What Is Ketamine Assisted Therapy?

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is an intensive therapeutic approach that can lead to rapid improvements in various conditions such as depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, trauma, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, among others.

It can also provide valuable support in end-of-life care. KAP is approved and safe for use in both adults and adolescent populations and has been shown effective.

This therapy works well alongside most psychiatric medications and can foster significant, lasting healing, especially when other traditional treatments have not been effective. Each session, which includes medication, lasts about 2.5 hours and emphasizes therapeutic work.

During your session I will be present to support and guide you throughout the process. Integration sessions will follow within 24-48hrs afterward as a way to make meaning of and process the experience. If you are not a current client of mine, I will also collaborate with your other healthcare provider(s) and therapist, as needed.

Ketamine assisted psychotherapy is an innovative treatment approach that combines the use of ketamine, a medication known for its anesthetic and hallucinogenic properties, with therapeutic techniques. Ketamine, traditionally used as an anesthetic in medical settings, has shown promise in the treatment of various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Ketamine can help individuals achieve a heightened state of awareness and introspection, facilitating deep emotional processing and insight during psychotherapy sessions.

What can ketamine-assisted psychotherapy treat?

Ketamine-assisted therapy has been researched for various mental health conditions, including:

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Chronic Suicidal Thinking
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Eating Disorders
Substance Abuse

Ketamine-assisted therapy has several benefits

Rapid relief

One of the most significant advantages of ketamine therapy is its ability to provide quick relief from symptoms of depression and anxiety, often within hours compared to traditional antidepressants, which may take weeks to show effects.

Treatment-resistant conditions

Ketamine has been particularly beneficial for individuals with treatment-resistant depression, where conventional medications have failed.

Reduced suicidal ideation

Studies indicate that ketamine can significantly reduce suicidal thoughts, making it a critical option for individuals in crisis.

Enhanced psychotherapy

When combined with psychotherapy, ketamine can facilitate deeper emotional processing and help patients confront and work through difficult experiences.

What are your qualifications?

In addition to being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), I am a certified Psychedelic Assisted Therapist (PAT), focusing on Ketamine Assisted Therapy. I received my certification through the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) by completing an intensive nine-month program. Since then, working with many clients has further deepened my understanding of KAP’s benefits and best applications.

What does a KAP session look like?

During a ketamine-assisted therapy session, you will take a prescribed amount of medicine (prescribed after meeting with my psychiatrist) to induce an altered state of consciousness. I will guide you through the experience, helping you to integrate insights gained during the session into therapeutic work.

The medication can create changes in thought patterns, emotions, and physical sensations, offering new perspectives on situations, relationships, and personal struggles, and fostering a healthier connection with oneself. Individuals typically gain the most benefit by completing repeated sessions (typically 3-6), followed by integration sessions to help you process and make meaning of the experience.

Research on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy has shown benefits for individuals who have not responded well to traditional treatments.

Do I need KAP?

Ketamine assisted psychotherapy is a useful treatment approach for someone who has not responded well to standard treatments approaches, individuals experiencing acute suicidal ideation, individuals looking to explore further growth and change, who may feel stuck, or who want to find more insights.

Think you might be ready?

Take the first step and reach out for a consultation call to discuss why you are interested in KAP. I will take the time to discuss this with you as well as the screening process to ensure you are a qualified candidate.

Ketamine is also approved and safe for use with adolescents who have/are experiencing these concerns. Adolescents face serious mental health challenges and often feel stuck with few options. It can feel isolating and hopeless. This can leave parents wondering what else they can do for their struggling child. Ketamine treatment has been shown to be effective in the treatment of these issues for adolescents.

As with the adult population, screening is necessary to ensure this is an appropriate course of treatment. Research has demonstrated that KAP is effective for remission of symptoms, bolstering emotional maturity, building resilience, and furthering engagement in the therapeutic process.

What Is the pricing for KAP?

We have a full breakdown of pricing including new and existing client rates to account for onboarding, preparation, and post-KAP follow-up.