WHAT IS KAP? | Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, TELOS

Meet Our Provider Steve Hammil MA, LMHC

MY FOCUS

“Sometimes we can feel lost, alone and drowning in an ocean no one else can see” – a client

I am particularly interested in helping people struggling with the ongoing effects of adverse childhood experiences. Often, they have never really felt whole, truly acceptable, safe or at peace. Much too often they blame themselves for the survival responses that developed, quite automatically, while enduring abuse.

They often disapprove of who they needed to be to survive and punish themselves for succeeding. They carry a double burden – the wounds of the original trauma and the current pain and suffering it continues to foster. Not the least of these can be an entrenched feeling of being flawed, inadequate and unacceptable… and deeply, deeply alone.

Trauma creates change you don’t choose. Healing is about creating change that you do choose.

My EXPERIENCE

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (Washington State License: LH 60241738) with a Masters of Psychology from Antioch University Seattle. I have been seeing clients since 2007. I became a therapist because I want my work to be something that helps me and others live happier, more connected lives. At this point in my career I am focused on helping survivors release the burdens of the past and move from surviving to something beyond, whatever they decide that is for them.

Member International Society for Study of Trauma and Dissociation

Meet our Medical Team

Rafael Gonzalez-Vizoso, MD

Dr. Gonzalez-Vizoso started his education at Brooklyn College where he earned his BA in chemistry while fulfilling his pre-med requirements, graduating Cum Laude. He completed his medical school education at Harvard Medical School where he also did a year of research in Tropical Medicine.

His internship was done at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, a Tufts University Medical School affiliated program, and his residency in Emergency Medicine at Boston Medical Center, a Boston University Medical School affiliated program.

He has been board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine since 1996. He has been practicing Emergency Medicine in multiple settings -anywhere from Level 2 Trauma Centers in urban settings to small to medium rural hospitals- since his graduation from residency in 1994. He is currently the Medical Director for Emergency Services at a critical care access rural hospital in Eastern Washington. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Lightshine, a non profit organization dealing with the care of orphans -specifically in the setting of attachment disorder-, and has traveled extensively on behalf of this organization through Central and South America.

After arriving in Seattle in 1996, he taught Introduction to Clinical Medicine at the University of Washington Medical School as a clinical instructor for 5 years. He also engaged in outcomes research as the medical director of Health Research Associates, Inc. where he co-authored papers, wrote grants and lead studies for 10 years. For the past 18 months, he has been interested in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy and has undergone all the appropriate training with The Ketamine Training Center, headed by Dr. Phil Wolfson, a leading authority on ketamine assisted psychotherapy (KAP) and has become certified in this treatment modality.

Dr. Gonzalez-Vizoso’s interest in KAP was sparked by the dearth of options available for mental health patients in crisis as well as people with addiction disorders. This induced him to delve into the latest research in the use of psychedelics for mental illnesses. He has used ketamine as an anesthetic in the emergency medicine setting as aid for painful procedures and rapid sequence intubation for over 25 years and is very familiar with the use and safety profile of ketamine. During his training for KAP, Dr. Gonzalez-Vizoso experienced firsthand the amazing effects of ketamine. In association with veteran, ketamine trained psychotherapists, he has become increasingly active in the field of applying psychedelics in the setting of mental illnesses and hopes to continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Besides his interests in medicine, Dr. Gonzalez-Vizoso holds two black belts in two different styles of martial arts, is an avid free diver and spearfisherman as well as an avid cyclist. He is an amateur historian and has serious spiritual and religious pursuits. He also writes poetry but is too afraid to show it to anyone yet.

If you are interested in future trainings or participating in KAT when alternative options become available you can send inquiries to scott.ross@salishseacounseling.com