Ketamine Integration Chaplaincy: A New Model of Spiritual Care for Patients Receiving Ketamine Treatment

The psychedelic dissociative ketamine has been recognized as an effective antidepressant for nearly twenty years. However, its effects typically do not last longer than a week without repeated administration. Research suggesting therapeutic interventions may extend patient relief and frequent patient reports of profound spiritual experiences arising during treatment motivated the development of a novel Ketamine Integration Chaplaincy (KIC) program at a Boston teaching hospital in concert with a local divinity school. The KIC program combines one-on-one spiritual care and group sessions for patients with treatment resistant depression aimed at addressing patients’ spiritual care needs and prolong symptom alleviation. In this paper, we present our training and treatment model, including student selection criteria and competencies, interdisciplinary approach, supervision and didactic models, and structure of patient care. The paper reviews preliminary outcomes from the KIC program’s first two years, pathways for program expansion, and emerging spiritual care opportunities within psychedelic assisted therapy.