What to expect from

Ketamine Therapy

ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in nyc

What does Ketamine feel like?

Ketamine has the effect of temporarily suspending interference by external stimuli while connecting the cortical, or surface, levels of mind, with the deeper emotional levels that are usually blocked from conscious awareness. This can be experienced as temporarily quieting activity in the area of the brain that comprises what is known as the “sense of self.”

In general, psychedelic ketamine experiences are described as either pleasurable, or involve the suspension of familiar types of worry, where extraneous mental chatter and narration are quieted. It may feel like the spirit is lifting off and letting go from the body as the psyche embarks on its journey. It is then a detached “mind’s eye,” absent of deeply ingrained and often limiting thought patterns, witnessing whatever rich psychedelic sensory patterns or surprising new narratives may unfold.

Even negative psychedelia, which may, for example, reflect the residue of traumatizing experiences, is typically not too bothersome to this detached observing ego in the psychedelic state.

Four psychedelic effects may emerge:

“Empathogenic” – feeling more connected to self and to others
“Out of body experience”
“Near-death experience” – while this may sound very scary, it is not experienced that way on the medicine. Death of the “conscious ego” is fundamental to psychic transformation, and often has the benefit of relieving in a sustained way existential and death-anxiety. This effect is why psychedelics have increasingly been used in palliative care medicine to relieve anxiety and depression during end-of-life care.
“Transcendental ego-dissolving” peak experiences – a sacred or spiritual state thought to be the most therapeutic, transformative effect of psychedelic ketamine, achieved in up to 30-40% of psychedelic ketamine experiences under optimal clinical conditions.

"I am always stressing about a million things but felt peaceful, able to let go, that everything is fine. It was exciting, an adventure."

M.H., Finance Professional, – Ketamine Therapy Patient

“A weight was lifted, a door was opened.”

J.L., Tech Executive & Father – Ketamine Therapy Patient

"I feel my brain was rewired, my thoughts are clearer, I have more insight."

– K.F., Environment Health Professional – Ketamine Therapy Patient

While every journey is unique, many positive clinical results may be observed, including:

There may be relief from the deeply ingrained, embodied defensive patterns that have generated anxiety and tension (or chronic physical pain) throughout life, sometimes going all the way back to the time of childhood.
Consciousness may be less restricted with sharper introspective awareness, and affective tone may be considerably more positive due to expansion of the mind into a more connected-feeling transpersonal dimension of conscious awareness. You may find yourself viewing situations with new insight and perspectives, and experience improved mood and outlook on life.
You may feel more connected to self and others. There may be more interpersonal openness and a better capacity to relate to others, a calmer and more accurate perception of reality undistorted by a profusion of negative, neurotic thoughts, and creativity may be enhanced.
Existential and death-anxiety may be alleviated.

we provide a supportive, therapeutic environment

At Acheron, we don’t just let the ketamine we prescribe do the heavy lifting. We listen skillfully and attentively to deliver depthful and quality psychotherapy treatment.

Just like a journey in the physical realm, but even more so, even a single psychedelic ketamine “journey” into one’s own deep and broad psychic terrain can be considerably perspective-on-life changing, and life-transformative.

In addition to psychedelic medicine, psychodynamic psychotherapy is baked into our DNA. We do not want one meaningful, interpretable detail of any psychedelic experience to go to waste. We have a sacred duty to help integrate and develop the personality in the especially interesting, intense, as well as connected, psychotherapy process that unfolds. Anything less is in part squandering a precious window for significant healing.