Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) combines ketamine treatment with psychotherapy to support therapeutic change. Ketamine may increase neuroplasticity, which can create a period of greater psychological flexibility and openness to new learning.
For some clients, this can make it easier to examine long-standing patterns, access emotion, and reduce rigidity or avoidance. This allows us to approach trauma work from a more flexible and open position.
Ketamine is most commonly used in mental health treatment for treatment-resistant depression. KAP may also be helpful for some people experiencing:
Complex PTSD and longstanding trauma-related patterns
A sense of being stuck despite ongoing therapy
Repetitive patterns that have been difficult to shift
A plateau in standard weekly psychotherapy
KAP is not appropriate for everyone. Medical eligibility and prescribing decisions are made by a medical provider who I coordinate with to facilitate KAP treatment for my clients.
Who KAP May Be Helpful For
The Process
We begin with a 90-minute intake session to determine whether working together feels like a good fit and whether KAP may be appropriate for your goals.
If we decide to move forward, I will refer to you the medical provider I coordinate with for evaluation and prescribing. We will typically meet for one or two additional preparation sessions to build rapport, clarify goals, and prepare for the dosing session.
Dosing Session
Dosing sessions are generally 2.5 to 3 hours long. We begin with grounding, centering, and identifying your intentions for the session.
You then take the medication prescribed by your medical provider while I remain with you throughout the experience. Many clients use an eye mask and headphones with music during the more inward portion of the session.
As the acute effects begin to decrease, we may shift into talk therapy or trauma processing depending on what has emerged and what feels clinically appropriate.
After the session, I will send you notes that may include important themes, statements you want to remember, and behavioral changes you want to focus on afterward.
Integration
A separate 50-minute integration session is typically scheduled after the dosing session.
During integration, we review what has developed since the experience, check in on any behavioral changes or intentions you identified, and explore how your thinking or emotional experience may have shifted. When appropriate, we may also return to trauma processing or other therapeutic work that emerged during the dosing session.
Medical Coordination
I provide the psychotherapy component of KAP. A separate medical provider is responsible for evaluating medical eligibility, prescribing ketamine, determining the appropriate dose, and managing the medication.
Ketamine may be prescribed off-label for some mental health conditions. Your prescribing provider will discuss the medical risks, benefits, and appropriateness of treatment with you directly.
Location
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy sessions are available:
In person in Claremont, California
Via telehealth for clients located in California
Fees
Current fees for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, including preparation, dosing, and integration sessions, are listed on my Fees page.