What to Expect During Your Ketamine Dosing Session in Baltimore, MD
If you’re considering ketamine therapy in Baltimore, Maryland, it’s natural to feel curious about what to expect during a session. Whether you’re pursuing treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other mental health challenges, knowing the process can help you feel more comfortable and prepared. Below is a step-by-step overview of what your ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) session will look like, so you can approach it with confidence and peace of mind.
What to plan for and expect during your Ketamine sessions
Arrange Transportation Ahead of Time
Before your ketamine session, make sure you have a ride arranged with someone you trust. If that’s not possible, services like Uber or Lyft are also acceptable options. This ensures your safety and peace of mind both before and after treatment. At LifeSpring Counseling Services, our Baltimore City office is located directly in front of the Woodberry Lightrail stop, giving you easy access to public transportation as well.
Initial Vital Signs Check
At the start of your appointment, you’ll check your own vital signs, including blood pressure and heart rate. If your readings are within the safe range set by our medical team, you’ll be cleared to begin. If they’re slightly elevated, you can take a few minutes to practice slow belly breathing (such as inhaling for 4 seconds, holding for 4, exhaling for 7, and pausing for 4) to bring your vitals back into range. If your vitals remain too high, we may repeat the process or reschedule your session for another day.
Getting Comfortable
During your ketamine session, you can choose to recline on a mat or couch, or sit in a chair with your feet elevated. Feel free to use pillows, blankets, or other supports to create a space where you feel completely at ease.
Beginning the Dosing Process
You’ll self-administer the ketamine and hold it in your mouth for about 10 minutes while seated. During this time, you may listen to guided meditation, hear your personal “letter to self,” or put on eyeshades and begin listening to music. Using eyeshades is highly encouraged, as they help enhance your internal focus and deepen your therapeutic experience.
Completing the First Dose
After the 10-minute swish, you’ll spit the medication into a receptacle (swallowing can cause nausea without providing extra benefit). At this point, we’ll determine whether an additional dose is appropriate for you.
Immersing in the Experience
Once dosing is complete, you’ll get comfortable in a reclined position with your eyeshades on, while music plays softly in the background. We use instrumental or unfamiliar music to help you let go of cognitive control and fully embrace the experience.
Support Throughout the Experience
Your therapist will be available for support during the entire session. If you need guidance, reassurance, or even a grounding touch, you’ll have access to it whenever you need.
Navigating Discomfort
If challenging emotions or sensations arise, you’ll be encouraged to lean into them rather than resist. This approach often transforms discomfort into valuable insight and healing.
Sharing Your Experience (Optional)
You may choose to remain silent during your ketamine dosing session or share what you’re experiencing in real time. Once the effects subside, you’ll have another opportunity to discuss, reflect, or express your experience in whichever way feels right for you.
Post-Session Care and Support
Your therapist will assist you with anything you need during and after the experience, whether that’s water, a snack, or help getting to the bathroom, ensuring your safety and comfort throughout.
Integration and Recovery
As the medicine wears off, you’ll have time to integrate your experience. You may choose to talk through your experience, journal your reflections, or even express yourself creatively through drawing. Your therapist will remain present as you process and recover.
Closing Vital Signs Check
Before ending the session, you’ll take your vital signs again to ensure everything remains within a safe range.
Rest and Reflection
After your session, it’s best to spend the rest of the day resting and reflecting in a way that feels meaningful to you.
Safe Ride Home
Just as at the beginning, you’ll need a prearranged ride home, either from a trusted person, a ride-sharing service, or Baltimore City’s lightrail.
Returning to Your Routine
Most clients feel ready to resume work or normal activities the following day. However, this period is also a powerful time for growth, so you’re encouraged to embrace positive changes and engage in values-based activities to make the most of ketamine’s effects on neuroplasticity.
Start Your Ketamine Journey in Baltimore
Choosing ketamine therapy in Baltimore can be a life-changing step toward healing, growth, and emotional well-being. By understanding what to expect during your session, you can feel more at ease and prepared to embrace the process fully. Whether you’re seeking relief from depression, anxiety, or trauma, our team is here to support you every step of the way.
If you’re ready to explore how ketamine treatment could benefit you, reach out today to schedule your first session in Baltimore, MD.
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Interested in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety, Depression, or Trauma?
If you’re a Marylander who knows that counseling is the direction you need to take, the therapists at LifeSpring Counseling Services are here to help. We offer online counseling services for mindfulness, depression, anxiety, trauma, and grief and loss. We also offer Brainspotting as a specialized service, and Brainspotting can be done online, too!
Here’s how you can get started! Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for anxiety, depression, and trauma aren’t the only services offered at our Baltimore, MD office.
The counselors and social workers at our Maryland office also offer counseling services for trauma, grief and loss, boundary setting, communication skills, and difficult life transitions. We also offer specialized counseling services including Brainspotting and spiritually-integrated counseling. Because we are located next to several local universities, we also work with college students.
