From Isolation To Integration: The Case For Group Ketamine Therapy With Zappy Zapolin
When someone mentions ketamine-assisted therapy, we tend to think of medically focused infusion centers and clinics. In some cases, it’s just you, your chair, and a ketamine IV slowly dripping away. This begs the question, “Does it have to be this way?”
What if you could have a ketamine experience that is focused on healing as a group in a. nature setting meant to make the process feel less clinical and more natural?
We recently had the chance to speak with Zappy Zapolin, futurist, psychedelic medicine advocate, and co-founder of the non-profit Mind Army, an education and advocacy organization focused on lobbying for psychedelic medicine access and drug reform. Zappy is also the founder of Camp Zappy, a group-based ketamine therapy center that aims to change the way we think of ketamine-assisted therapy.
Zappy’s vision for Camp Zappy is distinct from the clinical settings most associated with ketamine therapy. Nestled in the Malibu Hills, this retreat aims to offer a blend of nature, community, and psychedelic therapy designed to foster deep, transformative experiences. According to Zappy, the inspiration behind Camp Zappy was to create a space where individuals undergo ketamine therapy in an environment that promotes a connection to nature and each other.
“Instead of the isolation that comes with traditional ketamine clinics, we wanted to explore what it means to heal together,” Zappy explains. “At Camp Zappy, we’re seeing that when people come together in nature, with a supportive, group setting, the healing potential of ketamine is magnified.”
Why Group Experiences May Matter In Ketamine-Assisted Therapy
Zappy’s protocols aren’t based on assumptions; they’ve been developed using science and are backed by significant research. Group-based therapy programs have increasingly become a focal point in the discussion of mental health treatment, particularly when combined with innovative treatments like ketamine-assisted therapy. The benefits of group therapy, as opposed to individual therapy, are multifaceted, encompassing psychological and social dimensions that contribute to a patient’s healing process.
Zappy isn’t the only professional in the space advocating for more group-based psychedelic initiatives. Dr. Alex Belser, MPhil, Ph.D., a senior psychedelic researcher at Yale School of Medicine, believes that group-based models may be the future, saying, “I think the field is looking to the wisdom of indigenous people and to the wisdom of underground practitioners who have been well practiced with group therapy work where …