What to Know: Advice for a Career in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Living Medicine

Dr. Signi Goldman, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and the Co-founder and Medical Director of Living Medicine Institute, which offers psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy training programs. As a certified provider for psychedelic-assisted therapy and research, she has practiced in various clinical settings, including hospital systems and alternative treatment settings. Dr. Goldman also serves as a Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist for Concierge Medicine and Psychiatry’s Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Program for Mental Health.

Dr. Sandra (Sandy) Newes, PhD, is a licensed psychiatrist and the Co-founder and Programming Director of Living Medicine Institute. With over 25 years of clinical experience as a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapist, she specializes in anxiety, chronic stress, trauma, and recovery. Dr. Newes has provided ketamine-assisted psychotherapy through Concierge Medicine and Psychiatry since 2019. She is also an educator and speaker offering workshops, events, and education on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and the intersection of nature connection, trauma, and mental health.

In this episode…

Aspiring clinicians often find themselves at a crossroads when considering integrating psychedelic-assisted therapies into their practices. Although ketamine is legal, it remains largely unregulated, prompting concerns surrounding ethical use in psychotherapy settings. What are the essential skills, safety measures, and professional pathways necessary to enter this emerging field successfully?

As early pioneers of the ketamine-assisted psychotherapy space, Dr. Signi Goldman and Dr. Sandy Newes outline the common pathways for clinicians entering the space. The types of people who fit the typical profile include professionals aware of psychedelics' potential, those with personal psychedelic experiences, and professionals seeking practical application of their knowledge. When transitioning into the field, Dr. Newes and Dr. Goldman emphasize prioritizing safety measures and executing preparation, intervention, and integration techniques to avoid harmful outcomes like fear associated with trauma and broken trust.

In this episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Signi Goldman and Dr. Sandy Newes share tips for breaking into the psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy space. Together, they address concerns about these treatments, the barriers to a career in this field, and how ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can cause harm to patients when implemented incorrectly.