Benefits of ketamine-assisted therapy in mental health treatment

Written by Colter Bloxom, LPC

Colter is a licensed psychotherapist and the owner and Executive Director of Thrive Therapy. He specializes in the treatment of anxiety, OCD, identity issues, and more.

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Ketamine-assisted therapy has been getting a lot more attention lately, and for good reason. For people who’ve tried traditional talk therapy for years without feeling better, or who can’t tolerate the side effects of traditional antidepressants (or other medications), ketamine-assisted therapy could have unique benefits.

It’s not just about feeling the effect of the drug. When ketamine treatment is combined with psychotherapy, it can become part of a more effective treatment plan, especially if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or other mental health disorders that haven’t responded to first-choice treatment approaches.

Here, I’ll go over 5 of the biggest benefits of ketamine-assisted therapy, and how to figure out if it might be a good fit for you.

Benefit #1: It works fast — often within hours or days

One of the most talked-about effects of ketamine is how quickly it can work. Unlike most antidepressants, which can take weeks to kick in — or therapy, which is also typically a longer-term commitment — ketamine infusions can sometimes start relieving symptoms within days, or even just hours.

That can be a huge deal if you’re feeling stuck or hopeless. Some people who’ve lived with depression for years and years report feeling better after just one or two sessions of ketamine therapy.

Researchers think this is because ketamine affects the brain in a different way than traditional antidepressants — which might be why the effects of ketamine can last longer than expected too, even after just a few treatments.

Benefit #2: It can help when nothing else has, especially for treatment-resistant depression

If you’ve tried different treatment methods and still don’t feel better, you’re not alone. A large percentage of people with depression don’t respond to standard antidepressants or talk therapy alone. This is called persistent depression or treatment-resistant depression.

Ketamine-assisted therapy has been shown in the research to specifically help with treatment-resistant depression. In one systematic review, ketamine was found to bring relief even for people who hadn’t experienced improvement with other treatments.

Benefit #3: It can make psychotherapy feel more accessible

There’s a common misunderstanding that KAT is about just getting a ketamine infusion and hoping for the best. But in actuality, the real benefit comes when you combine ketamine with psychotherapy — especially if you’ve struggled to connect or feel open in traditional therapy sessions.

During a ketamine session, you might feel more emotionally available or less guarded. That emotional shift can make it easier to access emotions or memories that usually feel too hard to access, which can make therapy more helpful.

For people with trauma, depression, or emotional numbness, this kind of openness can make an especially big difference. You’re still in control, and you’ll never be asked to talk about things you don’t feel comfortable talking about. But you may be more willing to explore the hard stuff with your therapist’s support when you’ve taken ketamine.

Benefit #4: It may help rebuild damaged brain pathways

Ketamine doesn’t work like other antidepressants. According to the research, instead of only affecting neurotransmitter levels, it may help your brain form new neural connections (a process called synaptogenesis). This is part of why it has antidepressant effects.

Long-term stress, trauma, and depression can affect the parts of your brain that regulate emotions and mood. Ketamine might help restore some of those pathways, which could be one of the reasons it works even when other treatments haven’t.

Ketamine is not a cure-all solution for every mental health disorder. But it could help your brain feel less stuck, especially when paired with therapy that gives you tools to make sense of everything that comes up for you.

Benefit #5: It can reduce suicidal thoughts

This is one of the most important benefits of ketamine. Studies have found that people who are actively suicidal experience significantly less powerful suicidal thoughts after receiving ketamine therapy (intravenously). Perhaps more importantly, it seems to work quickly — most people found relief in the first 72 hours.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that the thoughts never come back, and it doesn’t replace long-term care for suicidality. But ketamine-assisted therapy may be able to help you get through the worst of it if you’re in crisis. When you feel like nothing else is working, having something that takes the edge off quickly can help you keep going.

Is ketamine-assisted psychotherapy worth it for mental health?

There are many benefits to KAT, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone. Whether or not it’s “worth it” for you depends on several factors. Like most treatment, it works best when it’s part of a bigger treatment plan, not a one-off session.

But KAT might be worth considering if:

• You’ve tried multiple medications or therapy approaches without much change
• You’re dealing with depression, PTSD, OCD, severe anxiety, or another mental health condition that hasn't responded to treatment
• You feel stuck in therapy or can’t access your emotions the way you want to
• You’re looking for something more immersive or hands-on than weekly talk therapy
  

On the other hand, KAT might not be for you if you:

• Live with certain medical conditions, like liver or kidney disease
• Are taking other medications that could interact with ketamine
  

Cost is something else to consider. Unfortunately, ketamine therapy still usually isn’t covered by insurance, and most people need a series of sessions to get the full benefit. But for many people, the chance to feel better when nothing else has worked is worth it and ends up being a good financial investment in the long run. 

Try ketamine-assisted therapy in Phoenix, AZ

Thrive offers ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) for people who live with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health concerns. Our KAP program in Phoenix combines oral ketamine sessions with guided therapy and integration — all provided by licensed, KAP-trained clinicians.

The full program includes six in-office sessions over two to three weeks for $2,700. 

If you’re curious about whether KAP is right for you, reach out to learn more about the process, what to expect, and how to get started.