Ketamine treatment at The Clinic of Change, recently opened in Lisbon, is aimed at people with conditions such as depression, addiction, post-traumatic stress, anxiety and eating disorders. The price of the sessions (5,500 euros in total) may limit access to treatment, but the clinic's management guarantees that efforts are being made to ensure that these therapies reach as many people as possible.
On the ground floor of a building in the Saldanha area, in the center of Lisbon, a clinic has been operating since the beginning of this week, where therapies are carried out using ketamine, an anesthetic that, in small doses, has psychedelic properties.
There are six consulting rooms, each equipped with a sofa for patients to lie on during treatment, blindfolded and covered with heavy blankets that give a cozy feeling, and armchairs. The decoration is minimal, the lighting too, and not a single noise is heard from outside.
"The effectiveness of the treatment also depends on how safe, confident and comfortable the person feels," explains Carla Mariz, a clinical psychologist specializing in neuropsychology and psychotherapy, and one of the professionals who make up The Clinic of Change team.
