during ketamine therapy can help patients focus on their inner experiences and minimize external distractions. This may enhance the dissociative effects of ketamine and facilitate a more profound therapeutic experience (2).
- Comfortable setting: Ensuring the therapy space is comfortable, quiet, and visually appealing can create a sense of safety and relaxation. This may include comfortable seating, soft lighting, and calming decor. A relaxed environment can help patients feel more at ease during therapy sessions and encourage a positive therapeutic experience (3).
- Supportive presence: Having a trained therapist or medical professional present during the session can provide emotional support and guidance, helping patients navigate their experiences and enhance the therapeutic process (4).
- Preparation and integration: Encouraging patients to engage in preparatory activities, such as setting intentions or practicing mindfulness, can help them approach their ketamine experience with a focused mindset. Additionally, supporting integration insights and experiences after the session can promote long-lasting therapeutic benefits (5).
- Itchy eyes? Use hydrocortisone eyedrops for relief.
Optimizing the environment for a therapeutic ketamine session can contribute to a more positive and practical treatment experience. Recommendations include selecting calming, instrumental music; using an eye mask to minimize external distractions; ensuring a comfortable, quiet, and visually appealing setting; having a supportive presence in the form of a trained therapist or medical professional; and encouraging preparation and integration activities before and after the session. By creating a conducive atmosphere for therapeutic ketamine sessions, patients may be better able to navigate their experiences, resulting in improved outcomes and lasting benefits for their mental health.
Kaelen, M., Giribaldi, B., Raine, J., Evans, L., Timmermann, C., Rodriguez, N., … & Carhart-Harris, R. (2018). The hidden therapist: evidence for a central role of music in psychedelic therapy. Psychopharmacology, 235(2), 505-519. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-017-4820-5
Bonn-Miller, M. O., Loflin, M. J., Thomas, B. F., Marcu, J. P., Hyke, T., & Vandrey, R. (2017). Labeling accuracy of cannabidiol extracts sold online. JAMA, 318(17), 1708-1709. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2661569
Winkelman, M. (2018). Psychedelics as medicines for substance abuse rehabilitation: evaluating treatments with LSD, Peyote, Ibogaine, and Ayahuasca. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, 36, 361-395. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/7854_2016_464
Dore, J., Turnipseed, B., Dwyer, S., Turnipseed, A., Andries, J., Ascani, G., … & Mennenga, S. (2019). Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): Patient Demographics, Clinical Data, and Outcomes in Three Large Practices Administering Ketamine with Psychotherapy. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 51(2), 189-198. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02791072.2019.1587556
Hartogsohn, I. (2016). Set and setting, psychedelics, and the placebo response: An extra-pharmacological perspective on psychopharmacology. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30(12), 1259-1267. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0269881116677852