Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy

Ketamine assisted psychotherapy is a pathway to access a non-ordinary state of consciousness, allowing one to experience a disruption from unhelpful thoughts and patterns of being.

This powerful shift in engrained ways of thinking and behavior creates space for exploration from a more accepting place. This curiosity allows us to make positive changes that may otherwise feel overwhelming or out of reach. Ketamine coupled with psychotherapy creates an avenue to access your deeper self so you can realign with what truly matters to you.

We work with you to prepare for your experience, guide you through your medicine session, and offer support afterwards as you integrate new information to create lasting changes. Ketamine combined with psychotherapy has shown to be the most beneficial way of using this psychedelic.

Quick Facts

• Ketamine has been used in the US since 1963 as an anesthetic. It is one of the most widely used anesthetic drugs in the world due to its safety profile. As a dissociative anesthetic,it creates a sense of disconnection from one’s ordinary reality. This dissociative experience is crucial to creating changes in perspectives and mood and allows people to have a bird’s eye view of their life. 
• Additionally, ketamine works on a different neural pathway than traditional psychiatric medications, so it can often help those who have not found relief through common psychiatric medications.
• Research also shows that ketamine has neuroplastic properties, which is the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. We theorize that neuroplastic changes can translate into concrete new thought patterns and behaviors. During this window of neuroplasticity, we leverage the strengths of integration through psychotherapy to create lasting change.
• Ketamine can be effective for:
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Suicidal Thoughts
  • GriefPain Syndromes
  • Migraines
  • Addictions
  • Stress

Our Process 

Although each person’s needs are highly unique, the following is an example of one course of treatment:

Evaluation (2 sessions)

You will complete two evaluations to determine if KAP is a healthy option for you. First, a psychedelic-informed therapist will complete a diagnostic assessment and review your current and past mental health history. Second, your physician will complete a brief exam as well as review your current physical conditions, medications, and any previous health records. Our psychedelic-informed providers are here to ensure your safety and listen to your needs.

Preparation (1-3 sessions)

Your therapist will connect with you to create a safe and nurturing relationship and learn about your intentions for your medicine session. Together, we identify your hopes, goals, and understanding for your ketamine session, and also process any hesitation you may have about the psychedelic experience itself.

Medicine Session (1 session)

Your physician and therapist will support you during the administration of the medicine, which is done by intramuscular injection (IM) and be by your side during the experience. The treatments take place in a specially curated room with music designed to facilitate your journey and typically last 1.5-2 hours. Your therapist will debrief with you at the end of your journey and a final physical exam will be conducted before being discharged home.

Integration (2-3 sessions)

Your therapist will help you process your medicine session and glean new perspectives from your experience. Due to the neuroplastic effect of ketamine, we want to capitalize on new insights and ideas that occurred in the session and lay the groundwork for you to instill these changes into your daily life. Integration is often the most important part of the psychedelic experience because it allows you to make meaning of the experience and anchor the lessons into your life. We will also collaborate next steps with you to encourage continued healing.

Want to Learn More?

We've assembled some FAQs to dig deeper into the experience of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy.