Our Mission at Center for New Growth
At this practice we are dedicated to the following aim: transforming trauma into wholeness..
Trauma can be defined as an experience that involves an actual or a perceived threat to one’s vitality and life force.
Wholeness is a state of being complete in and of oneself, the experience of the totality of one’s self and union of one’s multidimensional parts and experiences.
We recognize that transformation is a non-linear, often spiral-shaped process.
We support this unfolding by encouraging connection to the innate healing capacity inherent in all beings and the inner drive towards wholeness.
We recognize that techniques as varied as pharmaceuticals, herbal and nutritional supports, psychotherapeutic interventions, bodywork in its many forms, traditional medical frameworks such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine and indigenous knowledge, psychedelic therapies, and art and movement practices can all be of service in this connection with oneself.
We practice a model of harm reduction as a form of care that honors an individual's autonomy; we meet people where they are and honor the behaviors, beliefs and strategies they have used to survive life so far.
We understand that healing the individual inherently connects to and calls for inquiry into healing the collective and invites awareness of intergenerational trauma and transformation into our processes.
There may come a time when delving deeper into our unconscious is the next appropriate step along our path. Substances or experiences that invite us to expand beyond our ordinary waking mind can be beneficial here.
We believe that the experience of ketamine therapy can be one way to enter this transformational space. We are dedicated to providing the information needed for one to decide if ketamine therapy may be a supportive choice for them at this time in their process.
We support equity and access to the above practices and methodologies and envision a world in which they are available to all peoples.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a synthetic compound that induces a mild dissociative experience at low dosages and a deeper psychedelic experience at higher dosages. Ketamine is FDA approved for use as an anesthetic, and thanks to an ever growing body of scientific research, it is also used to treat depression, anxiety, ptsd and other mental health issues.
How Does Ketamine Work?
Ketamine’s mechanism of action is still being studied. Current research shows that ketamine stimulates neuroplasticity by activating sites in your brain called NMDA receptors. The neurotransmitter glutamate is thought to be involved in this process, setting ketamine apart from traditional antidepressants that often work on serotonin receptors.
Neuroplasticity refers to the brains ability to change it’s wiring by making new connections between neurons, in the place of old, often heavily used pathways. These heavily used pathways are often implicated in depressive symptoms or feelings of stuckness.
24-96 hours after a ketamine treatment, your brains capacity for neuroplasticity is heightened, allowing changes in thought and behavior patterns habits as well as nervous system response to “stick” as a result of an increased ability to make new neural connections.
Image illustrating the addition of new neural pathways through the process of neuroplasticity. Image credit: Cognifit Research
Center For New Growth
2505 Lucas Street, Suite B
Eureka, CA 95501
