Certified Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in California & Utah
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Innovation in Trauma Treatment
What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) combines the therapeutic benefits of ketamine with psychotherapy to help clients access deeper healing.
Ketamine is a safe, FDA-approved medicine that creates an altered state of consciousness while increasing neuroplasticity in the brain. This combination of effects allows people to approach difficult emotions and memories with less fear and resistance while benefiting from an enhanced ability to incorporate new learning into old thinking patterns. In addition, ketamine provides an antidepressant effect that provides some much-needed relief to those who suffer from severe, persistent depression. Ketamine combined with therapeutic guidance often leads to profound insights and breakthrough moments that can be harder to achieve with traditional therapy alone.
On average, the altered state of consciousness lasts for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, which makes it a great tool for psychotherapy sessions. Ketamine’s neuroplasticity effects last up to two weeks, though, with the greatest impact within one week. It is during this 1-2 week window that we want to use psychotherapy to emphasize new learning from the ketamine experience and anchor it in new behaviors that lead to ongoing transformation.
The Science Behind Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
By blocking NMDA receptors and stimulating AMPA receptors, ketamine is thought to promote the formation of new synaptic connections in the brain. This enhancement of neuroplasticity can help individuals break free from rigid, unhelpful patterns, allowing for greater mental flexibility and emotional healing. You can learn more about the science here.
As a certified provider of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, I offer KAP to clients as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. This approach can be especially beneficial for individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, and trauma-related symptoms.
Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Right for You?
You might be a good candidate for KAP if you have...
Treatment-resistant depression or anxiety
PTSD or complex trauma that hasn't responded to traditional therapy
Desire for accelerated therapeutic progress
Openness to exploring altered states of consciousness
Commitment to the full preparation and integration process
Benefits of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Rapid Relief
Ketamine has been shown to rapidly alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mood disorders. Long-term changes are instilled through ongoing work in psychotherapy, which benefits from the increased cognitive flexibility and new insights gained through ketamine administration.
Deep Emotional Processing
The altered state induced by ketamine can facilitate deep emotional processing, helping clients confront and resolve underlying psychological issues.
Enhanced Therapeutic Insights
Ketamine enhances introspection and self-awareness, allowing clients to gain valuable insights into their thoughts, behaviors, and relationships.
Neuroplasticity and Growth
Ketamine promotes neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections, supporting long-term emotional growth and resilience.
How Does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Work?
During a KAP session, clients self-administer a dose of ketamine in a controlled setting under the guidance of a trained therapist. Ketamine induces a temporary altered state of consciousness, which can lead to profound insights, emotional release, and enhanced introspection. The therapeutic environment allows clients to explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences with increased clarity and openness.
Step 1
Medical clearance with a partner psychiatrist
Ketamine has to be prescribed by a medical provider. I can provide referrals to providers who are familiar with KAP. You will need to make a separate appointment with a medical provider, who will screen you for any medical concerns that would be counter-indicated for ketamine use. The prescriber will determine the dosage and method of administration. In my practice, clients use only sublingual troches or rapid dissolving tablets, both of which are dissolved in the mouth at the time of the session. I do not prescribe, store or administer ketamine. You will obtain ketamine through a prescription and bring it to our session.
Step 2
Preparation sessions to ready your mind and body
All psychedelic experiences are heavily impacted by the setting of the session and the mindset of the client. It is important to prepare your mind in advance by setting intentions, considering your goals for KAP, attending to the media you ingest in days prior to the session and ensuring that your body is receptive to the experience. In addition, we want to build trust in the therapeutic relationship and communicate preferences and concerns that you have about the setting of the session. It is of the utmost importance that you feel safe and respected during the psychedelic experience.
Step 3
Ketamine administration session in a controlled, therapeutic setting
You will self-administer the ketamine according to your medical provider’s instructions. I will be present throughout the experience to offer support, take notes, and guide you through any difficult experiences.
Step 4
Integration sessions to process insights and experiences
Integration sessions typically begin 1-2 days after the administration session. We will address new learning and shifts in perspective, taking advantage of the brain’s increased neuroplasticity. Integration sessions can continue indefinitely, as we always want to keep working to implement new learning that came up during the ketamine session. Typically, clients benefit from at least two integration sessions within two weeks of the ketamine session.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
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The KAP sessions fee is $575 for a 2.5-hour administration session. This includes opening intention-setting, relaxation, and physical preparation, the ketamine experience, and some time for grounding afterward and a brief recall of the experience.
Because of the impact of the relationship on the ketamine experience, I require at least two preparation sessions prior to the administration session. Two sessions of psychotherapy will cost $460. I also strongly recommend 1-2 integration sessions. Each of these sessions will cost $230.
**Insurance will not cover the administration session, so I will not provide a superbill for this 2.5-hour session.
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Yes, ketamine is FDA-approved and legal when prescribed by a medical provider. I work with medical providers who handle the medical aspects of treatment.
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Ketamine creates a mild dissociative state that many describe as dreamy, floating, or having a sense of expanded awareness. The experience is generally peaceful and introspective, lasting about 45-60 minutes.In addition to the actual intensive days, it may be helpful for you to plan to take a day or two with limited responsibilities after your intensive in order to reflect and recover. This is challenging work. People generally tell me that they feel physically and emotionally fatigued after the process. Prioritizing time for recovery and integration is important.
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Common temporary effects include mild nausea, dizziness, or feeling disconnected. These typically resolve within a few hours.
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This varies based on your individual situation and goals. Some clients benefit from a series of 3-6 sessions, while others may need ongoing periodic sessions. We will develop a personalized treatment plan in collaboration with your medical provider.
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No, you cannot drive for several hours after ketamine administration. You'll need to arrange transportation home and should plan to rest for the remainder of the day.
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We will monitor your response carefully and can adjust dosing or approach as needed, in collaboration with your medical provider. Not everyone responds to ketamine, and we can explore alternative treatment options if needed.
Interested in Learning More About KAP?
If you're curious whether ketamine-assisted psychotherapy could be helpful for your situation, I'd be happy to discuss this innovative approach and answer any questions you might have during a consultation.