In this Post
- What is Ketamine Couples Therapy?
- Why Ketamine Therapy Might Work for Couples
- Research on Ketamine Couples Therapy
- What Does Ketamine-Assisted Couples Therapy Look Like at Avesta?
- Benefits of Ketamine-Assisted Couples Therapy
- The Bottom Line
Couples therapy has evolved to include innovative approaches. One of the most promising is ketamine-assisted therapy. This article delves into the mechanisms, research, and real-world applications of ketamine couples therapy to transform challenging relationships.
What is Ketamine Couples Therapy?
Ketamine couples therapy combines low doses of ketamine with traditional talk therapy to resolve long standing relationship issues with greater empathy and reduced defensiveness. Many couples report improved satisfaction and deeper emotional connection after undergoing this psychedelic-assisted protocol.
Why Ketamine Therapy Might Work for Couples
Experts believe that ketamine therapy benefits couples because of its unique pharmacological mechanisms.
Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist that delivers rapid-acting antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects. These properties allow the compound to lower emotional defenses, promote vulnerability, and facilitate openness.
Ketamine also promotes neuroplasticity and increases synaptic release of glutamate.
- Neuroplasticity helps the brain form and reorganize synaptic connections, leading to new ways of thinking and relating.
- Increased glutamate, a neurotransmitter in learning and memory, can facilitate shifts in perspectives and unique insights.
These effects can help couples understand and address their relationship dynamics more effectively.
Additionally, ketamine induces altered states of consciousness comparable to classic psychedelics, enhancing:
- Empathy
- Introspection
- Emotional connectedness.
These mental and emotional shifts allow couples to access deeper subconscious layers and engage in more meaningful and vulnerable dialogue.
However, the dosage must be right.
Older ketamine research identified a “relational dose,” typically in the lower range, which allows couples to feel the drug’s effects without becoming fully dissociated. Mild dissociation enables each partner to stay present and interact compassionately without losing touch with reality.
Previous relationship studies on MDMA, another heart-opening substance, showed significant benefits in couples therapy, giving further credence to ketamine’s relational healing potential.
Today, adults can visit ketamine couples retreats or receive ketamine-assisted couples therapy at clinics like Avesta across the US.
Research on Ketamine Couples Therapy
Researchers published one of the first known couples ketamine therapy studies in May 2024. The study recruited 18 couples who had previously attended an Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT) workshop. IRT helps partners improve communication and understanding by exploring childhood influences on reactionary habit patterns.
The study participants, who were predominantly White and in their early fifties, engaged in a four-week program involving weekly group therapy sessions. During the sessions, each couple received a “relational dose” of ketamine, which ranged between 50 and 125 mg administered sublingually via a lozenge. Some people received an augmented dose of intranasal ketamine between 40 and 125 mg as needed.
Researchers structured the therapy sessions to include pre-session check-ins, ketamine administration, IRT exercises under the influence of ketamine, and post-session group sharing. Each experience lasted about three hours, with ketamine’s effects typically peaking within 45-90 minutes.
Participants reported a wide range of effects, including:
- Enhanced communication and vulnerability
- Improved mood and reduced emotional tension
- Increased empathy and connection
- Occasional mild side effects like nausea and headaches
Additionally, partners completed the Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI) before, immediately after, and six weeks after ketamine treatment. The results showed significant improvements in relationship satisfaction, which persisted for several months.
Researchers concluded that ketamine, in the context of couple therapy and under clinical supervision, could effectively improve strained relationships.
What Does Ketamine-Assisted Couples Therapy Look Like at Avesta?
Ketamine-assisted couples therapy at Avesta Ketamine and Wellness follows a similar structure to the recent study protocol. However, Avesta conducts couples therapy sessions in private treatment rooms rather than in group settings. Additionally, its clinicians do not directly provide psychotherapy. Rather, Avesta invites local ketamine therapists who specialize in couples to offer this service at its clinics.
Planning
Ketamine infusions require some pre-planning with both the therapist and the prescriber.
Avesta, the planning phase includes an initial consultation to assess the couple’s suitability for ketamine therapy. This involves thoroughly reviewing their medical and psychological history, relationship dynamics, and therapeutic goals. It also involves discussing ketamine’s dissociative psychedelic effects and addressing any questions or concerns. Both partners participate in this consultation to ensure a comprehensive understanding of their needs and expectations.
Pre-Therapy Preparation
Before the first ketamine-assisted session, the couple meets with the therapist to review the therapeutic process and establish a safe and supportive environment. This preparation phase includes setting intentions for the therapy and discussing how the experience will unfold. The therapist may also guide the couple through relaxation and mindfulness techniques to enhance their comfort level with the unique therapeutic experience.
Ketamine Couples Therapy Sessions
During ketamine couples sessions at Avesta, each person receives the drug via lozenges or IV, based on their preference and medical suitability. Dosage varies based on experience, comfort level, and weight and may shift from session to session based on the couple’s needs.
Every experience occurs in a comfortable treatment room with two reclining chairs, and the couples therapist is present throughout to provide support and facilitate open dialogue.
Ketamine couples sessions last from one and a half to three hours, with one to two hours of ketamine and a 30-60-minute debrief. Complete protocols typically entail five to twenty appointments over six to eight months.
Experience
At a relational ketamine dose, partners typically enter a relaxed state with reduced anxiety and heightened empathy.
The compound’s effects allow each person to step back from usual reactional patterns and observe their relationship dynamics with fresh eyes. Some people experience increased feelings of love and understanding.
Conversations often focus on past hurts and unmet needs, exploring and resolving relationship issues collaboratively. Physically, partners might hold hands or stay close, reinforcing their emotional connection.
Post Session
Couples must have a designated driver after each ketamine therapy session. That’s because the drug’s effects can impair motor skills and judgment, making it unsafe to drive. Additionally, ketamine’s residual dissociative and sedative effects might linger, affecting coordination and reaction times.
Benefits of Ketamine-Assisted Couples Therapy
Ketamine-assisted couples therapy is still largely untested from a clinical research perspective. However, couples who have experienced it are sharing their experiences. And the potential benefits are profound.
In an article for Insider, Victor G. and his wife, Maggie W., reported that the ketamine couples therapy transformed their relationship.
Victor, who initially tried ketamine therapy for depression, showed remarkable improvement. Maggie observed that his tendency to “blow up” at his children significantly decreased.
Maggie later joined Victor in ketamine-assisted couples therapy and described their first session as profoundly impactful. “We were able to work through some things that we hadn’t in over a decade and actually move past them,” she said.
Victor told Insider he believes that ketamine therapy saved their marriage. He mentioned that the therapy “gave us something to work towards and look forward to,” enhancing their relationship dynamics.
Ultimately, the therapy allowed them to reconnect with the emotions they felt when they first fell in love, providing a much-needed reset and a clearer vision for their future.
The Bottom Line
Ketamine-assisted couples therapy offers a groundbreaking approach to resolving relationship issues by combining the therapeutic effects of ketamine with traditional talk therapy. Early evidence suggests significant benefits in relationship satisfaction and emotional bonding. As more couples experience these positive outcomes, ketamine-assisted therapy is set to become a transformative tool in relationship counseling.
If you are interested in learning more about ketamine-assisted couples therapy at Avesta Ketamine and Wellness, please schedule a consultation today.
