Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) pairs the work we do together in therapy with the benefit of a shift in perspective provided by the non-ordinary state of consciousness of prescribed ketamine. The medicine can loosen some of the usual mental defenses and open up a different vantage point on the issues you’re working on. I support you in finding something meaningful while you're in that state.
About Ketamine
Ketamine is a medicine that’s been used safely in medical settings since it was first synthesized in the 1960s. At the doses used in this work, it produces a temporary shift in consciousness—a softening of ordinary thought patterns, sometimes a sense of distance from the issues you’re facing, often vivid inner imagery. For some the “critical voice” quiets for a time. For many people, that opening makes it easier to reach feelings, memories, and perspectives that can be hard to get to in ordinary talk therapy.
Who KAP is for
People come to KAP for depression that hasn't moved with other approaches, for persistent anxiety, trauma, grief, or a sense of being stuck—creatively, spiritually, or in relationships. It can help when you understand your patterns intellectually but can't seem to feel your way to anything different.
It's also not for everyone. Certain medical and psychiatric conditions make ketamine a poor or unsafe fit: some heart and blood pressure issues, pregnancy, a history of psychosis, and others. Every client is evaluated by the prescribing physician before we begin.
The work happens in three phases
Preparation
Before any medicine is involved, we meet for a series of sessions—usually around four, though it's flexible—to get to know each other, get clear on what you're hoping for, and to prepare you for the experience. We'll talk about your history, your intentions, and any fears, and I'll walk you through exactly what to expect.
In this phase, you'll also meet with the prescriber. I work with an independent prescribing physician who evaluates whether KAP is medically appropriate for you and, if so, writes the prescription. The medicine itself is a sublingual lozenge that comes from a compounding pharmacy. You'll bring it to the medicine session.
The medicine session
This happens in my office and runs about four hours. You'll take the lozenge and let it dissolve, then settle in. Most people lie down, put on eye shades, and listen to music to support an inward, exploratory state. I'm there the whole time—quietly present, and offering support if you need it. The point is generally to let the experience unfold with someone you trust in the room.
Integration
Integration is actually the core of the work. The medicine session can be powerful, strange, moving, sometimes confusing. On its own it tends to fade like a dream. Integration is the work of bringing it into your life, turning insights into you meaningful changes in how you live.
We'll usually plan for around four integration sessions, again with flexibility. This is ordinary therapy, focused on metabolizing the experience. This is also where KAP with a therapist differs from a clinic.
Working with me
In this work especially, what I bring is a calm and caring presence—fully with you, before, during, and after.
Training
Cost
The medicine sessions are longer and more involved than ordinary therapy and are billed at $850. (I offer sliding scale for clients who need it.)
The prescriber and the compounding pharmacy bill separately for their own services.
Preparation and integration sessions are billed at my standard session rates. The number of preparation and integration sessions varies from person to person.
Getting started
Reach out for a free consultation. We'll discuss what brings you here, whether KAP seems like a good fit, and what the process would look like for you.