Emergency Resilience

Ketamine-assisted therapy is an innovative and fast-acting treatment approach showing significant promise for individuals struggling with depression, PTSD, and other trauma-related conditions, especially those in high-stress professions like first responders. Originally developed as an anesthetic, ketamine has been repurposed in controlled, therapeutic settings to help reset patterns of thought and emotion that become “stuck” after trauma. Unlike traditional antidepressants, which can take weeks to work, ketamine often produces rapid relief, sometimes within hours or days. When combined with psychotherapy, this approach allows individuals to process experiences with greater clarity, emotional safety, and neuroplasticity. This session explores the growing body of research behind ketamine therapy, including its mechanisms of action in the brain, its safety profile, and why it may be particularly effective for frontline workers coping with chronic stress, burnout, and cumulative trauma. We’ll also address common myths and stigma surrounding ketamine treatment and discuss how it’s being integrated into broader mental health care models. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how ketamine-assisted psychotherapy works, who it’s best suited for, and how it’s helping to change the landscape of trauma recovery for first responders.