In this soul‑steeping episode of Good Tea & Reads, Host Kimbralon B sits down with Amy Burnside, LCSW, to sip through the reali‑`tea’ of modern mental health care and the evolving role of counseling. Together, they explore the innovative world of ketamine assisted psychotherapy, breaking down myths, reducing stigma, and grounding the conversation in compassion, science, and lived experience. Amy opens up about her own path into this work-how her corporate beginnings, motherhood, and time in the clientseat shaped her commitment to authentic, down‑to‑earth healing spaces. She explains how low‑dose ketamine can safely support neuroplasticity, deepen therapeutic insight, and help treat conditions like depression, anxiety, and trauma when traditional approaches fall short. Throughout the conversation, Kimbralon and Amy highlight the importance of integration, supportive therapeutic relationships, and honoring the mind‑body connection. This episode invites listeners to seek trustworthy resources, stay curious, and remember that healing is possible when you find the right guide, the right environment, and the courage to ask forhelp. Takeaways: Ketamine assisted psychotherapy combines medication with traditional therapy.Ketamine can treat a variety of conditions includingdepression and anxiety.The addiction risk for ketamine is low when used incontrolled settings.Therapists undergo training to experience ketamine therapy themselves.Ketamine therapy can help those with complex trauma. Ketamine is often misunderstood due to its history as a street drug.Ketamine can help shift negative thought patterns andimprove motivation.Research and education are vital for safe ketamine use. Chapters List: 00:00 Introduction 03:43 The Importance of Seeking Help 06:57 Understanding Ketamine and Its Uses 10:12 Exploring Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy 12:18 Personal Journey into Ketamine Therapy 16:17 Conditions Treated with Ketamine Therapy 17:31 Why Combine Ketamine with Therapy? 22:35 Addressing Concerns About Ketamine Use 28:01 Understanding Ketamine: Myths and Stigmas 30:00 Integration: The Key to Long-Term Healing 34:07 Neuroplasticity and Mental Health Benefits 35:53 Physical Health and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy 38:02 The Ketamine Treatment Model Explained 45:02 Exploring Low-Dose Ketamine Therapy 47:53 Connecting with Resources and Final Thoughts Resources: Amy Burnside, LCSW Website: https://bebalancedcounseling.com Instagram/Tik Tok - @bebalancedwithamy American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists,and Practitioners (ASKP3) - https://askp3.org Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)- https://maps.org clinicaltrials.gov - https://clinicaltrials.gov Good Tea and Reads: Email: goodteaandreads@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodteaandreads/ If you are currently experiencing a crisis requiringimmediate attention, please call 988 or text “HOME” to 741741. Resources used for information and educational purposes are available upon request. Awareness of mental health is wealth. Mental health screenings are located at mhascreenings.org. Discuss the screening results with a healthcareprofessional. Under the fair use doctrine of the U.S. copyright statue, itis permissible to use limited portions of a work including quotes, for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, and scholarly reports. Good Tea and Reads use works from fabulous writers toeducate and emphasize the importance of mental health awareness. Keywords: ketamine psychotherapy, mental health mental health, counseling, ketamine therapy,psychotherapy, trauma, mental wellness, depression, anxiety, treatmentresistant depression, ketamine assisted psychotherapy ketamine, psychotherapy,mental health, integration, neuroplasticity, treatment model, physical health,therapy, stigma, healing
