KETAMINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) combines a prescribed dose of ketamine with psychotherapy. Ketamine temporarily softens rigid thought patterns and the inner critic, which can make it easier to look at your life with openness and curiosity. The therapy around the medicine is what turns those insights into lasting change. KAP includes preparation sessions before the medicine experience, a supported ketamine session, and integration sessions afterward.

Traditional talk therapy relies on the thinking mind to examine itself, which can be hard when patterns feel stuck. KAP adds a medicine experience that temporarily quiets reactive thinking and expands perspective, then uses therapy to explore and integrate what comes up. Many people find this opens emotional material that is difficult to reach through conversation alone. Talk therapy stays at the center, and KAP gives it a different doorway.

When ketamine is prescribed after a medical screening and taken in a supervised setting, it has a well-understood safety profile, and it has been used in medicine for decades. Common short-term effects include dizziness, nausea, and a temporary rise in blood pressure. Some health conditions make ketamine unsuitable, which is why an independent medical provider reviews your health history before prescribing. No treatment is right or risk-free for everyone.

KAP may be a good fit if you are living with depression, anxiety, trauma, or a sense of being stuck in old patterns, and you are open to doing meaningful inner work alongside the medicine. Candidacy depends on a consultation with your therapist and a medical evaluation by an independent provider, who reviews your health history and current medications. KAP is not appropriate for everyone, so screening always comes first.

You will take a prescribed dose of ketamine in a safe, comfortable setting with therapeutic support, and the experience typically lasts about 2 hours. Many people describe feeling relaxed, dreamlike, or free from their usual stream of thoughts. You can rest, listen to music, or talk if you wish. Afterward, we meet to process what came up and bring it into your daily life.

The number of sessions varies from person to person. A typical KAP process includes 3 to 5 preparatory therapy sessions, a ketamine session, and follow-up integration sessions. After your consultation, we will map out a plan based on your goals, your health history, and how you respond. Some people return for additional sessions to support lasting change.

Insurance generally does not cover ketamine prescribed for KAP, because this use is off-label. Some plans may reimburse a portion of therapy sessions as out-of-network benefits, so it is worth checking with your insurer. We can walk you through fees and payment options during your consultation.