What is Ketamine
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic developed in the 1960s, originally used for surgical anesthesia. It works by blocking NMDA receptors in the brain. Research on ketamine dates back to 1964, when it was first synthesized. Over time, studies expanded beyond anesthesia to include its rapid-acting antidepressant effects, especially for treatment-resistant depression, beginning in the early 2000s.
What is EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy developed by Francine Shapiro in 1987 to treat trauma. It uses guided eye movements to help the brain process and integrate distressing memories. Research on EMDR began in the late 1980s and has since grown significantly, showing effectiveness in treating PTSD, anxiety, and other conditions.
KAP + EMDR
Combining EMDR with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) may enhance trauma processing by leveraging ketamine’s ability to reduce defenses and increase neuroplasticity, making clients more receptive to EMDR. This pairing can deepen emotional access, accelerate memory reprocessing, and improve treatment outcomes for PTSD, depression, and complex trauma.
My Training
I am near completion of my EMDR certification with EMDRIA, which requires extensive training, clinical hours, and professional consultation. In addition, I completed immersion training with Dr. Phil Wolfson, a leading figure in the psychedelic therapy community. Dr. Wolfson is the creator of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and the director of the Ketamine Research Foundation.
