Research-backed & evidence-based psychedelic medicine is the latest treatment option for a variety of psychiatric and pain disorders
Our treatment models are based on the latest medical literature from leading research institutions around the world. We provide personalized treatment plans for each of our patients to meet their unique therapeutic needs.
ketamine is used in conjunction with other therapies to improve mental health and overall wellbeing
Psychedelics like ketamine promote mental wellness and healing through a temporary interruption of the ego and suspension of the Default Mode Network (DMN) of the brain. Psychedelics can offer a path toward healing and transformation. Multiple evidence-based studies from world-class institutions have demonstrated that using psychedelics can produce profound, sustained results in as little as one session. Ongoing benefits include improved well-being, optimism, and restoration of normal brain function.
Ketamine is an anaesthetic medication that has been used effectively and safely in a multitude of clinical contexts for decades. At subanesthetic doses it can generate psychedelic effects.
Ketamine is an incredibly effective medication for depression, PTSD, anxiety, suicidal ideation, neuropathic pain, and mood disorders which have been resistant to previous treatment. Ketamine is a fast acting and effective therapy, whereas traditional antidepressants, mood stabilisers, and painkillers require weeks to take effect. Therefore, ketamine can be an exceptionally useful tool for preventing suicide, rapidly easing major depressive disorder (MDD), overcoming substance dependence, lowering or eliminating neuropathic pain, and treating PTSD symptoms. The lower doses and administration techniques utilised in our clinic do not induce anaesthesia, but they do elicit psychedelic effects.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a ketamine-based psychiatric and psychotherapeutic medical treatment
At Vancouver Island Ketamine Clinic (VIKC), we manage "treatment-resistant" forms of the following conditions:
These conditions often coexist, and KAP has been demonstrated to be an effective form of treatment for these conditions. More information is available in the studies linked below.
Getting treated starts with a consultation with our medical team
If you suffer from Depression, PTSD, Substance Use Disorder, Chronic Pain, Anxiety, or OCD, you may be eligible for KAP.
For a person to be eligible for KAP, these disorders must be "treatment resistant," which implies that the patient has not received adequate relief from earlier therapies, such as medication or psychotherapy.
A careful medical and psychological assessment will be conducted to obtain the best and safest outcome with KAP.
Using the latest medical research into psychedelics we have developed a road map to help direct you along the path to recovery using ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
CONSULTATION
PREPARATION
TREATMENT
INTEGRATION
JOHN KRISTENSEN MD
Medical Director
John is a physician registered with the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and British Columbia. He has been a multidisciplinary physician for forty years and practitioner of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy since 2018.
JESSE KRISTENSEN RN
Nursing Director
Jesse is a Registered Nurse in Ontario and British Columbia who, with his father John Kristensen MD, has been providing ketamine-assisted psychotherapy to patients since 2018.
LAURA ROTZ
Clinic Manager
Laura has been actively involved in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy since 2018. After experiencing profound positive changes in her life following her own experiences with KAP she has been passionate about helping others realize its incredible benefits.
In the 1970s, ketamine was first developed as a surgical anaesthetic, and it is still used for this purpose today. It is a well-tolerated, safe medicine with psychedelic and dissociative effects at specific doses. It also has a rapid antidepressant effect. Ketamine has been found to have favourable mental health effects when administered in a controlled environment.
Ketamine is an FDA-approved anaesthetic that is increasingly used to treat anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. "Off-label usage" refers to the prescription of a medication that has not been formally approved for a patient's symptoms; it is legal and prevalent, with one in five prescriptions written in the United States for off-label use. The effectiveness of ketamine in treating treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, OCD, neuropathic pain, suicidal ideation, and other related mood disorders has been demonstrated.
Ketamine is fast-acting and can sometimes be beneficial after a single dose, whereas the majority of conventional antidepressants take weeks to take action. Therefore, ketamine can be a vital tool for preventing suicide and swiftly alleviating the pain caused by major depressive disorder (MDD). Our clinic's lower doses and administration techniques do not induce anaesthesia but can induce psychedelic effects.
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) uses psychedelics to facilitate therapeutic breakthroughs. In the 1950s, Western medicine started using hallucinogenic treatments and procedures. Recent studies support PAP's effectiveness for depression, anxiety, addiction, and PTSD. More therapeutic options are becoming available as the legal and medical landscapes evolve.
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) employs lower dosages of ketamine than those that have been used safely in anaesthesia for decades. Adults and children tolerate ketamine extremely well.
KAP is an approach in which psychotherapy is combined with a single or several ketamine doses. The first consists of sessions in which a low, sub-psychedelic dose of ketamine is utilised as a catalyst for the psychotherapy process; that is, it facilitates communication between the individual and their therapist. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is also a therapeutic method that comprises lengthier immersive sessions in which a full psychedelic dose of ketamine is provided for a more introspective, visionary experience. A series of preparatory and integrating sessions precede these meetings.
Ketamine induces a sense of disconnection from one's usual reality and self, which may induce or amplify, among other feelings, creativity, purpose, perspective, serenity, insight, inspiration, gratitude, empathy, connection to others and the world, openness to new ideas, psychological rebirth, and travel outside of oneself. Also possible are visual, auditory, and other sensory experiences.
A ketamine treatment can take between one and two hours. Clinical research indicates that peak antidepressant effects occur between 24 and 48 hours following administration, with the majority of individuals experiencing a mood improvement within hours. You should have little difficulty returning to routine activities the next day.
The subjective effects of ketamine can range from slight changes in cognition and bodily experience to full dissociative states in which one feels completely detached from his or her body and all of one's thoughts dissolve, a condition known as "ego dissolution."
According to research, ego dissolution is associated with improved treatment outcomes for depression and other disorders. These experiences are characterised as "non-ordinary states of consciousness" (NOSC), and you may have never encountered them before. The treatment setting we construct and the dosing protocol we adhere to are intended to enhance your experience.
We will give you a brief questionnaire in the days following your treatment to assess changes in your symptoms, monitor your physical and mental health, and assist our professional staff in individualising your ongoing care.
Do not eat prior to your session. Patients must fast for a minimum of six hours before receiving ketamine, which is why we typically arrange treatments in the morning. The final meal should be consumed the night before therapy. The morning of your treatment, you may only consume liquids.
Do not drive following your session. After your treatment, you must have someone else drive for you, and you should not operate a vehicle, machinery or other equipment by yourself until the day after your treatment.
The eligibility of patients for ketamine therapy is at the discretion of the treating physician. Before proceeding with treatment, our medical staff will assess your intake information, conduct a mental health evaluation, and ensure that you are medically fit for care.
Ketamine acts as an antidepressant in the brain, increasing neuroplasticity (neuron growth, repair, and reorganisation) via multiple brain receptors and neurotransmitters. Numerous studies have shown that ketamine therapy heals the brain and nervous system by restoring normal neural network functioning in the brain. Ketamine acts as an NMDA antagonist at the receptor level, regulating the availability of the neurotransmitter glutamate in the brain. The antidepressant effect appears to be mediated by AMPA receptors. Other receptors are targeted and contribute to the treatment's acute and long-term effects.
Ketamine has been shown to help improve a variety of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, pain, and substance abuse disorder.
The combination of ketamine and psychotherapy can be more beneficial than ketamine alone.
Your ketamine experience provides additional material to work with in therapy, particularly in the setting of an extended psychotherapeutic partnership. In this treatment model, ketamine is delivered orally using lozenges or intramuscularly (IM). The therapeutic effect of treatment is maximised by increasing physical comfort in a relaxing environment. Repeated administrations of Ketamine may be required to maintain its efficacy. The number of treatments you receive is determined by your physician on an individual basis.
Each individual's experience is somewhat unique. You will likely begin to feel the effects of the ketamine 5 to 10 minutes after administration, with the peak lasting roughly 45 to 60 minutes. The majority of individuals regain their normal level of consciousness within one to two hours after administration.
Yes. Ketamine does not interact negatively with antidepressants or diminish their efficacy. This will be confirmed with you by your physician during your initial consultation.
Depending on your needs, you may receive multiple ketamine treatments for a period of several weeks or months. Each session includes an integration component. Your initial session includes a thorough consultation with our physician and a preparatory component to familiarize you with the treatment process and what you should expect. A full course of treatments is $7500 CAD. Pricing is based on providing treatments at your home or accommodations arranged by you in or near Nanaimo. Travel outside of Nanaimo can be arranged but will incur additional costs depending on your location. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is not currently covered by insurance in Canada or the US.
Adverse side effects from ketamine treatments are uncommon due to the lower doses we administer to our patients during ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, adverse side effects from ketamine treatments are infrequent, but if they do occur, they are very brief and may include the following:
If you believe you may qualify for KAP, please fill out our patient intake form and email it to us. We will contact you to explain the intake procedure, request any additional paperwork, and confirm your eligibility for treatment.
We will then schedule your first KAP session and a video consultation with a clinician. You will receive an initial psychotherapy consultation prior to receiving your first KAP treatment and will complete two or more ketamine sessions followed by virtual integration sessions with one of our clinicians.
After your initial course of treatment, you will be assessed to determine whether further treatment might be beneficial and a specific treatment plan will be created for you.
Our clinicians will provide you with direction on how to create a happy, expanded mindset, as well as other treatment-enhancing recommendations. You will also have the option to utilise one of our cutting-edge biofeedback meditation instruments to optimize your experience.
While you will be able to resume most normal activities a few hours following your treatment, we urge that you use the remainder of the day to clear your mind and begin working on integrating your experience into your daily life. In the interest o safety, we require our clients to agree not to use a car or heavy machinery until the following day.
To begin your wellness journey, please contact our clinic by phone 289-696-2077 or email info@vikc.ca and a member of our staff will assist you in scheduling an appointment at your convenience.
Talk with a member of our experienced medical team
A member of our skilled medical team will answer your questions regarding the treatment procedure and determine your eligibility for KAP during your consultation with the physician. This will allow us to tailor a treatment plan to your specific requirements.
get the greatest benefit from your experience with Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
The medical team here will make sure you have all you need to make the most of your ketamine-assisted psychotherapy sessions after your treatment plan has been established.
Your path to wellness begins with Your first session
Each session will last roughly 90 minutes and occur over the course of several weeks or longer. Frequently, KAP provides profound personal discoveries and insights, resulting in a reduction of numerous psychiatric symptoms. Your path to recovery begins with a single ketamine therapy session, but it may take multiple sessions overseen by a doctor (MD) and registered nurse (RN) in order to achieve lasting results.
Integration is arguably the most crucial component of the KAP treatment
After each ketamine treatment, you will work alongside our medical team to process your experience and evaluate your ongoing therapeutic requirements. During the course of your treatments, we will be available to provide additional support and education so that you have the tools necessary to ensure your recovery. Our team will assist you in maintaining your recovery by providing you with ongoing support and resources that will teach you how to incorporate your experiences into your daily life, including psychotherapy.