Ketamine is a powerful medicine that has been shown to quickly relieve symptoms of depression and PTSD, especially in people who haven’t found relief from other treatments.

What Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, or KAP, combines ketamine with psychotherapy. Sessions may take place before, during, or after the ketamine experience. The goal is to help you understand and integrate whatever arises, whether it is emotion, memory, imagery, or insight.

Many people report that ketamine gives them a new perspective. It can open the door to feeling emotions that have been blocked for years or help them see past trauma in a new light.  However, ketamine is not for everyone, and your ketamine provider will review important precautions with you before treatment.

How Ketamine Helps the Brain Heal

Ketamine works by temporarily changing the way your brain connects and communicates. It increases neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to form new nerual pathways. This can interrupt rigid thought patterns and make it easier to explore new ways of thinking and feeling.

There’s a window of opportunity after each ketamine session (usually the first 2–3 days) when your brain is especially open to change. Therapy during this time can be especially helpful.

Why Therapy After Ketamine Matters

While ketamine can give quick relief, those effects often fade unless they’re reinforced. Therapy can help with that. Integrative therapy within a few days after the ketamine experience can help you deepen and extend the healing effects of the medicine. It does this by helping you

• Reflect on what came up during the session
• Make sense of confusing or intense images or experiences
• Connect with parts of yourself that may have been hidden or hurt
• Carry the positive changes into everyday life

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a therapy approach that fits well with the ketamine journey. It sees your mind as made up of different "parts".  Ketamine often will spontaneously bring these parts into your awareness, and IFS helps you work with them in a healing way.  Patients often report that the IFS Integration Sessions post-ketamine were key to finding deeper meaning in their ketamine experience.

[See "Treatment Approach" tab for more info about IFS]

Legal Info

Ketamine is the only psychedelic legally available for therapeutic use in all U.S. states. It can be prescribed for depression PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Other psychedelics like MDMA and psilocybin are still restricted under federal law.

While I don’t prescribe ketamine, I do offer supportive therapy for those using it in therapeutic settings.  If you’re using ketamine or planning to begin, I’m here to help you process what arises, so the healing can continue well beyond the session itself.

For a free introductory meeting, CALL 415-785-4202 or leave a secure message using the button below.

[Please note my practice is limited to residents of California.]