The Threshold of Healing
Embarking on your first ketamine-assisted therapy session is a significant step. It is completely normal to feel a mix of hope, excitement, and nervousness. While our clinical team ensures your medical safety, your personal preparation plays a vital role in the depth and quality of your experience.
Drawing from clinical best practices and the shared wisdom of the healing community, here is a guide to help you navigate your first journey with confidence.
1. Physical Preparation
Creating a comfortable container for your experience starts with the body.
- Fasting: We generally recommend avoiding solid food for 3-4 hours before your session. Nausea can sometimes occur, and an empty stomach minimizes this risk.
- Hydration: Drink water earlier in the day, but stop fluids about an hour before to avoid needing a restroom break during the peak of the experience.
- Clothing: Wear your most comfortable clothes. Think “cozy layers”—sweatpants, soft socks, and a hoodie. Your body temperature may fluctuate, so having layers is helpful.
2. Setting Your Intention
Unlike a typical doctor’s visit, you are an active participant in this therapy. Setting an intention acts as a compass for your journey.
Your intention doesn’t need to be complex. It can be a simple phrase or feeling you wish to cultivate, such as:
- “I am open to whatever comes.”
- “I want to release this grief.”
- “Show me what I need to see.”
Write this down before you arrive or discuss it with your therapist during the intake.
3. Curating Your Environment
We provide a safe, clinical setting, but you can bring items to make it feel like yours.
- Music: Music is often the “guide” during the experience. We can provide curated playlists, but if you have specific instrumental or ambient music that soothes you, let us know.
- Comfort Items: A weighted blanket, a favorite shawl, or even a small stone or crystal to hold can provide a grounding physical anchor if you feel like you are “floating” too far.
- Eye Shades: Blocking out visual stimuli encourages the brain to turn inward, often leading to more profound insights.
4. Navigating the Experience
During the session, the medication may create a sense of dissociation—a feeling of separation from your body or ordinary reality.
- Surrender to the Flow: The most common advice from experienced patients is to “let go.” If you feel like you are floating, float. If you see visuals, watch them. Fighting the sensation often creates more anxiety.
- Trust Your Safety: Remember that you are in a monitored medical environment. You are safe.
- Breathe: If the experience feels intense, return to your breath. Long, slow exhales signal safety to your nervous system.
5. The “After”: Integration
The medicine leaves your system relatively quickly, but the “neuroplastic window”—the brain’s ability to form new patterns—remains open for days.
- Rest is Productive: Do not plan big meetings or stressful events for the rest of the day. Your brain has done a workout; treat it with the same care you would after running a marathon.
- Journaling: Even if it doesn’t make sense yet, write down images, feelings, or thoughts that came up.
- Nature: Many clients find that a gentle walk in nature helps ground the experience.
You Are Ready
Taking this step requires courage. By preparing your body and mind, you are already beginning the work of healing before the medicine is even administered. We are honored to walk this path with you.
If you have specific questions about your upcoming session, please reach out to us.