Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)

​Ketamine therapy is an emerging mental health treatment that uses the anesthetic drug ketamine in controlled, low doses to treat a range of psychiatric conditions—most notably treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, bipolar depression, and suicidal ideation. It’s being studied and used both in clinical and off-label contexts.

What Is Ketamine?

• Originally developed in the 1960s as a surgical anesthetic.
• It is a dissociative medication, meaning it can alter perception, mood, and cognition.
• At low doses, ketamine affects the brain’s glutamate system, which is involved in mood regulation and neuroplasticity.

Psychotherapeutic Model (Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy or KAP)

• Combines the biochemical effects of ketamine with guided talk therapy.
• Ketamine is administered in a therapeutic setting, often with music, eye shades, and a trained guide or therapist.
• The focus is on integration of insights, emotional processing, trauma healing, and shifting maladaptive beliefs.

How Ketamine Affects the Brain — and How It Feels
1. It “loosens” rigid mental loops
​When people are depressed or anxious, their brain can get stuck in repetitive patterns — “I’ll never feel better,” “Something’s wrong with me,” “Nothing will change.”
Ketamine temporarily quiets those overactive loops and helps new connections form.
How it feels:

• Thoughts feel lighter and less absolute.
• Worry or self-criticism quiets down.
• There’s more room to breathe, reflect, and imagine possibilities again.

2. It opens a window of calm clarity
By calming the brain’s alarm system, ketamine can create a sense of inner stillness — a pause in the constant noise of fear, stress, or sadness.
How it feels:

• A softening of emotional pain, like stepping back from a storm.
• A feeling of peace or neutrality, even around issues that normally trigger distress.
• Some people describe it as seeing their life “from above” or through a wider lens.

3. It reconnects you with a sense of hope and meaning
Ketamine helps restore communication between brain regions involved in pleasure, motivation, and connection. When those come back online, life starts to feel more engaging.
How it feels:

• Subtle lift in mood or energy, sometimes within hours.
• Renewed curiosity or interest in simple things — music, nature, connection.
• Sense that change might be possible after feeling stuck for a long time.

4. It creates emotional distance — without numbing
During a session, people often feel like they can witness emotions or memories without being flooded by them. This makes deep healing work safer.
How it feels:

• You might see past experiences with compassion rather than judgment.
• Painful memories feel more like watching a movie than being trapped in it.
• There’s a feeling of self-acceptance or forgiveness that wasn’t accessible before.

5. It reawakens curiosity and self-compassion
After the neuroplastic “reset,” people often describe being more open, creative, or gentle with themselves.
How it feels:

• More playful or imaginative thinking.
• Easier to change habits or have hard conversations.
• Greater emotional flexibility — less reactive, more centered.

Ketamine doesn’t erase problems — it helps the mind loosen its grip on old pain so you can see yourself and your life differently. The medicine opens the door; therapy and integration help you walk through it and keep the change going.

Conditions Treated

• Major Depressive Disorder (esp. treatment-resistant)
• Suicidal ideation (effects often rapid)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety disorders
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Bipolar depression (not mania)

Integration Is Key
​The value of ketamine therapy is amplified when patients process the experiences afterward—often through therapy and fffjournaling.. This helps transform insights into real-life changes.

Journey Clinical, Inc

I offer KAP in collaboration with Journey Clinical, a medical team that specializes in supporting licensed therapists like myself. Here’s how the process works:

• Initial Consultation
  • We begin with a conversation about whether KAP may be a good fit for your therapeutic goals.
• Medical Assessment
  • If you’re interested, I’ll refer you to Journey Clinical for a medical evaluation. They will determine ketamine is appropriate and safe for you. The cost is $250 for the appointment.
• Prescription and Dosing
  • If approved, you’ll receive ketamine lozenges . Cost is $97 for ketamine for two sessions.
• Therapeutic Sessions
  • You’ll receive guided ketamine sessions in a supportive setting. These sessions will include:
    • ​​​​​Preparation: Setting intentions and creating safety.
    • Dosing: You take the ketamine under my supervision or with remote support.
      • Sessions will be in-person or online at home, depending on your treatment plan and comfort level.
    • Integration: We process and make meaning of your experience.
• Ongoing Support
  • The Journey Clinical team monitors your medical needs, while I support your emotional and psychological growth throughout the process.
  • The follow up medical appointment is $150 and ketamine for up to six more sessions is $163.
• Total Journey Medical Costs - $660 ($400 may be covered by insurance. Medication is not covered)​

What a KAP Session Looks Like

Preparation Session (60–90 min)

• Meet your therapist to discuss goals, fears, and intentions
• Go over medical screening and logistics (e.g., how you’ll be cared for afterward)
• Often includes breathwork, meditation, or a "ritual" to ground

Dosing Session (1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours)

• Administered via lozenge.
• You're typically in a calm, dim room with:
  • Eye shades
  • Music (often instrumental or ambient)
  • Comfortable reclining chair or bed
• A therapist or guide is present the entire time for support
• Effects begin within 5–15 minutes and peak for 30–60 minutes

Experience may include:

• A sense of floating or disconnection from your body
• Revisiting memories or seeing vivid imagery
• Feeling safe, distant from emotional pain ("therapeutic dissociation")
• Insights or emotions rising with new clarity

Integration Session (1–2 days later)

• Reflect with your therapist on what you experienced
• Discuss any symbolic or emotional content
• Translate insights into actions or changes in daily life
• May involve journaling, drawing, somatic practices, or talk therapy

How many dosing sessions will I do?

• Patients can expect to do a minimum of 6-8 dosing sessions. Within 30 days of your initial intake appointment, your Journey Clinical Medical Provider will conduct a medical follow-up to assess your response to treatment, ensure appropriate dosing, and address any concerns. Completing the full 6-8 session course allows sufficient time to engage in the therapeutic process and experience the full benefits of treatment.

How frequently will I have my dosing sessions?

• A typical Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) protocol involves dosing sessions every two weeks, with integration therapy sessions in between to process insights and reinforce therapeutic progress. However, dosing frequency is individualized and could be up to 2 KAP sessions per week depending on severity of symptoms. This will be determined collaboratively with your Journey Clinical Medical Provider and psychotherapist based on your clinical response, treatment goals, and overall mental health needs.

What is the science behind doing 6-8 dosing sessions?

• The 6-8 session model is supported by clinical research demonstrating that multiple ketamine treatments provide more sustained symptom relief than single-dose interventions. Studies indicate that this leads to greater reductions in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD compared to a single administration. 

What are typical treatment outcomes?

• Clinical data from Journey Clinical indicate that 87% of KAP patients experience improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms following completion of 6-8 dosing sessions. To optimize therapeutic outcomes, completing the full treatment course at a consistent interval is strongly recommended.

Do patients ever continue KAP beyond 6-8 dosing sessions?

• Yes. After completing an initial 6-8 session treatment course, some patients transition to maintenance KAP, with dosing intervals typically ranging based on symptom stability. Maintenance KAP is highly personalized, and your Journey Clinical Medical Provider and therapist will collaborate with you to determine the best approach for your long-term care.

What else should I know about KAP dosing session frequency?

• The frequency of ketamine dosing sessions is tailored to each individual and depends on factors such as:
  • Symptom severity and clinical history
  • Availability of your therapist for both dosing and integration sessions
  • Medical guidance from your Journey Clinical Medical Provider
• Your treatment plan will be designed to support both immediate symptom relief and long-term mental health benefits, ensuring a personalized and evidence-based approach to care ​

Is Ketamine Therapy Right for You?

KAP may be helpful if you’ve felt stuck in therapy, are coping with depression or trauma, or are seeking a new way to connect with yourself and your healing.

Medical

• Have you been diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, or anxiety?
• Are you currently on MAOIs or certain high-dose benzos? (May contraindicate ketamine)
• Do you have a history of psychosis, schizophrenia, or manic episodes?
• Is your blood pressure or heart condition stable and well managed?

Psychological

• Are you stuck in ruminative or obsessive patterns that don’t shift with talk therapy alone?
• Do you feel numb, disconnected, or emotionally “stuck”?
• Are you open to altered states of consciousness or introspective exploration?
• Do you have a safe support system in place post-treatment?

Therapeutic Readiness

• Are you willing to integrate insights into your daily life (e.g., therapy, journaling)?
• Would you benefit from a non-verbal, experiential shift in perspective?
• Can you commit time and resources to the process (sessions + integration)?

Ketamine therapy can be:

• A biological reset for people stuck in depressive loops
• A catalyst for emotional insight, especially in trauma work
• A powerful complement to therapy, not a standalone solution

What Does Ketamine Feel Like?

Empathogenic Experience
Dose level: Low
Keywords: Emotional warmth, connection, self-compassion
What it feels like:

• Increased empathy toward oneself and others
• Feelings of love, forgiveness, or understanding (especially for wounded parts)
• A sense of emotional clarity—as if the “fog” of depression or shame has lifted
• May access tender inner parts that are usually defended against
• Feels similar to MDMA in some cases, though gentler

“I saw my younger self and felt love instead of judgment. I finally understood why I hurt.”

Out-of-Body (Dissociative) Experience
Dose level: Medium to high
Keywords: Floating, body detachment, observer mode
What it feels like:

• You may feel as if you’re hovering above your body or viewing yourself from the outside
• Physical sensations fade or become distant
• Thoughts and feelings may appear as if on a screen or happening to someone else
• Can be peaceful or eerie depending on setting
• Often helps create emotional distance from trauma or pain

“It felt like I left my body and watched my life from above—with no fear or judgment.”

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change and adapt over time by forming new connections between neurons. Neuroplasticity means your brain can rewire itself—based on what you experience, practice, think, feel, and learn.

Key Features:

• Structural changes – New neurons or synapses can grow; old ones can weaken or die off.
• Functional changes – Brain regions can shift responsibility (e.g., after injury).
• Lifelong process – Strongest in childhood, but continues into adulthood and even old age.

Examples of Neuroplasticity in Action:

• Learning a new skill (like piano or a language)
• Recovering function after a stroke
• Changing a negative thought pattern through therapy
• Forming new habits after breaking an addiction

In KAP (Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy):
Ketamine boosts glutamate and BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor)—key chemicals that enhance neuroplasticity. This creates a "window of opportunity" where:

• The brain is more flexible and open to change
• Old patterns (like rumination or shame) can loosen
• New perspectives and behaviors can take root more easily

“It’s not just what you see during the journey—it’s what your brain is willing to become afterward.”

How KAP Affects Depression

1. Rapid Neurobiological Relief
​Ketamine’s mechanism:

• Blocks NMDA receptors → boosts glutamate → triggers BDNF → supports neuroplasticity
• Rapidly increases dopamine and serotonin availability
• Suppresses the default mode network (DMN) → quiets rumination and negative self-talk

✅ Results:

• Often reduces symptoms like hopelessness, anhedonia, and suicidal thoughts within hours to days
• Especially effective for treatment-resistant depression
• Relief often comes before full mood shift, allowing people to re-engage with life

“I felt like something loosened in my brain. Like I could breathe again.”

2. Psychological Access + Reconnection
​When paired with therapy (KAP):

• Clients can explore underlying emotional wounds (grief, shame, trauma) in a softened state
• Ketamine lowers inner defenses, allowing access to exiled parts (IFS-style)
• Many clients rediscover what matters—like connection, creativity, or purpose

✅ Results:

• Reframes rigid beliefs (“I’m broken,” “Nothing will change”)
• Restores emotional range and desire to engage
• Often reawakens hope, self-compassion, or clarity

3. Interrupts Depression Loops
Depression is often reinforced by:

• Negative thinking → low energy → social withdrawal → more negative thinking
• KAP helps interrupt the loop by giving a temporary “reset” to the system

✅ Results:

• Opens a window of possibility for change
• Reduces avoidance, numbing, and passivity
• Encourages action-taking during integration (with therapist support)

4. Supports Identity and Meaning Reconstruction
Many with depression struggle with:

• Loss of identity (“I don’t know who I am anymore”)
• Lack of meaning (“What’s the point?”)

KAP can bring:

• Mystical or symbolic experiences that reconnect clients to something larger
• A sense of aliveness or clarity about values

✅ Results:

• Clients begin rebuilding motivation, self-worth, and direction
• May discover renewed connection to spirituality, relationships, or creativity

​Symptom of Depression
Hopelessness, despair
Anhedonia (no pleasure)
Suicidal thoughts
Negative self-talk
Apathy, low motivation
Emotional numbness
Identity/meaning crisis

​How KAP Helps
Boosts dopamine, reconnects to meaning
Reopens reward pathways and emotional range
Often reduced quickly via neurochemical shift
Disrupts rumination and inner critics
Increases drive and openness to action
Allows access to core feelings and parts
Offers insight and transpersonal connection

KAP doesn't just relieve symptoms—it creates a psychological opening for healing, purpose, and reconnection.