The Ko-Op, a brand-new psychedelic psychotherapy treatment center, recently opened the doors to its main facility at 1625 South St.
The facility seeks to increase access, safety and understanding of psychedelic therapies. It offers therapist-assisted ketamine treatments for those struggling with a wide array of treatment-resistant issues such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders and suicide ideation. It also provides a setting for therapists who wish to provide that type of treatment.
“The intention of the space is two-fold, in that it’s inclusive of meeting a need for clinicians, as well as patients,” said Sophia Brandsetter, the clinical director and founder of The Ko-Op, in a press release. “With the increase in new-age medicine comes the need for professional education and practice. The Ko-Op will build a sense of community around like-minded clinicians by offering peer consultation, supervision and a place for therapists to sharpen their skills and grow as a psychedelic psychotherapist.”
Patients seeking ketamine-based treatment will go through an initial consultation and be matched up with a therapist specializing in the customer’s needs. Following three preparation sessions, there are 4-6 ketamine sessions over a 4-6 week period, with medicine being administered orally. In all, sessions last two hours, with ketamine treatment lasting 45 minutes and the rest of the time being used for discussion and contemplation.
“Clinicians prepare the patient’s mindset in the preparation sessions while they settle into the therapist’s physical environment so that it feels familiar, comfortable and, most importantly, safe during their journey,” Brandsetter said.
Brandsetter completed her undergraduate education at the University of Massachusetts before going on to receive a master’s in Social Work at Temple, her Doctorate in Psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and a Certification in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy through Fluence.
Brandsetter said that although she recognizes the stigmas against plant-based medicines and psychedelics being used to treat mental health symptoms, she will still seek to promote awareness of the treatment.
“It’s going to take time for us as a society to grasp the benefits of plant medicine, but this is the direction of mental health treatment,” Brandsetter said. “Pharmaceuticals are gearing towards holistic treatments, and ketamine-assisted therapy is growing rapidly in popularity.”
