Ketamine for Depression: When Other Approaches Fall Short
Depression affects millions of Americans. And while traditional treatments work for many, a significant number of individuals continue to struggle despite trying multiple medications and therapy approaches. At Gladstone Psychiatry and Wellness, we understand the frustration and hopelessness that can come with treatment-resistant depression. That’s why we’re proud to offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). KAP is an innovative solution for folks who haven’t found relief through conventional methods.
Why Consider Ketamine for Depression?
Ketamine for depression represents a breakthrough in mental health treatment. Unlike traditional antidepressants that may take weeks to work, ketamine can often provide rapid relief, sometimes within hours or days. This makes ketamine for depression a particularly valuable option for people who have struggled with persistent symptoms even after trying multiple treatments.
Common experiences for people considering ketamine for depression include:
- Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness, even with anti-depressant medication
- Trying multiple antidepressants without much improvement
- Feeling “broken” or that nothing will ever help
- Struggling with side effects from medications without experiencing their benefits
- Exhaustion from the cycle of trying new treatments only to be disappointed again
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And more importantly, KAP may offer the hope you’ve been seeking.
How Ketamine Works Differently
Traditional antidepressants typically target serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine systems in the brain. Ketamine for depression works through a fundamentally different mechanism.
As an NMDA receptor antagonist, ketamine affects glutamate, the brain’s most abundant neurotransmitter. This difference is important for several reasons:
- Ketamine can provide rapid relief, sometimes within hours or days rather than weeks
- It helps promote neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new connections
- It can work even when other medications have failed
- The effects can persist even after the medication has left your system
The Power of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy at Gladstone
At Gladstone Psychiatry and Wellness, we don’t just offer ketamine for depression—we provide Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), a comprehensive approach that combines ketamine’s biological benefits with therapeutic support to create lasting change.
Our KAP program is distinctive because:
- We combine medicine with meaning: While ketamine alone can provide temporary relief, pairing it with psychotherapy helps patients make sense of their experiences so they can create lasting, positive changes.
- We offer personalized care: Our comprehensive screening process ensures ketamine for depression is appropriate for you and allows us to tailor treatment to your specific needs.
- You’re never alone: Unlike standalone ketamine clinics, our patients have a KAP-trained therapist with them throughout their ketamine experience, providing guidance and support.
- We focus on integration: The insights gained during ketamine sessions are carefully processed and integrated in follow-up therapy sessions, helping transform temporary insights into permanent growth.
What to Expect from Our KAP Program
Our structured KAP program at Gladstone includes:
- Pre-screening: We begin with an application review and brief phone consultation to determine initial suitability.
- Comprehensive Screening: We conduct a thorough psychological assessment, medical evaluation, and therapy evaluation to ensure ketamine for depression is appropriate and safe for you.
- Preparation: Three dedicated therapy sessions help prepare you mentally and emotionally for the ketamine experience.
- Dosing Sessions: Six medically supervised ketamine sessions lasting 2.5-3 hours each, with your therapist present to provide support throughout.
- Integration: Follow-up therapy sessions help you process and incorporate insights gained during ketamine sessions into lasting positive changes.
Is Ketamine for Depression Right for You?
Ketamine for depression may be particularly beneficial if you:
- Have tried multiple antidepressants without adequate relief
- Are looking for a more rapid response than traditional treatments offer
- Want to address the psychological roots of your depression, not just the symptoms
- Are open to exploring your inner experience in a new way
- Are committed to the therapeutic process before, during, and after ketamine sessions
While ketamine for depression isn’t suitable for everyone (certain medical conditions and medications may disqualify some folks), our screening process will help determine if it’s an appropriate option for your situation.
Taking the Next Step with Ketamine for Depression
Living with persistent depression doesn’t mean you’ve run out of options. The KAP program at Gladstone Psychiatry and Wellness represents hope for people who haven’t responded to traditional approaches.
If you’re ready to explore whether ketamine for depression might be right for you, we invite you to contact our dedicated KAP team at [email protected] or 443-708-5856, ext 409.
At Gladstone, we believe everyone deserves to find relief from depression—even when other approaches have fallen short. Our ketamine for depression program might just be the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for.