Prepping for Ketamine Therapy:  Is it Love?

Love is. The Grand Canyon, chocolate. William Blake, Botticelli.  The sound of rain and the sight of a baby being born. Music so profound that it brings tears to your eyes. Travelling the world, looking into your lover’s smiling eyes. Crying or laughing. Is God love?  Or is love God?

In the beginning was the word, and beyond words there is a space so special that it defies language.

Are you unhappy or disillusioned? Do you find that questions and answers lead to more questions and answers? And that you are searching for something you can only define as a feeling?  Ram Dass said that the sense of yearning is your key to spiritual awakening. Anything or something, nothing and everything.

Allen Ginsburg, Jack Kerouac. Baby Boomer, Gen Z, Gen X, Millennial. Rap Music or Carol King, Billy Eilish. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones. The sound of a single note on the piano ascending upwards. 

Peace, contentment, toleration. Bliss. Our prelude. 

Can you relate to the story of amorphous desire? That search led me to search for something I could only define as universal love or God, for lack of other words.

Like most people who are dissatisfied with themselves or their lot in life, I have always searched for ways to understand, resolve, fix or run away from my problems. I have been told by many on the path that the word problem is taboo and that it invites trouble.  Better words are situation or condition.  Situations, as the logic goes, are invitations to growth and healing.

Really, you might ask. Or are these just rationalizations for explaining away disappointments and hurts?

I have tried mind numbing substances like marijuana. I have tried tranquilizers and glutathione infusions. Neurofeedback, biofeedback. Magnet therapy, crystal healing and singing bowls. But never the hard stuff. I have sat at bougie bars drinking sparkling pink wine. And then I have gone home to watch shows popular addictive series like Succession and Ozark. I had my stint with Breaking Bad and Downton Abbey. I have slurred my words and blacked out.

I am like you who is reading this story. I am also not like you. Since no two people will ever have the same exact experiences.

I have shopped at farmers markets and have used phrases like farm to table and grass fed. Avocado toast, oat milk lattes, and brunch. Eggs Florentine with gluten free muffins and cashew cheese. I am like you and very different. But I was searching for myself in bottles and cans, in words and images.  But I never tried the hard stuff to do it.  

I have learned to be self-effacing and to say it like it is. So, I am told.

 But had I tried it all? Have you tried it all? Do you want to?

The stuff I tried made me hungry for more. Shopping made we weary, foggy, tired, and bored.  More things made me search for new ones that were better and newer.  New books, new treatments, new friends, and new restaurants. A new gym. The next fix made me anticipate the next one.

Bullet proof coffee made me yearn for green tea. I searched from India to China, and from China to Japan for the right tea blends.

We are told that mind enhancing drugs like ketamine, psilocybin, and LSD are the hard stuff. And there is no arguing that LSD is in fact the hard stuff.

But a ketamine infused treatment in a dimly lit room with people I trust seems easy after years of carrot juice and Pilates, self-help groups and cryotherapy. Is there a lazy boy chair that can take me right to heaven? Can I break through illusions and paradigms for a few hours and come back with a new understanding?

If there’s a chance that a lazy boy chair can transport me to heaven, I am on the next train to that lazy boy.

Be Here Now is the title of a book by Ram Dass.  It is also the name of a podcast dedicated to discussing his ideas and streaming his lectures.  Sharon Salzberg, Joseph Goldstein, and Robert Thurman.  These names evoke states of mind. Mountain retreats. Presence and absence, emptiness and sitting.

There was a car ride where I listened to Ram Dass as I was anticipating a ketamine treatment. The anticipation turned out to be way more satisfying and hopeful than the rye bread I was about to get shipped from Brooklyn. And better than all the tea in China.

Why?

Love.  I felt love, connection and hope. Societal structures and rules started looking kind of silly. Just like Chicken Little, I wondered if the roof was going to come tumbling down through my acts of contemplation. Ah, well that’s magical thinking – isn’t it? Or is it shape shifting and intuition. Is it seeing through the “veils of illusion?”

Dichotomies started to show their real colors. Was I being showered with the Wizards of Oz? And I hadn’t even had my first infusion of ketamine! It’s funny how anticipation can produce such changes. An attitude of hope. A pink glow to the cheeks.

Love. Like you, I think about satisfaction and happiness. I want coffee in the morning or as Ram Dass said in one of his lectures, maybe you want Moo tea. But what you really want is love.  I want to get rid of the desire to be loved. I want to love selflessly and in the most noble way possible. I want to be of service to mankind and show kindness to my neighbors who are not so friendly. And I want to be happy when I say hello to the mailman. Don’t you seek that too?

I don’t want joy as much as I want contentment, with its ups and downs. I want to be like Ram Dass in the oceans in Hawaii, with a community of people who are there to assist and help me.

If there is a chance that ketamine infused therapy can give me a glimpse of sustained peace and connection, then I am all for it. Why not be in Hawaii in my mind through the activities of hope and contemplation? Your own private Idaho. Aren’t you all for harnessing the power of the mind you were born with – only to go through the doors of that mind to what Aldous Huxley called The Doors of Perception. To see the world in a blade of grass is better than all the white wine in the world.  Isn’t that love?

 See you on the next lazy boy with a blanket and candle. An open window and a cool breeze.

That someone holding your hand in the ketamine room could be me, or the thought of me. It could be the kind doctor smiling in the Setting. Offering you a smile with the palm of his hand like the weight of feather. 

Now that seems as close to love as I can imagine.

Appointment Request

1
Contact
2
Preferences
3
Choose A Clinician
4
Availability
First Name *
Last Name *
Email *
Cell Phone *
Client's Age *
Resident State *
Preferred Method of Contact *
Have you had KAP therapy before? *
Are you comfortable with us leaving a message identifying us? *
Who referred you to us? *
Tell us what brings you to The Ko-Op.
Choose A Clinician Or Click Next To Skip
Arnold B. Meshkov MD

Arnold B. Meshkov MD

Medical Provider

Arnold B. Meshkov MD is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and board certified in Internal Medicine.  He is a former Professor of Medicine at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, and trained at the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, and Yale University. He has extensive experience and expertise in the assessment of patients prior to surgical procedures and new medication.  Dr. Meshkov has practiced at Temple University School of Medicine as a academic, and also has many years of experience in the private practice of Internal Medicine and Cardiology  He is a former Professor of Medicine at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, and trained at the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, and Yale University. He has extensive experience and expertise in the assessment of patients prior to surgical procedures and new medicationDr. Meshkov has practiced at Temple University School of Medicine as a academic, and also has many years of experience in the private practice of Internal Medicine and Cardiology 

Sarah-update-photo-2022-resized

Sarah Lobb

LICENSED SOCIAL WORKER (LSW)

Psychedelic assisted psychotherapy is a modality that is particularly good at helping develop our awareness by allowing us to encounter ourselves and our experiences in unique and poignant ways. Inviting and working with expanded consciousness in therapy often begets sessions full of rich content, permitting a more authentic self to emerge in therapy and beyond. As a psychotherapist whose practice is rooted in psychodynamic and relational theories, I’m attentive to how past experiences inform present circumstances, and this helps me provide attuned support throughout the ordinary and extraordinary experiences of psychedelic assisted psychotherapy.

I appreciate helping people through transitions such as navigating grief and loss, adjusting to major life changes, and addressing shifts in motivation and focus. I have extensive experience supporting people who are tackling addiction and recovery, either for themselves or within their families and communities. For many, compulsive behavior, or addiction, begins as a way of enduring but over time the behavior can end up inhibiting our ability to relate to others and ourselves. I offer a place to build resilience and rediscover the self.

6A20ACB5-989A-4A2E-A56A-135D9F9860A7

Jennifer O’Donnell

M.A., Counseling Psychology, Certified Psychedelic Facilitator through Soundmind in Phila.

Jennifer is an experienced mindfulness-based psychotherapist. She holds
a Master’s degree from Delaware Valley University in Counseling
Psychology, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from
Temple University. Jennifer is a certified sexual assault counselor, an
experienced certified yoga therapist, and a certified yoga and Pilates
instructor. Jennifer has completed post graduate training with
Soundmind Institute in Philadelphia as a certified Psychedelic
Facilitator. She offers an array of therapeutic techniques which include:
Trauma Focused – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical
Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
strategies and trauma informed yoga therapy. Jennifer’s therapeutic
approach encompasses the integration of therapy, yoga, breath work and
mindfulness and includes a blend of therapeutic modalities such as
somatic experiencing, attachment theory, psychodynamic, and Hakomi.

“ I see counseling as a safe and therapeutic relationship. My approach
is a blend of both clinical and alternative therapies designed to meet the
needs of each individual. The goal is for you to gain insight and clarity
into your thoughts and feelings in a supportive and encouraging
relationship as we uncover new paths to your personal healing and
transformation. I believe we all carry inner wisdom, and when we start
quieting our minds and listening to our bodies the wisdom can then be
heard.”
Jennifer has experience in treating trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, bipolar
disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, women’s issues, family
conflict, sexual and gender identity issues, grief, behavioral issues and
life transitions. Jennifer has a deep understanding of how trauma shows
up in the body, and continues her personal practices to deepen her own
understanding of self, consciousness, and collective healing.

Headshot_GTCopt

Sophia Polin

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

I am an integrative therapist whose practice combines relational theory with elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. In my standard practice I work with adults and adolescents with histories of trauma, who are facing major life transitions, struggling with anxiety and depression, who are dealing with relationship discord, or who want to explore their full potential. I have substantial experience working with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as well as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I practice Exposure and Response Prevention (E/RP) for OCD, and take expert care in helping my clients face and overcome what they fear most.

In session, I emphasize attuning to the mind-body connection, habituating to feelings of vulnerability, and integrating disparate “parts” of the psyche in order to guide clients towards conscious, intentional lives and relationships. I consider early life and relationships to be integral in the formation of the personality and of patterns of behavior later in life.

I have recently expanded my practice to include psychedelic therapy. The use of psychedelics in a therapeutic setting gives clients the unique opportunity to distance from ingrained ways of thinking, connect with their own healing intuition, and dissolve the boundaries of self that are no longer serving them. The transformative shifts we are seeing in Ketamine treatments are the result of— the creation and reorganization of pathways in the brain (neurogenesis and neuroplasticity). These are the same processes therapists have been using traditionally to support their client’s growth and healing. I like to think of it as automating what has traditionally only been achievable manually.

Occupying altered states can be scary at first. My role as a psychedelic therapist is to lay the grounds for a safe and revelatory journey. In our preparation sessions we will build essential trust, explore your history, and collaboratively set your intention for your psychedelic experience. We will use our integration sessions post- treatments to synthesize and apply the wisdom gleaned from your journey to affect lasting, meaningful change. Whether you are experienced with psychedelics or exploring psychedelia for the first time, I am with you every step of the way.

294458514_755508185693368_2842941399862871_n

Stephanie Josephson

LCSW

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 20+ years of experience working with people in Philadelphia, New York City and San Francisco.  I am certified in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and practicing Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy at the Ko-op.  My client may be a person who currently feels stuck in their life, dealing with chronic health issues, issues related to being queer, trans or non-binary,  concerns about use or mis-use of substances, or dealing with depression or anxiety.  My focus is to work collaboratively with clients to foster growth and personal development in a supportive, judgement-free environment. We can develop skills to deal more effectively with overwhelming feelings, identify your strengths, and work together to overcome challenges in your life.
Psychedelic Assisted PsychoTherapy is a tool to help feel unstuck, expand your perspective and deal with events in your life that, in the past, you have been unable to fully address.  I offer Preparation sessions where we build rapport, gain an understanding of what to expect during a medicine session, and set intentions for what you would like to achieve. I also offer Integration Sessions, weaving the insights gained during your psychedelic journey into your conscious living.
I look forward to speaking with you, and discussing how we can work interactively so that you can better navigate your way forward
Remsen_outdoor-pic(1x1opt)

Megan Remsen

Licensed Social Worker (LSW)

I am a psychodynamic therapist trained in the analytic tradition with specialization in integrated trauma treatment. My practice is grounded in using psychedelic psychotherapy to promote relational and internal acceptance and stimulate growth in spaces that previously seemed stagnant. My kaleidoscopic background and diverse trainings in social work, anthropology, native plant medicine and community healing support my practice. I value and feel curious about the use of dreams, mythology, and intangible heritage as insights into our construction of Self. I embrace the use of non-ordinary states to support the work of engaging with these inner realms.

Psychedelic journeying provides expansive opportunities to engage with and feel curious about the events and beliefs that have shaped our experiences. Our sessions will prioritize interpreting and integrating the insights from your journey into your conscious experience, in support of your relationship with new ways of being. The elasticity of journeying benefits from a secure and stable holding relationship, I will provide collaboration and witnessing through every step, and I recognize and will respond to the vulnerabilities of these new states.

Much of my work centers on supporting the effects of transitions and change on the mind, spirit and body. In our sessions, we will examine the systems, early childhood experiences and deeply internalized messaging that continues to constrain the expansiveness of who we are. Together, we will move towards illuminating those spaces and undoing their harm.

I recognize the oppressive impact of contemporary conditions on the human experience, and I strive to hold the complexity of the treatment I offer and meet clients where they are. I collaborate on a course of treatment that fosters a sense of physiological, emotional, and relational security, while addressing economic realities. I offer a sliding scale and I am happy to consult on a course of treatment to meet unique needs. I center social justice in my work, welcome all sexual and gender identities and make an LGBTQ+ affirming space a priority. Whether you are new to Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy or returning to continue your insights, I offer a constructive space to work through the subconscious to foster connectedness and curiosity in support of relief from severe depression, attachment injuries, PTSD and anxiety.

dr.sophia.profile

Dr. Sophia Brandstetter

LCSW, PSYD CLINICAL DIRECTOR

I am a licensed psychotherapist who is rooted in psychoanalysis and psychodynamic and relational theories. In recent years, as a compliment to my psychotherapeutic approaches, I’ve shifted my training to include psychedelic medicines as a method for integrating the mind, body, and soul. In many ways we are rediscovering verifiable facts about the impact of psychedelic medicines on our neurochemistry, physiology, and psychology. I have witnessed plant medicine as a power catalyst for change for my patients.

At this time our work must center around Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. Ketamine is renowned for uncovering our intrinsic healing capacity while transporting us to a place of higher consciousness. The ketamine psychotherapy experience can bring attention to deep-rooted emotions, patterns, narratives, and/or experiences that could be unconscious sticking points or barriers to our growth. Ketamine sessions often access an abundance of material that might take months or years to uncover in traditional psychotherapy. Previous patients have stated, I have felt in a couple of hours, I have learned more about myself than I have in several years of psychoanalysis. Confirmations like this are common and the insight the ketamine sessions impart can remain long after the effects of the ketamine have dissipated.

At higher dosages, psychedelic medicines have the capacity to allow for significant disruptions of self‑consciousness, a phenomenon known as medicine-induced ego dissolution. Using your experience with the medicine as a guide, we can collaborate in understanding the experience of dissolution to create opportunities for regeneration and integration.

As you can see, I believe providing therapeutic support to be a vital part of the curative mechanism of the psychedelic experience. Together we will work on building a therapeutic relationship founded on trust, safety, and mutual respect for the sacred work the medicine can help facilitate. The approach we co-create can enhance the experience and make way for relief and change.

If you’re entering treatment to address trauma or if you’ve experienced trauma, it’s important to understand the healing significance of the therapist as a witness. Research on treating trauma explores how the witnessing (experiencing the presence of another) is considered an essential prerequisite for our capacity to narrate our experiences. One of the crucial impacts of a trauma is the damaging effect caused by the absence of a witness: without a witness we may have lost touch with how to make sense of what has happened, but when we gain a witness, the experience becomes more possible to know and understand, and healing can begin. As your witness in your psychedelic journey my role is to be visible in all the necessary ways to offer support.

My intention is to design a program that meets your expectations. I’m open to the many possibilities of what may work for you and want to invite you to imagine and share your hopes and needs for the journey. A psychedelic experience is a personal process and I welcome the opportunity to meet for a free consultation to answer all your questions and provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the possibilities

shutterstock_1389654830

No Preference

None

Daily Availability *
Time Availability *