Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is the use of prescribed ketamine as an addition to psychotherapy sessions. It’s a safe and legal treatment shown to be effective for depression, anxiety, chronic pain, PTSD and other mental health-related conditions. KAP can be helpful if you are feeling stuck, seeking deeper change, or interested in nurturing more psychological or spiritual inner discovery.

Ketamine and its Psychedelic Potential

Ketamine is a dissociative medication with a 50-year track record of safe use as an anesthetic in medical settings. More recently, it has shown significant potential as an off-label treatment for many mental health challenges. In therapeutic use, the dose is much smaller—only about 10% to 25% of what’s used for anesthesia. At these lower doses, ketamine induces a profound dissociative state, often resembling a psychedelic experience. It is fast-acting and metabolizes quickly, which means clients can have meaningful experiences within 1 or 2-hour sessions.

How Ketamine Works

Ketamine works by influencing the brain's glutamate system, which is involved in how brain cells communicate. This helps the brain form new connections and strengthen existing ones—a process called neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity allows the brain to break unhelpful patterns and build healthier, more adaptable connections, which can be essential in overcoming challenges like depression, anxiety, and trauma.

Want to know exactly what the KAP process will look like? Explore below.

  • If you aren’t already a client of mine, we will do a standard therapy intake and talk about your goals for ketamine-assisted therapy.

  • You’ll meet with a ketamine prescriber to ensure ketamine is safe for you. The prescriber and I work closely throughout your treatment process.

  • We will do as many preparation sessions as needed to get ready for the ketamine journey. 1-3 are typically recommended.

  • You’ll ingest the ketamine and have an experience while lying down with eye shades on and music playing. I’ll make sure you’re safe, guide you in exploring your inner healing, and help you process what comes up.

    These sessions are typically 2-3 hours. We may do 4-6 medicine sessions, with integration sessions in between.

  • I’ll guide you in exploring what you felt, learned, and discovered, and applying these insights to create meaningful, lasting change in your daily life.

  • We’ll conclude our work together by summarizing the insights you’ve gained and exploring practical ways to bring these changes into your daily life. If you’re a regular client, we’ll continue integrating your KAP experiences while working toward your broader treatment goals.

 More FAQs

  • KAP has shown effectiveness in treating depression (including treatment-resistant depression), OCD, anxiety, PTSD/trauma, and chronic pain.

    KAP also may be beneficial for anyone who wants to explore deeper healing, such as those seeking to process trauma, uncover emotional or psychological patterns, or explore existential or spiritual questions.

  • There are some people for whom ketamine is contraindicated. These conditions are not all necessarily preclusive, but they are considerations to be discussed thoroughly with your medical provider.

    • Medical conditions including uncontrolled hypertension, severe heart or liver disease, chronic migraines, sleep apnea, respiratory disorders

    • Pregnant or breastfeeding

    • Certain medications (benzodiazepines, opioids)

    • Psychiatric conditions like active psychosis, personality disorders, active substance use, and acute suicidal ideation

    • Ketamine allergy

    • History of ketamine addiction

    • Those without a stable support system

    • Those without the ability to engage in therapy

  • Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is the use of prescribed ketamine as an addition to psychotherapy sessions. Other ketamine treatments, such as IV infusions, focus primarily on ketamine's biochemical effects to alleviate symptoms like depression or chronic pain. These treatments are more medicalized, without accompanying psychotherapy or integration support to process the experience.

  • I charge my typical rate of $150/hour for intake, prep, medicine, and integration sessions. Note that the initial medicine session is scheduled for 3 hours, with the possibility of shorter medicine sessions later on.

    The medical screen with my collaborating prescriber has a cost of $500. This is a crucial part of the process that helps to ensure ketamine is safe and appropriate for you.

    Ketamine sessions are often not covered by insurance. I do not accept insurance in my practice, but if you have out-of-network benefits you may be able to get reimbursed for the preparation and integration sessions, for which I can provide you a Superbill to submit to your insurance company.

  • Ketamine often feels like a dream-like state, with a sense of floating or detachment from your body and surroundings. It can bring emotional relief, altered perceptions, and heightened introspection, sometimes accompanied by a peaceful or expansive feeling. Experiences can range from calm and introspective to deeply immersive, and higher doses may lead to profound dissociation or a sense of merging with everything around you. Often in sessions, certain ideas or memories will surface, leading to new perspectives or emotional insights.

    For many, the ketamine experience can feel ineffable, meaning it is challenging to fully describe in words. The altered sense of self, time, and reality, combined with vivid inner experiences, can make it difficult to convey the sensations and insights to others. This ineffability is often part of what makes the experience profound, as it transcends ordinary ways of thinking and perceiving the world.

  • Ketamine is not physically addictive. However, recreational users may develop a psychological dependence with frequent, repeated use due to its euphoric and dissociative effects. In a therapeutic setting like KAP, ketamine is administered at controlled doses under professional supervision, with sessions spaced out to reduce the risk of dependence. The focus is on healing and integration, making the risk of psychological dependence minimal when used responsibly.

  • Ketamine can produce altered states of consciousness, but the environment and guidance of the therapist are designed to help you feel safe and supported during the experience.

  • Common side effects include mild nausea, dizziness, or dissociation, which typically subside quickly. Rare side effects can include elevated heart rate or blood pressure.

  • No, you will need a trusted person to take you home, as the medication can impair motor skills and judgment.

  • Comfortable clothing, a journal for notes, and anything that helps you feel relaxed, like a blanket or pillow.

  • We’ll talk more specifics in your preparation sessions, but general recommendations include setting an intention, avoiding substances like alcohol beforehand, fasting for several hours before, and ensuring you have time to rest afterward.

  • While many people experience meaningful changes, it’s important to understand this treatment is not a magical cure or a quick fix. Integration is crucial to make the most of the neuroplasticity, continued ongoing therapy is usually necessary, and growth happens gradually over time.