81. The State of Psychedelic Therapy in 2023: Karen King on Ketamine, MDMA, & Institutional Capture

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy practitioner and clinical supervisor Karen King joined me to discuss the use of ketamine and MDMA in psychotherapy, as well as the infiltration of ideology into the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Karen explains the proper set, setting, use, and administration of ketamine in psychotherapy. We delved into the dissociative effects of ketamine and its potential benefits and contraindications for patients. We also discussed the research conducted by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) on the use of MDMA for PTSD, the upcoming FDA approval of MDMA as a therapeutic treatment, and the potential for insurance coverage.

The conversation then shifted to the infiltration of ideology, specifically critical social justice or "woke" ideology, into the psychedelic community. Karen expressed concerns about the impact of ideological influences on therapy and the need for a balanced and open-minded approach. We explored the distinction between personal and professional ideologies and the potential challenges they may pose in the therapeutic setting.

Karen King, LMHC has been a licensed psychotherapist for 17 years. In 2015 she founded Emerge Clinic, an integrative wellness clinic offering individual, family, and group counseling as well as traditional psychiatric evaluations and med management. Karen has also been a practicing Ketamine Assisted Therapist since adding Ketamine treatments to the clinic in 2020. She is a trainee in MAPS MDMA Assisted Therapy and also completed the year-long MAPS Psychedelic Assisted Therapy training through Naropa. Karen currently supervises KAP therapists in her clinic, and in 2024, will be offering a five part certification course in Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy. Karen hopes to provide one of the first clinics in the Pacific Northwest to legally offer MDMA Assisted Therapy once approved by the FDA.

Karen King website 

Clarify Consultation Group

Instagram @thepsychedeliccounselor

Books mentioned in this episode:

•  Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife by Eben Alexander

Other resources mentioned in this episode:

•  Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
•  American Society of Ketamine Practitioners
•  Mindbloom
•  Near Death Experience Research
•  Michael Persinger - Researcher known for the "God Helmet"
•  Naropa University

00:00 Start

[00:02:01] Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

[00:06:03] Ketamine and near-death experiences.

[00:08:00] Oral surgery and sedation.

[00:12:02] Discovery of ketamine-assisted therapy.

[00:18:26] The mystical experience.

[00:22:44] Near-death experiences and psychedelics.

[00:24:05] Therapeutic benefit of gaining perspective.

[00:29:47] MDMA for PTSD trials.

[00:34:09] A five to six hour CPT code.

[00:36:33] MDMA-assisted therapy efficacy.

[00:39:44] Stimulating the amygdala.

[00:44:38] Intrusion of woke into psychedelics.

[00:48:23] Impact of therapist assumptions.

[00:54:09] Psychedelic community cancel culture.

[00:57:20] Machine elves and racism.

[01:00:56] Interpretation of disempowerment.

[01:06:18] Over-victimizing therapy clients.

[01:09:47] Impact of pandemic on psychology.

[01:13:32] Join my community for dialogue.

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Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.

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