Reasons ketamine treatments
The reason why people book a ketamine session at Triptherapie can have several reasons. They are often people struggling with therapy-resistant depression, anxiety symptoms or PTSD and looking for a different perspective from regular treatments. A ketamine or ketamine analogue session can provide temporary relief from gloom and negative thoughts, creating space to look at themselves and their situation differently.
Some choose ketamine precisely because its dissociative effects help distance themselves from stuck patterns or overwhelming emotions. From that distance, one can look at traumas or life questions with more clarity. It can also be used as an aid to personal growth or spiritual self-exploration, as the experience is often accompanied by a sense of letting go and exploring the subconscious.
Therapeutic session with ketamine analogue
A therapeutic session with a ketamine analogue offers a legal way to experience the effects of ketamine. Because ketamine analogue is not covered by the Medicines Act, it is not a medical treatment and there is less regulatory burden. As a result, it can be applied without a doctor's certificate and the price is lower than clinics where you are admitted. Still, you can get help from our counsellors around the sessions with the ketamine analogue. This is a great alternative for people who want to experience the effects of ketamine under supervision anyway.
The benefits of ketamine analogue
Using a ketamine analogue brings several important advantages over medical ketamine. The drug can be taken orally, so the effect comes on gradually rather than abruptly. This provides a gentler entry into the experience and allows for additional dosing if necessary when the effect proves too mild. In addition, the effect lasts considerably longer: a session with the ketamine analogue lasts between 4 and 6 hours on average. This means that a single session is comparable in intensity and peak experience to about four regular ketamine sessions of 1.5 hours each. This longer duration allows more time for deeper processing, integration and therapeutic work, without the need for several short sessions.
The drawbacks
Ketamine analogues are less well studied than known ketamine types used in medical conditions. Chronic use or long-term effects seem to be the same as with ketamine, but this needs further research. As sessions with an analogue of ketamine do not fall under medical treatment, there is no medical supervision and underlying conditions should be taken into account properly. There is also no reimbursement possible from health insurers.
Harm-reduction
In sessions with ketamine (analogues), our therapists are essentially present during the session itself as trip-sitters. They are therefore there for harm-reduction and secondarily to help you with your (non-medical) goals. We can only guide this kind of session if you consciously choose to use this substance yourself.
From registration to integration
If you want to sign up for a session with a ketamine analogue, the process always starts with the intake. Through this form, we gain insight into your health, medication use and personal goals. On this basis, we determine whether a session with the ketamine analogue is appropriate or whether adjustments are needed. After completing the intake, one of our therapists will contact you to discuss the possibilities. Together, we look at which form and which therapist best suits your needs.
Start the free online intake
Preparing for the session
Preparation for a ketamine session includes lifestyle advice that is tailored based on the previously completed intake. These recommendations focus on becoming physically healthier and restoring neurotransmitter balance. A better neurotransmitter balance not only supports a more stable mood, but also increases the effectiveness and safety of the psychedelic experience.
In addition, preparation goes beyond the physical. Personal counselling also focuses on mental preparation. This can be done by formulating intentions, doing relaxation exercises and reading or watching inspiring information. Thus, "seeds" are planted in the subconscious mind, so to speak, that can blossom during the session.
The purpose of this preparation is to ensure that the ketamine analogue session is not only a special experience, but actually contributes to lasting insights, healing and personal growth. Anything you do beforehand will increase the chances of you getting closer to your intended goals during the session and of a smoother integration afterwards.
Preparation meeting with the chosen therapist
In the week prior to the actual ketamine analogue session, a preparatory meeting takes place with the chosen therapist. A standard hour is reserved for this conversation takes place via telephone or online (on request also possible in person. This moment not only serves as a further introduction, but also forms an important part of the therapeutic process.
During this conversation, your goals and intentions are discussed. The preparation talk is partly therapeutic work, partly practical preparation. For instance, together we look at possible blockages, expectations and ways to mentally tune yourself up for the session.
In addition, depending on your situation and wishes, the accompanying therapist may provide additional assignments or exercises. These can range from writing assignments and breathing techniques to reading or watching in-depth information.
The preparation meeting helps to build a safe trusting relationship with the counsellor and gives you space to ask questions or discuss any concerns. This allows you to go into the session with more peace and confidence.
The ketamine session itself
A ketamine analogue session does not start immediately with the intake of the drug. First, about half an hour is taken to talk together with the counselor. During this moment, the intentions come up again and you get additional explanations about what to expect. This helps to go into the experience with a clear focus and confidence.
After ingestion, it usually takes 15 minutes to half an hour before the first effects become noticeable. From that moment on, periods of silence and introspection alternate with brief moments of conversation, depending on what presents itself. The guide supports this, so you can safely surrender to the experience. If after one hour to one and a half hours after intake there is little effect or if there is a need for stronger and longer effects, it can be decided to take a booster.
The peak of the session usually lasts 1 to 3 hours, depending on sensitivity and whether a booster was taken. After the peak effects subside, there is a gradual return to speaking. This helps process the insights gained and is a first step in integration.
In total, a session with ketamine analogue often lasts between 4 and 6 hours, with the experience gradually building up and also slowly fading out. This longer duration allows you to sink deeper into the experience and take more time for reflection and processing.
Session integration
Integration begins during the session itself, especially during the coming down phase. At this stage, there is gradually more talking again, and the counsellor helps to explore and give meaning to the initial insights together. This constitutes the first step towards processing.
In addition, one hour of integration talks are included as standard, at a time that best suits the participant. For some, this is convenient immediately the next day, while most people choose to wait about a week, to give the experience time to sink in.
It is possible to choose more integration sessions and/or coaching with or without psychedelics outside the standard one-hour integration offer.
For those who want to work more intensively, there are also group integration sessions based on psychodrama and Internal Family Systems (IFS). These methods ensure that insights are lived through not only mentally but also physically and emotionally. This can be particularly valuable with themes such as trauma, self-acceptance and relational patterns. During these integration days, there can even be optional work with a low psycholytic dose of psychedelics, making it easier to connect with the previous psychedelic session without losing touch with reality.
Choose a supervisor
At Triptherapie, we have several therapists and trip sitters who work with ketamine and its analogues, which are those listed below. You can open the profile page of these staff members of Triptherapie by clicking on the image or name. Further, you can access their LinkedIn page and reviews through the logos below the counter with how many psychedelic sessions they have facilitated. You can also check availability a book a day via the agande button.
