Occupational Therapy is deeply grounded in mental health, with the field founded as the original trauma therapists to treat shell-shocked World War I soldiers. Each treatment session is focused on breaking down barriers and enabling the client’s full engagement in meaningful activities, roles, and routines in their daily life.
OTs are experts in mental health, sensory integration, nervous system regulation, movement, and physical dysfunction. They utilize a biopsychosocial-spiritual approach to treatment and provide trauma-informed intervention, specifically tailored to individual needs. OTs are uniquely trained to utilize a holistic lens, while assessing each client’s specific strengths, weaknesses, and environmental factors that either facilitate or inhibit functioning in their daily life. OTs are the only profession expertly training in both hands-on manual therapy and psychosocial therapy, and by incorporating these modalities to physically release the body associations with trauma, while supporting their nervous system through regulation, patients are able to unlock a profound and lasting healing journey.
Here at Illuminate, ketamine preparation and integration sessions are facilitated by highly experienced and Licensed Occupational Therapists. Our therapists are also certified as Clinical Trauma Specialists and have specialized training in Psychedelic Therapy and Integration.
Standard approaches to psychedelic medicine, including Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and Ketamine Assisted Therapy (KAT) are limited in therapeutic benefit because they are restricted to approaches like CBT and DBT, which are rooted in brain-first and cognition approaches. These modalities leave behind the body, which is a significant piece of the healing puzzle.
At Illuminate, we are rewriting psychedelic therapy by utilizing an emphasis on body-led preparation. OTs are trained and qualified to not only do the standard therapy approach, but to also include skilled manual therapy to incorporate the body. We believe knowledge is power, and by understanding how our body and nervous system work, we can empower ourselves to create lasting change in how we perceive the world and respond to adversity.
Effective preparation is key to maximizing the benefits of ketamine and nervous system coherence recovery. All our ketamine infusions feature one hour of Neurosomatic Bliss prior to the infusion. Each preparation session is a hands-on therapy session, incorporating nervous system regulation, myofascial release, talk therapy, integration and various other modalities. These preparation sessions are key to releasing the body’s associations with trauma, the root of the mental health condition and/or chronic pain. By releasing these through a hands-on skilled manual approach, the body is treated first and the ketamine is administered to help process and integrate associations. This holistic approach maximizes the longevity and therapeutic benefit of ketamine.
Our initial sessions are foundational, focusing on building trust, setting intentions, creating a sense of safety, and preparing for the psychedelic experience. The initial preparation will primarily focus on nervous system regulation and breathwork to ensure the best outcome for the ketamine infusion. Subsequent sessions will be tailored to each client, adjusting with the treatment and dosage to address and integrate emotional and sensory blockages. We’ll also review your history, psychological well-being, and any specific concerns or goals related to the therapy.
Integration is the process of taking the experiences and insights gained from ketamine treatment and processing them into your day-to-day living, rewiring your perception at the foundational level. Integration is not a small discussion after a psychedelic experience. Trauma integration is a life-long process.
After each ketamine treatment session, patients recover for a period at least 30 minutes. This downtime time is key to translating the profound experiences from treatment into practical steps for daily life. Over the next few days, more insights may come into clarity and will be discussed at the next preparation session. The Occupational Therapist aids the patient in understanding and contextualizing their feelings and thoughts, promoting a deeper comprehension of their emotional and psychological landscapes. Journaling is recommended for assisting with integration.
At Illuminate, we recognize that each individual’s journey is unique, so our approach is flexible and tailored to each person’s specific needs and responses. We are committed to supporting our patients throughout their journey, ensuring it is meaningful, safe, and conducive to growth and healing.
Contact us online or give us a call at 757-290-8948 to schedule a consultation for Ketamine Treatment with Occuptational Therapists in Newport News, VA.
Safety is paramount at Illuminate. Following the recommendations set forth by the American Psychiatric Association and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, all sessions are conducted under strict medical supervision with emergency protocols in place. Patients are continuously monitored, and their vital signs are checked regularly to ensure their physical well-being throughout the session.
This therapeutic setting is not only safe but also nurturing, designed to foster a sense of security and openness. This environment, combined with professional guidance, allows patients to explore deep psychological processes and start on their path toward healing.
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