Getting Started with Ketamine Therapy: We keep your safety at the forefront of our awareness.
Things start with you reaching out through the website contact form. Dr. Tatyana Kholodkov will be in touch to have a brief discussion regarding logistics and initial screening related to the KAP Process. If we decide to work together, we will schedule an intake appointment.
What To Expect During Your Intake Appointments
During your intake appointment(s) Dr. Kholodkov would like to take time to get to know you, and then find out what is bringing you in. She will ask you questions relevant to who you are, today in your life. Together you will talk about your history, your physical wellness, and what challenges and strengths you have. We will also explore your past history with psychedelics. Don’t worry- past history doesn’t exclude you, nor is it necessary. We work with individuals brand new to expanded states, individuals who have occasional recreational use, and experienced psychonauts.
What is Drawing You To the KAP Process in Durham, NC?
In addition to getting to know each other a bit, we will also explore what is drawing you to Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. We will begin to talk about what you may already be doing that supports you as well as where you hope KAP will take you farther in your life or bring relief. We will also discuss any potential factors that may indicate KAP is not a good fit for you, and if needed, I will work to find you a referral. If we decide to work together using ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, we will also discuss the timeline. We will discuss whether we want to get into it soon, or first, spend some time laying a foundation of skills or processing before introducing psychedelics.
Next Steps: Medical Evaluation and Planning
Once we both decide we are ready for the next step, Dr. Kholodkov will then refer you to a medical provider she works with for the medical evaluation. This medical professional will also be the one to prescribe and administer the medicine to you for the KAP session. The process of having a psychological and medical evaluation is to help rule out any conditions where using ketamine may cause more harm than good.
Additional Medical Clearance if Needed
If deemed necessary, the medical provider may also suggest additional medical clearance (e.g., a visit to the cardiologist). This is because each person is unique! Similarly, we tailor preparation, routes of administration, dosage, the timing of treatments, and integration specific to your needs.
The KAP Process May Require Holding Your Current Medication
Should you be taking any conventional or alternative medicine, this will also be addressed in terms of how it relates to your KAP work. There may be times individuals need to hold their medicine for 1-3 days surrounding the KAP work, and the medical provider will give you appropriate guidance.
The KAP Process and Collecting Information
Our process also includes collecting information on your own ratings of both symptoms and indices of wellness, and ways in which you experienced yourself differently as a result of KAP. We can look at these assessments over time to observe the process, particularly as we may target symptoms of depression, trauma, anxiety, and substance use.
Beginning The Psychedelic Prep Work Related to the KAP Process
In the meantime, we will continue to work together and begin psychedelic preparation work. The preparation includes helping you get elements of your life ready for the experience and preparing yourself on an emotional, physical, and spiritual level. You will be oriented to the entire process, and have a sense of realistic expectations – beyond that, what occurs is the unexpected unfolding in your subconscious mind.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is also a very different way of working with a therapist than traditional psychotherapy.
Together we go over these differences, practicing elements that are important, and explicitly talking about numerous forms of consent. You will also learn how to really take time for yourself, for this experience. We know from experience, that treating this as a gift to yourself can really enrich how you approach it.
What to Expect When We Meet for Your Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Session
The medical provider will perform essential vital checks. We arrange the space to support your individual needs, and then we settle into the session. We pay a lot of attention to the setting and have most things you would need to be able to draw your awareness inward during your journey. Both your therapist and medical professional alike have had personal experiences with non-ordinary states. As well as extensive training in offering Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. This helps us be effective and supportive guides to your journey. Further, we share what may be helpful throughout our KAP work.
Dr. Tatyana Kholodkov Will Support You as Your Psychedelic Therapist
Throughout your ketamine treatment session, Dr. Tatyana Kholodkov will be by your side to support you as your psychedelic therapist. You will also be under the supervision of an on-site medical professional. You will have already met them for your screening and medical evaluation. For some sessions, we may all be in the room together.
One on One Time with Your Psychedelic Therapist
Oftentimes, Dr. Tatyana Kholodkov will spend large periods of time alone in the room with you. The medical provider will be entering at the start, mid, and end point of your medical experience. This allows for the intimacy of the psychotherapy to be preserved while also ensuring your physical safety and overall well-being. You have a professional care team supporting you every step of the way.
Tracking Your Experience During the KAP Process
The medicine session is your sacred time. Dr. Tatyana Kholodkov is there to help care for you, help you feel as comfortable as possible, and track your experience. Notes are taken of what comes up or what you share so that you can just be present with what is happening. As needed, Dr. Kholodkov will also guide you through practices that support presence. Together we will navigate any content that may be a bit challenging, and help you re-orient back at the end of the experience. We practice a kind, curious awareness of all that unfolds, without any judgment.
Follow Up To the KAP Process Through Integration Work
Following your medicine sessions, we meet (usually within 24-72 hours) to process what the experience was like for you. We continue to deepen the impact of the medicine sessions through integration work. This is where we can bring what arose for you into your life. Through integration, and coordinated conversations with the medical provider, together we may make plans for additional KAP sessions if it seems like the right next step. We will work with multiple integrative modalities, tailored to you. This includes discussing what arose (messages, meaning, metaphors), engaging in creative expression, connecting with the body and breath, and continuing to tune into your inner healing intelligence outside of the state the medicine creates.
Begin Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy in Durham, NC Today
If you have been struggling with your mental health and seeking clarity without success we can help. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy is a proven alternative treatment that can address mental health issues that have proven treatment-resistant in the past. At Project Yes, Dr. Kholodkov is trained extensively in the KAP Process. She is here to help you on your journey to healing through Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy and beyond. Follow the steps below to get started:
- Fill out our convenient online contact form here.
- Learn more about Dr. Kholodkov.
- Begin your journey to improved mental health and well-being.
Other Services Offered by Project Yes
In addition to Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, we offer Additional Psychedelic Psychotherapy Services, Psychotherapy Services for Anxiety, Insomnia, Integrative Health, OCD, and Trauma and PTSD as well as Yoga and Meditation Options. We look forward to guiding you on your journey toward optimal physical and mental well-being.