Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety in Israel: Clinical Insights and Benefits
Anxiety disorders affect a significant portion of Israel’s population, influenced by a combination of personal, social, and national stressors. The feelings of impending danger, a pervasive fight or flight state, rapid thinking, shallow breathing, and lack of control can severely impede living a healthy lifestyle both mentally and physically.
While conventional treatments like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), benzodiazepines, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) help many individuals, they do not work for everyone. For those with treatment-resistant anxiety, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is emerging as an evidence-backed alternative.
Understanding Anxiety and Treatment Challenges
Chronic anxiety conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety, can severely impair a person’s functioning and well-being. In Israel, cultural, geopolitical, and economic pressures may contribute to the prevalence of these disorders. Although SSRIs and psychotherapy remain the first line of treatment, their limitations are increasingly recognized. SSRIs often take several weeks to take effect and may come with side effects that some patients cannot tolerate. Psychotherapy, while helpful, may be insufficient when underlying neurobiological factors drive persistent anxiety.
What Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy involves the use of low-dose ketamine, administered in a controlled medical setting, to enhance the therapeutic process. Ketamine, originally developed as an anesthetic, is known for its rapid-acting antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. When combined with psychotherapy, it can facilitate a deeper emotional exploration and faster symptom relief.
During KAP, ketamine alters brain activity, allowing individuals to approach their thoughts and emotions from a different perspective. The drug promotes neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new neural connections—which can help disrupt patterns of anxious thinking. Psychotherapy sessions following the ketamine experience focus on integrating these insights into everyday coping strategies.
Clinical Mechanisms and Research Findings
Ketamine primarily acts on the brain’s glutamate system, particularly the NMDA receptor. This mechanism differs from traditional antidepressants and may explain its rapid therapeutic effects. Enhanced glutamatergic activity contributes to increased connectivity and flexibility in neural circuits associated with emotion regulation.
Research has shown ketamine to be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety, often within hours after administration. In studies of patients with generalized anxiety and social anxiety, ketamine demonstrated measurable improvements that sometimes lasted days to weeks after treatment. When paired with psychotherapy, the gains are often more sustainable, as the psychological work helps consolidate changes initiated during the pharmacological intervention.
Therapeutic Setting and Approach
Successful KAP relies on a structured and supportive environment. The treatment begins with a thorough psychiatric assessment to ensure that KAP is appropriate and safe. Sessions are typically conducted in quiet, comfortable settings, with trained professionals present to guide the patient through the experience.
At Keter Mental health ketamine is administered via intramuscular injection over IV drip to optimize a relaxed setting and experience . Patients often report a dreamlike or dissociative state during the session, which allows for a temporary suspension of habitual fears and cognitive biases. The follow-up psychotherapy, known as the integration session, is crucial. It allows individuals to reflect on their experience, draw meaningful conclusions, and reinforce healthier patterns of thinking..
Benefits and Applications
KAP offers several potential advantages for individuals with anxiety disorders:
- Rapid Symptom Relief: Unlike conventional medications, ketamine can reduce anxiety symptoms within hours.
- Treatment for Resistant Cases: Patients who have not responded to SSRIs or psychotherapy may benefit from KAP.
- Improved Neuroplasticity: Ketamine enhances the brain’s adaptability, supporting the development of new emotional responses.
- Facilitated Psychotherapy: The altered state induced by ketamine can allow for more open and productive therapy sessions.
- Low Risk of Dependency in Medical Use: Supervised administration reduces the likelihood of misuse.
These benefits make KAP a promising approach for managing anxiety, especially when traditional methods have failed.
Considerations for Patients
KAP is not suitable for everyone. Individuals with certain medical conditions, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure or a history of psychosis, may not be eligible for treatment. A full medical and psychological evaluation is necessary before beginning the therapy.
Prospective patients should also be aware that KAP is a process, not a one-time cure. Multiple sessions may be needed, and the integration of therapeutic insights is a key component of the treatment’s effectiveness. Working with professionals trained in both psychiatry and psychotherapy ensures that patients receive balanced and comprehensive care.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy at Keter Health in Israel
At Keter Health, located in Israel, ketamine treatment is integrated with psychotherapy to optimize healing. The process follows a structured approach:
Step 1: Initial Assessment with Dr. Isaac Nagel, MD
Your journey begins with a comprehensive assessment by Dr. Isaac Nagel, MD, who evaluates your mental health history, treatment goals, and determines whether Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is right for you.
Step 2: Assignment to a Certified Ketamine Facilitator (CKF)
Once approved, you are paired with a Certified Ketamine Facilitator (CKF), a trained professional who will support you through the therapeutic process and ensure a safe, guided experience.
Step 3: Preparation Session with Your CKF
Before your first ketamine session, you will meet with your CKF to set intentions, discuss expectations, and mentally prepare for the experience in a comfortable environment.
Step 4: Ketamine Journey Session
At Keter Health, ketamine is primarily administered intramuscularly (IM) by a medical professional. The first session involves a low-dose injection to assess individual responses. In subsequent sessions, a higher dose may be used to facilitate deeper therapeutic experiences. The effects begin within 5–7 minutes, peak at 15–30 minutes, and gradually fade over time in a phase called the “long tail,” which provides a smooth and therapeutic return to ordinary consciousness.
Step 5: Integration Session
Post-session integration is crucial. In the days following your ketamine journey, you will meet with your CKF to process insights and translate them into lasting, meaningful changes in your life.