Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a holistic approach that combines the therapeutic benefits of ketamine with the healing power of psychotherapy. In a KAP session, ketamine is used to gently reduce the mental barriers and defenses that can keep us feeling stuck, allowing for deeper access to emotional material in a calm, open, and often more compassionate internal state. This process can create space for exploring painful emotions, memories, and thought patterns with greater ease and curiosity, and can support meaningful shifts in how we relate to ourselves and others.

Ketamine is a legal, safe, and fast-acting medicine that has been used for decades in medical settings and, more recently, in the treatment of mental health conditions. Ketamine can produce rapid antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects, often within hours of treatment, with benefits lasting for up to two weeks or longer. It works by blocking NMDA receptors and stimulating AMPA receptors in the brain, which can enhance neuroplasticity - the brain’s ability to form new connections and pathways. This neuroplastic window is part of what makes KAP such a powerful complement to psychotherapy.

KAP can be especially helpful for individuals who feel stuck in recurring emotional, cognitive, or behavioral patterns that haven’t fully responded to traditional therapy alone. The altered state of consciousness that ketamine induces may support:

• Shifts in mood and perception

• Reduction in negative self-beliefs

• Increased emotional openness and insight

• Access to non-ordinary states of awareness that can deepen self-understanding and healing

• A renewed sense of possibility, connection, and meaning

Research supports the therapeutic potential of ketamine across a variety of clinical conditions:

• 66% of individuals with depression and anxiety report a clinically significant reduction in symptoms

• 67% of people with PTSD experience meaningful and rapid symptom relief

• 75% of those with treatment-resistant depression report significant symptom improvement

• Early research also suggests potential benefits for those navigating eating disorders

Before beginning KAP, I will connect you with a licensed nurse practitioner who specializes in the clinical use of ketamine. They will handle the medical aspects of care - reviewing your health history, determining eligibility, prescribing medication, and monitoring safety throughout the process. Once medical clearance is in place, you and I will collaborate to create a KAP treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.

KAP usually includes a few different kinds of sessions:

• Preparation sessions, where we build trust, set intentions, and talk about what to expect

• Dosing sessions, where you take ketamine in a safe, supportive setting

• Integration sessions, where we reflect on your experience and figure out how to bring new insights into your everyday life 

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is not a “quick fix,” but it can be a deeply transformative experience when paired with supportive and attuned psychotherapy.