Having a healing and transformative ketamine infusion requires more than just getting the ketamine. In this blog, we explain what the four phases of ketamine therapy are (preparation, intention, experience, and integration) and why these phases make the ketamine infusion truly transformational.

Key Takeaway: Ketamine therapy goes beyond just dosing; it's a holistic journey. Like nurturing a garden, we guide patients through preparation, intention, experience, and integration to maximize healing.

It is not just the ketamine infusions that induce the psychedelic experience, there are other factors at play as well.

How Can a Garden Help You Understand the Ketamine Infusion Experience?

While research offers protocols on dosing and delivering ketamine infusions for mood and pain disorders, there is no standardized framework for how a patient should navigate the ketamine infusion experience. It's not just about the infusion itself. Ketamine's potential to induce a psychedelic experience, the environment and mental preparation all play significant roles. Using the imagery of a garden, we have created a framework to assist our patients. This approach ensures our patients not only receive their treatment in a safe and supportive container but also holistically embrace each phase of the journey. Dive in to explore how each stage paves the way for the next and amplifies the therapeutic effect.

Your mind is like a garden that needs to be prepared for your ketamine infusion treatment.

The 4 Phases of A Transformational Ketamine Infusion Treatment

When we share the concept of the four phases, we like to use the analogy of a garden. Imagine your mind like a garden, and explore each of the phases below.

Preparation: Before planting seeds, we first prepare the ground. This might involve pulling out weeds, removing larger obstacles, testing the pH, and perhaps adding some fertilizer to enrich the soil. Similarly, in preparation for ketamine infusions, it's not only about prepping the body but also the mind. We advise against consuming violent or triggering media, and we promote practices like journaling and meditation in anticipation of the upcoming infusion journey.

Intention: Consider an intention as the specific seed you plant in your mind's garden. It's essential to have a clear understanding of what this seed represents. Intentions can be straightforward, such as seeking peace, joy, contentment, or the act of letting go. Setting an intention offers clarity and direction during the ketamine infusion.

Experience: Using our garden analogy, the experience phase is like planting that chosen seed into the soil. During the ketamine infusion, it's crucial to concentrate on the intention set earlier. Let this intention guide you, but also remain open to embracing the experience fully, welcoming any insights it offers. If the process becomes overwhelming at any point, find solace in returning to your breath and intention.

Integration: This phase ensures that the seed (or intention) gets adequate sunlight and water, and that the soil provides all necessary nutrients for its growth. In the context of ketamine treatments, integration involves incorporating insights and inspirations obtained during the infusion into everyday life. These insights translate into actionable steps, like incorporating a brief daily meditation, taking regular walks, or penning a letter to your younger self. The most potent integration actions are those you come up with on your own!

Learn more about preparation and integration at our How to Prepare For And Integrate From a Ketamine Infusion blog.

We’ve witnessed that those who have a transformational ketamine experience are those who have prepared themselves mentally and physically.

Why You Should Receive Ketamine Therapy With A Holistic Approach

Why go through all these phases? Isn’t it enough to simply safely receive ketamine infusion therapy? For some individuals, experiencing ketamine's biological effects, such as the reset of pain receptors in chronic pain cases, can be adequate. However, we've seen that those who have truly transformed their lives are those who fully embraced each of these phases. Preparing both mentally and physically for the infusion and establishing a clear intention can profoundly shape your infusion experience.

Knowing you’re well-prepared and focusing on your intention equips you to handle any challenging experiences during the infusion more effectively. Constructing an integration plan based on your infusion experiences assists you in incorporating changes into your daily life, furthering your healing journey. Viewing ketamine therapy as a catalyst for healing change leads to greater change than when we see ketamine alone as the solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all clinics perform the four phases of transformation ketamine therapy?

No, while the actual dosing of the medication is fairly consistent amongst ketamine clinics, not all clinics have the same preparation recommendations, offer or recommend intentions, and integration. Here at Reset Ketamine, we approach each patient’s therapy with the four phases of transformational ketamine therapy: preparation, intention, experience, and integration. There is much variation from clinic to clinic.

How do I prepare for a ketamine infusion?

Each clinic will have various recommendations on how to prepare for a ketamine infusion. Most (like us) will recommend avoiding eating and drinking prior to an infusion. At Reset Ketamine, we believe it is imperative to also prepare your mind prior to the ketamine infusion, such as abstaining from violent media, and mediating and journaling. Always make sure you are following the preparation guidelines of the clinic you are going to!

How do I make an intention?

Think of intention like setting the GPS coordinates prior to going on a long journey. Ideally the intention is one or two words so that it's easy to remember. You'll just state it to yourself like a mantra over and over quietly in your mind so that it can be downloaded and programmed into the brain.

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Set and Setting During Ketamine Infusions

The mindset you have going into a ketamine infusion plus the environment you receive it in very much influences your experience. Learn more about the concept of set and setting at our blog.