Dr. Kathryn Kent, MD, and Dr. Tyler Street, MD, of Lamplighter Wellness Clinic, are passionate about their work and about bringing ketamine therapy to Napa Valley. The medication ketamine was first created in the mid-1960s and has been FDA-approved for use as an anesthetic and analgesic since 1970. This tiny molecule has an excellent safety profile and can be administered by mouth, IV, injection, or nasal spray.
When administered at low doses, ketamine exhibits substantial antidepressant effects. It has been shown to be especially valuable in the management of so-called “treatment-resistant depression,” or depression that does not respond to traditional medications such as SSRIs. Ketamine is also used in the treatment of anxiety, PTSD, and addiction. Additionally, new evidence indicates ketamine can ease symptoms caused by certain medications used for Parkinson’s disease, namely levodopa-induced dyskinesia.
Ketamine increases the neurotransmitter glutamate in the brain, producing a rapid antidepressant effect. Studies suggest it also promotes neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt and form new neuronal connections. In practical terms, ketamine helps break through old thought patterns and enables new and healthier ways of thinking and being. Notably, ketamine is currently the only legal medication with psychedelic properties and is an integral part of the current psychedelic renaissance, which includes the exploration of psilocybin and MDMA. Abundant data from renowned institutions such as Johns Hopkins and Stanford University confirms the clear therapeutic benefits of ketamine and these other psychedelic medications.
Dr. Kathryn Kent at the Lamplighter Wellness Clinic
As a result of the medical community embracing the benefits of psychedelics, a true paradigm shift is occurring in the field of mental health. Therapies such as ketamine are now viewed as a legitimate and effective catalyst for healing, allowing for a deep exploration of the root causes of symptoms, the understanding of which can lead to profound personal transformation. Ketamine is not a pill to be taken for years (or potentially for a lifetime) but is instead a series of short treatments conducted in conjunction with debriefing sessions undertaken by specially trained psychotherapists.
The ketamine therapy done through Lamplighter Wellness Clinic begins with an intake session conducted by a physician, who reviews the patient’s medical history to ensure ketamine is a safe and appropriate treatment. Following is a session with a psychotherapist who considers past and current mental health issues and assesses the patient’s goals for the upcoming ketamine therapy sessions. This therapist also advises on what to expect from the ketamine experience and reiterates the importance of follow-up sessions in interpreting and processing all that transpires.
Once all is in place, the oral ketamine therapy is administered in a private and serene clinical setting. Patients can expect to remain at the clinic for 1.5 to 2.5 hours on the day of treatment and will need assistance returning home as driving is prohibited for 12 hours after treatment.
At a time when there is a national mental health crisis, and one in five Americans are suffering from depression and anxiety, the need is urgent for alternative therapies.
