KETAMINE-ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy in California
Sometimes a different therapeutic experience can create room for something new.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) combines psychotherapy with the therapeutic use of ketamine for appropriate clients, creating a different setting for reflection, emotional processing, and therapeutic work.
UNDERSTANDING KAP
What Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, often called KAP, is an approach that incorporates ketamine into the psychotherapy process.
Ketamine itself is a medication with established medical uses. For the medical component of KAP, I partner with Journey Clinical, whose medical team handles eligibility assessment, medical consultations, and ketamine prescribing. I provide the psychotherapy portion of the process, including preparation, support during dosing sessions when applicable, and integration afterward.
But KAP is not simply:
take ketamine + have therapy = instant breakthrough.
The psychotherapy matters.
Preparation matters.
The therapeutic relationship matters.
And what happens after the ketamine experience can matter just as much as the experience itself.
The intention is to create a thoughtful therapeutic process around the medicine rather than treating the medicine as the entire process.
Why Do People Consider Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
People arrive at KAP for different reasons.
Some have spent years in traditional talk therapy and feel as though they understand their patterns intellectually but remain stuck inside them emotionally.
Others are curious about an approach that may allow them to relate differently to thoughts, emotions, memories, or deeply established ways of seeing themselves.
KAP may be explored in connection with concerns such as:
Anxiety
Depressive symptoms
Trauma-related concerns
Persistent emotional patterns
Feeling stuck despite previous therapy
Difficulty accessing or expressing emotions
Life transitions or questions of identity
Patterns of self-criticism or shame
Whether KAP is appropriate depends on the individual.
It is not the right treatment for everyone, which is why thoughtful screening and medical involvement are important parts of the process.
THE PROCESS
What Happens During Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
The exact KAP process can vary depending on the client, therapist, medical provider, treatment model, and method of ketamine administration.
Generally, the process involves several distinct parts.
01. Consultation & Screening
Before beginning KAP, we first determine whether this approach may be appropriate for your therapeutic goals.
Because ketamine is a medication, medical screening and prescribing must be handled by an appropriately licensed medical provider.
Your therapist and medical provider may have different roles within your care.
02. Preparation
Preparation sessions allow you and your therapist to discuss your intentions, concerns, expectations, history, and what the experience may involve.
This is also an opportunity to establish trust and discuss how you would like to be supported.
03. The Ketamine Experience
For appropriate clients who have completed the necessary medical process, ketamine may then be incorporated into treatment according to the established care plan.
Experiences vary significantly from person to person.
04. Integration
Afterward, psychotherapy can help you reflect on the experience and consider how it connects with your everyday life.
Integration is where an experience begins becoming something you can actually work with.
IS KAP RIGHT FOR ME?
How Do I Know If Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Is Right for Me?
You don't need to know before reaching out.
A consultation is partly about figuring that out.
We may discuss:
What brings you to therapy
What you've tried previously
What feels stuck
Your goals for treatment
Why you're interested in KAP
Your expectations or concerns
Whether another therapeutic approach may make more sense
And because ketamine is a medication, psychological fit is only one part of the picture.
Medical eligibility must be determined by an appropriate medical provider.
Sometimes the outcome of a consultation may be moving forward with KAP.
Sometimes it may be recommending a different form of therapy.
The goal is not to convince you to pursue ketamine.
It's to determine whether this approach makes sense for you.
THERAPY ACROSS CALIFORNIA
Online & In-Person Therapy Across California
Our therapists provide online therapy throughout California, making it possible to access relational, individualized support from wherever you call home.
In-person, nature-based and experiential therapy services are also available in select Northern and Central California communities.
Therapy in Salinas
Explore therapy for adults, couples, children, teens and families in Salinas, California, including in-person services.
Connections Boarding Stables 22400 Indian Springs Rd
Salinas, CA 93908
Therapy in Auburn
Explore therapy services for individuals, couples and families in Auburn and the surrounding Northern California communities.
Therapy in Truckee
Find therapy in Truckee for relationships, anxiety, trauma, stress, life transitions and other challenges, with virtual and select experiential options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
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Not necessarily. “Ketamine therapy” can refer broadly to treatment involving ketamine. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy specifically incorporates psychotherapy into the process, which may include preparation, therapeutic support surrounding ketamine sessions, and integration afterward. The exact treatment model can vary by provider.
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Ketamine is a prescription medication. Medical evaluation, eligibility, prescribing, and medication-related guidance must be provided by an appropriately licensed medical provider. Your therapist can explain how medical care and psychotherapy are coordinated within the KAP process offered through the practice.
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Integration is psychotherapy focused on reflecting on a ketamine experience and exploring how what emerged may relate to your everyday life. This can include emotions, memories, insights, relationships, patterns, or questions that arose during or after the experience.
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The structure of KAP can vary, and the ketamine experience itself does not necessarily look like a traditional talk therapy session. Your therapist will discuss the intended structure, communication, support, and expectations with you during preparation.
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There is no universal number of sessions that is appropriate for everyone. Recommendations depend on your needs, treatment goals, response, medical guidance, and the specific KAP model being used. Your providers can discuss what an individualized treatment plan may look like.
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Potentially. Whether that arrangement makes clinical sense depends on your circumstances and the roles of the providers involved. Coordination of care may be recommended so that treatment remains cohesive rather than fragmented.
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No. You cannot drive yourself home after a ketamine session. You will need to arrange transportation in advance and should plan not to drive for the remainder of the day. Please make these arrangements before your scheduled session.
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Coverage can vary considerably based on your insurance plan, the services being provided, and how care is structured. Medication, medical services, and psychotherapy may also be billed differently. The practice can explain its psychotherapy fees and provide information you may need to verify benefits with your insurer.
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Nature-Based Therapy →
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KETAMINE-ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY IN CALIFORNIA
Curious About KAP?
You don't need to decide whether it's right for you before having the conversation.
We can talk about what brings you here, what you're hoping might be different, and whether ketamine-assisted psychotherapy may have a place in your therapeutic work.