Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy

KAP combines the transformative potential of psychedelic medicine with the relational depth and scientific foundation of somatic psychotherapy. Ketamine-assisted therapy helps access expanded states of consciousness, enabling clients to reach the core sources of psychological suffering. This process facilitates the release of deeply held traumas and fosters a renewed sense of meaning and connection, often elusive in today’s fast-paced world.

Rather than viewing ketamine as a standalone treatment, we integrate it into the therapeutic process to deepen and enhance its impact. Ketamine is offered exclusively as part of a comprehensive course of therapy.

“Learning to live with ambiguity is learning to live with how life really is, full of complexities and strange surprises..:” -James Hollis

What is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a medication that has been used as an anesthetic since the 1960s. Its potential for treating psychiatric conditions was first explored in the early 1970s, though at the time, it was considered experimental and unconventional. In recent years, a growing body of research has demonstrated that ketamine can be a safe and highly effective treatment for various mental health conditions. While ketamine itself is not a new drug, its acceptance as an evidence-based treatment in mainstream psychiatry marks a significant breakthrough in mental health care

How does Ketamine work?

Ketamine works by helping the brain reset and heal in ways traditional treatments often can’t. It affects a chemical in the brain called glutamate, which plays a key role in learning, memory, and mood regulation. By enhancing the brain's plasticity—its ability to form new connections—ketamine creates opportunities for breaking free from old patterns of thinking and behavior, offering relief from conditions like depression, anxiety, and trauma.

In a therapeutic setting, ketamine can temporarily quiet the inner critic and allow access to deeper emotions, insights, and memories. This can help people process difficult experiences and reframe their perspective in ways that feel empowering and healing. Combined with therapy, ketamine amplifies the potential for lasting change by addressing the root causes of suffering in a safe, supportive environment.

What is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy?

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a therapeutic approach that integrates the use of ketamine with psychotherapy to support profound healing and personal growth. Ketamine, a medication recognized for its ability to promote a calm and open mental state, enables individuals to access expanded states of consciousness, where they can explore emotions, memories, and patterns that are often challenging to reach through traditional therapy alone. Conducted in a safe and supportive environment, KAP incorporates these experiences into the therapeutic process, helping clients process trauma, alleviate emotional pain, and gain new perspectives for meaningful and lasting transformation.

What does KAP help with?

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) helps individuals address a range of mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and the effects of unresolved trauma. It is particularly effective for those who feel stuck in traditional therapy or whose symptoms have been resistant to other treatments. By creating a state of openness and mental flexibility, KAP allows clients to access deep insights, process difficult emotions, and reframe negative thought patterns. This unique approach can lead to a greater sense of emotional relief, clarity, and connection, making it a powerful tool for healing and personal transformation.

Is Ketamine effective?

Ketamine is highly effective for conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD, especially when other treatments have failed. It often provides rapid relief, with improvements seen within hours or days. By enhancing brain plasticity and fostering openness, ketamine helps facilitate healing and lasting change, particularly when combined with psychotherapy. Ketamine’s brief experience offers lasting benefits due to its short duration and rapid metabolism, with dissociative effects typically lasting only about an hour and cognitive functioning returning to normal within two hours. Beyond the session, ketamine promotes enhanced neuroplasticity for several days, allowing the brain to break free from entrenched patterns and adopt new, healthier ways of thinking and behaving. This critical window, supported by follow-up therapy sessions, helps integrate insights gained during the experience into lasting transformation.

What are KAP sessions like?

I take a unique approach to ketamine therapy that prioritizes your comfort and safety. Unlike many clinics that administer IV or injections in sterile medical exam rooms and leave you alone, I use sublingual ketamine lozenges—no needles involved. These lozenges dissolve in your mouth, bypassing the GI tract to reduce nausea while allowing the medication to take effect more gradually and gently. This makes the experience more comfortable, and the effects last longer, giving us the opportunity to have an extended therapy session during each treatment. I tailor the dosage specifically for you to ensure you receive the full therapeutic benefits.

Treatments take place in a cozy, living room-like space designed to help you feel at ease. You’ll never be left alone—I’ll be with you the entire time, offering support and guidance. Unlike many clinics that don’t include therapy during ketamine treatments, I provide psychotherapy while you’re under the influence of the medication, which helps enhance and extend its benefits. Each session lasts about 2–3 hours, starting with a pre-treatment check-in, medication administration, and monitoring. Once the ketamine takes effect, we’ll engage in therapy, followed by an integration session as the effects wear off. I’ll complete post-treatment assessments to ensure you’re ready to go home safely. After your session, I recommend relaxing, hydrating, and resting for the remainder of the day. By the next day, you should feel ready to return to your normal activities, feeling refreshed and ready to continue your journey.

What do KAP sessions feel like?

Each session is unique and unfolds differently for everyone. Sometimes, patients feel floaty and deeply relaxed, while other times, memories or thoughts rise to the surface. Some people like to talk throughout the treatment, while others prefer to stay quiet during the session and process their experience during the integration afterward. Many describe the feeling as a journey, like dreaming while awake, with shifts in time or space, more vivid colors, or slight distortions in perception. There’s often a sense of connectedness, awe, or even euphoria. The experience is frequently described as powerful and profound—something meaningful, even if it’s hard to put into words.

How much does a KAP session cost?

Ketamine treatments generally range from $400 to $800 per session, but most don’t include Ketamine-Assisted Therapy. With me your treatments are $550 each, and Ketamine-Assisted Therapy is always included. I recommend a course of 6-10 treatments, as this approach consistently leads to the best and most lasting results.