Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is an innovative approach to mental health treatment that utilizes sub-anesthetic doses of ketamine, a well-established anesthetic, to alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Unlike traditional antidepressants, which can take weeks to show effects, ketamine offers rapid relief, often within hours. The therapy not only helps to reset neural pathways and enhance neuroplasticity but also enables individuals to process trauma and emotional pain more effectively. Many clients report profound experiences during sessions, leading to increased insights, improved mood, and a renewed sense of purpose. This emerging treatment has shown promise as a vital tool for those struggling with chronic mental health challenges, especially when other therapeutic methods have fallen short, and is the only medication known to man to have anti-suicidal effects.

  • Ketamine is a safe, legal, and effective medication used to treat mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Its rapidly-acting antidepressant effects can begin within 1-2 hours after treatment and may last up to 2 weeks. Ketamine works by blocking NMDA receptors and stimulating AMPA receptors, promoting new neural connections and enhancing neuroplasticity for lasting symptom improvement.

    Ketamine is administered in various forms, including IV infusion, intramuscular injection, nasal spray, and sublingual lozenges. Partnering with Journey Clinical, we will be using sublingual lozenges (also known as “Rapid Dissolving Tablets”), providing a safe and effective way to access its therapeutic benefits. By helping to create new pathways in the brain, ketamine supports clients in accessing insights, emotional processing, and symptom relief.

    Ketamine works by targeting the brain’s glutamate system, which plays a crucial role in neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to adapt and form new connections. Unlike traditional antidepressants, which may take weeks to work, ketamine’s effects can be felt almost immediately. It disrupts negative thought patterns and facilitates a state of mind where healing, new perspectives, and emotional breakthroughs can occur. This neurochemical shift is complemented by the therapeutic process, which helps integrate insights into everyday life.

  • The ketamine experience varies from person to person but is often described as dreamlike or meditative. During a dosing session, you may feel detached from your usual sense of self, enabling you to view your thoughts and emotions from a new perspective. Some people experience vivid imagery, a sense of peace, or even euphoria, while others may explore challenging emotions in a supportive and safe environment. My role as your guide is to create a space where you feel grounded and held throughout the process, regardless of what arises.

  • Therapeutic ketamine involves more than just the medication itself. It is a structured process designed to maximize healing and growth. This includes preparation sessions to explore your intentions, dosing sessions where the medicine is administered in a safe and controlled environment, and integration sessions to process and incorporate the experience into your life. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is not about “having a trip” or gaining elevated states of consciousness bypassing emotions or problems; it’s about facilitating deep inner work and creating lasting change through support and guidance.

  • Preparation Sessions

    Prior to the dosing session, I require 1-3 preparation sessions to discuss your goals, provide education about the process, and ensure you are mentally and emotionally ready. These sessions are typically covered by insurance. At this time, we will completely individualize your plan for the dosing session (e.g.: music, essential oils, personalized guided meditations, poems, journaling prompts… you name it!) and I will give you ample material to use to get ready for your experience. 

    Dosing Session

    Typically, people are under the influence of ketamine for 45-90 minutes, depending on metabolism, but we have a 3-hour window (for the first session) to accommodate any preparation or integration needs you may have. Subsequent sessions are 2-hour windows. My role in the dosing session is to provide a safe and comfortable environment for you, and to be as open, accepting, and curious about what is coming up for you. The cost of the dosing session is $400.

    Integration Sessions

    Integration sessions occur 24-48 hours after the dosing session to help you make sense of your experience and incorporate insights into your daily life. These sessions are also typically covered by insurance.