In September this year, a pilot comprehensive training program for group ketamine-assisted psychotherapy was launched, initiated by the American charity Heal Ukraine Trauma. Vladyslav Matrenytskyi, director of the Expio clinic, took part in the development of the program. The first group of psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and clinical psychologists completed a month-long course of theoretical and practical training, including at the Expio clinic, and are now able to provide this therapy to their patients.
Due to the scale of the mental health crisis in Ukraine, 11 million people are projected to need psychosocial support, so solutions that maximize resources and go beyond the 1-to-1 model between patient and provider are essential. Thanks to the efficacy and legal status of ketamine, this training will have a real impact now.
In the long term, the KAP group model could serve as the basis for group therapy with psychedelic drugs if psychedelic drugs become legally available in Ukraine. After the initial pilot project, the program will be expanded to more therapists, which will increase their capacity to eventually reach thousands of people with KAP therapy.
