• A woman in scrubs holds up a stethoscope bent to look like a heart.

    Prescriber

    We partner with your prescriber, just like we do for other medical massage. They fill out a form that Unwind Oakland keeps on file. Our protocols can vary slightly from how you might use lozenge or rapid dissolving ketamine at home, so documented collaborative care is an important and necessary requirement of our process.

  • A person sits at their laptop typing.

    Intake

    We have an intake form designed for all bodies and needs to ensure that we are creating a supportive container for Ketamine Assisted Therapeutic Massage (KATM).

    You’ll start with massage appointments without ketamine first to establish a safe and trusting container for your experience.

  • A loose, dabbed AI painting of a body in many bright colors.

    Appointment

    We check in for about twenty minutes before beginning your massage, and we encourage any rituals or music you like. We check that you have a ride home.

    You can stay for a while after your massage to journal, draw, and integrate with our workbook pages or your own process.

If you have a therapeutic need and are looking for a local prescriber, we highly recommend Daniel Irby, MD, MSc.

Dr. Irby is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist providing medication management and psychotherapy in English and Brazilian Portuguese. He also co-facilitates ketamine integration groups with Grove Integration.

For Prescribers and Therapists

Email us to explore KATM FAQs and our process for coordinating care including ketamine's role in pain management and emerging psychiatric uses, safety measures at Unwind Oakland, professional insurance considerations, the benefits of KATM, ethical considerations, and dosing approach.

We engage with you in a five phase approach:*

  1. A detailed health and safety screening,

  2. Holistic planning including complimentary modalities,

  3. Substantial preparation time and container building,

  4. Administration in a thoughtfully designed setting, and

  5. Robust integration over time.

We provide comprehensive consulting services for massage therapists, psychotherapists, ketamine providers, and other professionals interested in adopting our unique approach. Our services include:

  • Business and skills assessment: Evaluate your current business operations and skill levels to ensure readiness for implementing new practices.

  • Staffing and workshops: Assist with determining staffing needs and conducting practical workshops to train your team.

  • Scope of practice and insurance: Guide you through local scope of practice regulations and help with professional insurance requirements.

  • Protocol development: Advise on suitability, dosing, informed consent, intake procedures, and session protocols to ensure best practices.

  • Collaborative care documentation: Provide strategies for effective documentation and communication in collaborative care settings.

  • Additional support: Offer various other forms of support tailored to your specific needs.

By partnering with us, you can confidently integrate our methodologies into your practice and enhance the quality of care you provide.

*Raquel Bennett, KRIYA Institute, brief presentation (unpublished), Dec 3 2023.

Upcoming book!

Beginner's Body is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the emerging field of Ketamine-Assisted Therapeutic Massage or high touch psychedelic modalities. It offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration of this innovative approach, providing practical guidance and inspiration for facilitators and clients alike.

"Suz is knowledgeable, caring and skilled. Recommended! "

Kimberlycohn.com, Psychotherapy and KAP

From the Unwind Oakland Blog

Featured
How Manual Therapies and Ketamine Can Help with Touch Aversion in CRPS, Fibromyalgia, and Other Pain Conditions
KATM
How Manual Therapies and Ketamine Can Help with Touch Aversion in CRPS, Fibromyalgia, and Other Pain Conditions
KATM

For individuals with touch aversion, the idea of manual therapy or massage can be daunting. However, gentle, skilled manual therapies can actually play a crucial role in managing pain and improving quality of life. Manual therapies include various techniques that involve manipulating the body’s soft tissues. These therapies can help in several ways.

KATM
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and Innovative Treatment Approaches at Unwind Oakland
KATM
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and Innovative Treatment Approaches at Unwind Oakland
KATM

At Unwind Oakland, we are dedicated to exploring and implementing the most effective and innovative treatments for CRPS. One of the unique approaches we use involves leveraging the neuroplastic window opened by low-dose ketamine with manual facilitation techniques.

KATM
The Importance of Collaborative Care for Integrating Ketamine at Unwind Oakland
KATM
The Importance of Collaborative Care for Integrating Ketamine at Unwind Oakland
KATM

Integrating ketamine into massage therapy is not as simple as administering the drug and performing manual techniques. It involves a multi-disciplinary approach, ensuring that every aspect of the patient's health and well-being is considered.

KATM
Psychedelics and Chronic Pain
KATM
Psychedelics and Chronic Pain
KATM

We already have one solution that might be overlooked in this discussion, however. Ketamine has a long-standing history as an analgesic, predating its recent applications in psychotherapy. Discovered in the 1960s, ketamine was initially developed as an anesthetic to provide pain relief and sedation without the severe side effects associated with other anesthetics

KATM
Exploring the Psychedelic Touch: Ethical Considerations and Human Connection
KATM
Exploring the Psychedelic Touch: Ethical Considerations and Human Connection
KATM

In the realm of psychedelics, where boundaries blur and perceptions shift, the topic of touch emerges as both a powerful tool and a delicate ethical territory. As we navigate this intricate landscape, questions arise regarding the nature of transgressions—is it an ethical issue with touch itself or with the individuals involved?

KATM
Unwind Learning is in Massage & Bodywork Magazine!
KATM
Unwind Learning is in Massage & Bodywork Magazine!
KATM

It is a privilege to have access to publications where Unwind can share with our peers in the massage therapy and bodywork field about emerging topics in research and practice. Recently, Suz authored a blog post for Massage & Bodywork Magazine. Here’s a snippet. Visit the blog to read more!

KATM
How to Change Your Body: The Science of Interoception and Healing Through Connection to Yourself and Others
KATM
How to Change Your Body: The Science of Interoception and Healing Through Connection to Yourself and Others
KATM

"How to Change Your Body" is an enlightening and thought-provoking book that serves as a compliment to various therapeutic modalities, such as massage therapy, ketamine assisted massage therapy, and the study of fascia as a global sensory and emotional organ. This book delves into a crucial aspect of the mind-body relationship that has been often overlooked – the profound need for social connection.

KATM
Reviews for Introduction to Psychedelic Conversations and The Massage Table
KATM
Reviews for Introduction to Psychedelic Conversations and The Massage Table
KATM

Read the rave reviews for this online course for massage therapists who are starting to hear about psychedelic therapies and plant medicine traditions from clients and in discussions with their peers -- and who are struggling with how to respond safely and within their scope of practice.

KATM
KATM: Unveiling Postural and Psychosomatic Holding Insights for Rapid and Meaningful Pain Relief
KATM
KATM: Unveiling Postural and Psychosomatic Holding Insights for Rapid and Meaningful Pain Relief
KATM

Ketamine Assisted Therapeutic Massage (KATM) is our innovative treatment approach that combines the therapeutic benefits of low-dose ketamine with bodywork. By integrating ketamine therapy with massage, KATM aims to surface postural and psychosomatic holding insights, leading to rapid and meaningful changes in patients' well-being.

KATM
Discover the Benefits of Ketamine Assisted Therapeutic Massage
KATM
Discover the Benefits of Ketamine Assisted Therapeutic Massage
KATM

Imagine a session where your mind and body merge, where deep healing and relaxation intertwine, and where you emerge with a renewed sense of well-being. Ketamine assisted therapeutic massage (KATM) offers precisely that. It is an experience that can open doors to self-discovery, emotional release, and profound healing.

KATM