Amy Hill, LCSW

Explore your trauma from a new perspective Ketamine is traditionally known and used worldwide as an anesthetic and is one of the safest medicines on the planet. When it is administered in much smaller doses, over a controlled period of time, it induces a dissociative effect that allows people to view their emotions and experiences from a perspective they’ve never seen before. While you are experiencing these new states of consciousness, I will be there with you to help facilitate new insights in the areas of your life that you would like to confront and heal. Discover what’s preventing you from enjoying your life All of us have stories we tell ourselves about our lives. When you are unaware of them, these old, false narratives can subconsciously take control of our lives and direct how we act and look in the world, without us even knowing. You and I will look at your experiences so far on your journey and reveal the origin of these less-than-useful stories and coping strategies. Once you understand where they come from, you can decide what to do with them, putting you back in control and in the driver’s seat of your life. Physically heal your brain through neuroplasticity Depression and related disorders can create pathways in our thought patterns that become reinforced over time. This lack of change in our thinking can harden those pathways, impairing our view of the world. Ketamine helps to combat those stuck ways of thinking by increasing glutamate transmission, which help neurons communicate along new pathways, therefore creating new ways of thinking in your brain. My clients begin to experience an improved mood and sense of rejuvenation as a part of this healing process. Complete your healing in a shorter time than regular therapy One of the wonders of ketamine therapy is how quickly people can begin to see an improvement in their symptoms. Because Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy is a combination of traditional therapy with a consciousness altering substance, you and I are able to pierce through the common blockages that you encounter in regular therapy and make real, lasting progress towards addressing the root of your trauma. Ketamine itself has been shown to have antidepressant effects Integrate the lessons you learned into your life knowing you can heal yourself Our sessions together are just the beginning of your healing journey. Each experience with ketamine is an opportunity to take what we explore and learn in your sessions and incorporate it into your daily life. You will learn different ways to heal, connect with self, discover your truth, soothe your nervous system, modify old thought habits, and communicate differently coming from this space within you. Ketamine Therapy is improving the way people heal their trauma. Below are some questions to help you decide if Ketamine Therapy is right for you. How do I know if Ketamine therapy is right for me? Ketamine therapy is for people who have hit a roadblock with their current therapeutic practices and are interested in exploring their own resources for healing and change. It is an opportunity for people who are tired of repeating the same patterns over and over again and are interested in getting to the root of their issues so that they can learn to heal themselves and move forward with their lives. Who should not embark on a Ketamine Therapy journey? There are certain physical and mental health issues that are contraindicated when it comes to participating in Ketamine Assisted Therapy. These include anyone with uncontrolled high blood pressure, untreated heart disease, anyone with a personal or close family history of thought distortions commonly associated with “schizophrenia” - delusions, hallucinations, extreme paranoia, and mania. Additionally anyone who has never participated in their own introspective work or healing should first try traditional therapy before venturing into Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, of which I also offer services for. How is ketamine administered during the therapy session? Before we have any therapy sessions using ketamine, you and I will have at least three preparation sessions where we will discuss what brought you to therapy and what you are looking to get out of it. You will then get connected to a prescriber of ketamine which is an additional cost. Sessions where ketamine is used are scheduled in three hour blocks. We will work together to create a comfortable, special, sacred space in my office that is meaningful to you. As the ketamine is dissolving in your mouth, I can guide you through meditation. During your session you may wear eye shades and headphones while I sit and hold witness and support you through your journey. After you the effects of the medicine have worn off you will have at least half an hour to discuss with me whatever you would like. If by chance you are a fast metabolizer of the medicine, I am more than happy to pro-rate our time together. I can refer you to prescribers that I work with or you can utilize your own prescriber for ketamine. I do not touch the medicine, it is in your control with the guidance of your prescriber. I can discuss with you your experience with dosage and then you reconnect with your prescriber regarding future dosing. What does a ketamine experience feel like? A ketamine journey varies from person to person but usually lasts 45 to 120 minutes. During that time you may feel enveloped by a variety of feelings and emotions ranging from tranquil to euphoric. There can be a general sense of openness which allows you to reflect on past experiences, emotions and recurring patterns from a different vantage point. It’s during these moments that I will be supporting you through the thoughts and experiences that come up. Some people can have a psychedelic or mystical experience that can completely remove your normal perception of reality. During these experiences, your rigid thoughts and patterns that you’ve developed over years, also known as an aspect of the default mode network, can be softened and reordered in a way that better suits your life and goals. What if I start to have a “bad trip” during my session? “Bad trips” or difficult experiences associated with psychedelics usually arise when they are taken without knowing the right dosage, without proper supervision, and within a chaotic setting. When we embark on a ketamine session together it will be just the two of us in my office with an appropriate dosage of ketamine. I have created a safe, comfortable environment for you to relax and let go. Challenging sensations or emotions that arise are often the ones that most need your attention and love. By working through these uncomfortable feelings we are often able to pinpoint their origin and heal them from the inside out. If challenging experiences do arise I will be by your side to support you through them. How soon will I start to feel better once I start ketamine therapy? Ketamine is one of the most effective therapy options available, which is why I’m so passionate about using it in conjunction with traditional therapy. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy participants can start to see noticeable improvements in their mood in as little as a couple of medicine sessions. https://pratigroup.org/category/psychedelic-therapy/ ABOUT ME As a relationally based therapist I humbly aspire to evoke, witness and reflect back your innate wisdom as it comes forth within the ketamine experience and beyond. I believe that exploring our consciousness with the aid of ketamine is a potentially sacred experience for which I will honor and hold in reverence with ceremony, directed by your beliefs and values. My intention is that you will experience compassion, curiosity, empathy, dignity, safety, respect and care in working with me. Being able to explore our trauma and attachment wounds liberates us from our repeated behaviors, patterns, and frustrations. It is my belief that with courage and curiosity we can experience true healing and expansion.