Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, or KAP, is a form of talk therapy that temporarily alters consciousness to plunge clients into a deep state to facilitate emotional processing and foster profound healing and growth. Clients take a dose of ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, which naturally drops down the natural psychological defenses to enter a state of natural healing under the supervision of a trained clinician. This therapy has been show to be effective in alleviating symptoms of several mental health conditions including treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more.  

Scientists refer to this phenomenon as “inner healing intelligence,” but it can also be seen as an individual’s inherent inclination towards healing, bonding, self-empowerment, and inquisitiveness—qualities often evident in childhood but suppressed as a result of trauma or other life challenges in developmental stages. KAP  liberates us from entrenched patterns by means of temporarily modulating the serotonergic pathway. Additionally, it boosts new learning via glutamate mechanisms, enabling the rapid acquisition of new habits.

KAP is different than IV ketamine infusions or esketamine. 

Ketamine-Assisted Therapy at Psychedelica is offered in individual, couples, family and group formats.  While our groups can provide a powerful community and healing experience, Individual, couples and family sessions allow for a more private and personal experience, specifically tailored to clients’ needs and/or diagnosis.  Clients who begin with individual sessions, may later decide to pursue group collective support, and vice versa.  

While we do offer single KAP sessions, research has suggested that a series of four to eight sessions conducted weekly or biweekly, combined with talk therapy integration sessions is most effective for symptom reduction in treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and attachment issues.  Your therapist will work closely with you in developing the appropriate treatment plan.  Individual and couples/family sessions are scheduled individually with their therapist or a Psychedelica coordinator. 

Ketamine-assisted therapy has been found to be effective for several mental health conditions: