How Music Enhances Ketamine Therapy: A Guide for Patients

Ketamine treatments can evoke waves of emotion. People have described the experience as a dreamlike state that can elicit powerful memories, insight into their inner self and even mystical or spiritual encounters. 

Music can serve as a soundtrack throughout the journey, enhancing feelings of connectedness while providing a calming effect.

But does certain music work best? Will your own music preferences help you or hinder you on this journey? Let’s dig into that.

The Science Behind Music and Healing

The benefits of music therapy have already been well documented. Studies have confirmed that music can activate parts of the brain that are known to function abnormally in depressed individuals. By evoking enjoyment, music activates motor regions in the brain, which may enhance the emotional state and rehabilitation outcomes in neurological recovery.

Similarly, in ketamine therapy, music can help calm feelings of anxiety that may arise during a session and possibly make the experience more enjoyable. 

Certain types of music may also lower blood pressure, stabilize or increase dissociative states and increase patient tolerance for higher dosages. These findings suggest music could be a valuable tool for enhancing both the therapeutic impact and side-effect management of ketamine treatments. 

In fact, another study found that 87% of patients receiving ketamine therapy agreed that listening to music improves their treatment outcomes. Also, 76% of patients indicated that music helps them to relax more deeply into their session. Most clinicians agree with patients that music can help them along their ketamine journey. 

Any medical treatment can lead to anxious feelings even before entering the clinic; this is something to discuss with your therapy provider. But having a comfortable environment where patients can relax in a private room with the music of their choice can ease fears and lead to a more pleasant experience. 

From Sound Healing to Classical Music

While personal preferences may drive your music-selection decision, the top rock, pop or R&B songs in your iTunes playlist may not be the best option for a ketamine session. 

Music without lyrics is a good starting point to avoid distractions during the session so patients can remain focused inward. 

Here are some options that can help set the tone for a ketamine treatment: 

Relaxing Electronic: This is among the most popular music genres for a ketamine experience. Music in this category may include ambient, downtempo or new age.  These can be particularly effective in producing a calming and relaxing experience 

• Ambient is a type of instrumental music that focuses on texture, tone, mood and atmosphere rather than a structured melody or beat. ambient music aims to create an immersive, atmospheric listening experience through the interplay of sounds and tones. Ambient music is ideal for producing a neutral experience that does not directly affect your emotional experience.
• Downtempo is similar to ambient music, also incorporating an atmospheric sound, though it does have a rhythm. Examples of artists in this genre include Gobi Desert Collective, Nicolas Jaar and Bonobo. 
• New Age is commonly used in yoga classes and for meditation. It has a tranquil sound that’s often adapted from various ethnic types of music, including Celtic folk and Native American or tribal sounds. Some traditional new age artists include Enya, Kitaro and Enigma. Depending on the particular artist you select, their individual style may uniquely influence the session.

Binaural Beats: This isn’t really a sound. It’s a type of auditory illusion. It occurs when listening to two separate frequencies at the same time.  Research has demonstrated that inducing brain-wave states with binaural beats can lessen anxiety in patients suffering from chronic anxiety. Similar to ambient music, binaural beats are a top choice for generating a deep internal experience, with minimal emotional suggestion.

Nature Sounds: This category includes recordings of natural environments like rain, ocean waves, birdsong, forests, or gentle streams. Nature sounds are particularly effective for creating a grounding and calming experience during ketamine therapy. The organic and unstructured qualities of these sounds provide a neutral yet soothing backdrop that helps individuals focus inward while maintaining a connection to the earth and their surroundings. Listening to nature sounds can reduce anxiety, lower heart rate, and evoke a sense of peace and balance. The absence of structured melody or rhythm makes them less likely to influence the emotional direction of the session, allowing for a more organic therapeutic experience. 

Classical and Jazz Music: From Brahms to Beethoven, classical music has a storied history and one that’s been known to soothe and help people maintain focus.  Again, the lack of lyrics in classical compositions is ideal for ketamine sessions as it minimizes the potential for distracting words. Many of our patients also enjoy Jazz music for the same reasons. Classical and Jazz music can be ideal for eliciting a wide range of emotional responses during a session.

Curating Your Ketamine Therapy Playlist

Traditional streaming services, like Pandora, Spotify and iTunes, are good places to start when creating a ketamine session playlist. Search for artists that fall into any of the previously mentioned categories. 

If that’s too time consuming, many streaming services have preselected playlists that you can choose from. For instance, we have several recommendations on our website, including the Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Therapy playlist, available both on Apple Music and Spotify.  We also suggest several YouTube channels, including “Soothing Relaxation” and “Meditative Mind.”

Other options include Spotify’s “Deep Focus” and “Peaceful Meditation” collections or Osmind’s ketamine treatment playlist. Apple Music’s “Pure Focus” and “Ambient Essentials,” offer extensive selections of instrumental music that also align well with therapeutic sessions. 

Another option is a relaxation-focused app like Insight Timer, among the largest free meditation apps. Insight Timer provides an extensive library of ambient music, sound healing tracks and instrumental compositions that can be suitable for ketamine sessions.

Wavepaths is another platform developed specifically for therapeutic settings, with carefully crafted audio experiences designed to support mental health treatments and emotional wellbeing.

Key Considerations for Your Musical Journey

Remember, the right music can augment your ketamine therapy experience, but what works best for each person is a matter of choice. 

Explore different instrumental options and create a playlist that feels comfortable and calming to you. Consider testing your selections at home in a quiet, relaxed setting. 

Some of our patients are dedicated  to using guided meditations rather than music, but we believe that it is easiest for new patients to start with listening to music during their initial journeys. 

Feel free to reach out to your clinician about your musical preferences for guidance if you’re unsure. They can help you select tracks or playlists that will best support your therapeutic journey.