Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
When Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy might be helpful
You may have done a lot of therapy and understand yourself pretty well, but still find yourself stuck in the same patterns. You know what you need to do differently but can't seem to make the change, or you've been going around in circles trying to figure out what needs to change in the first place.
Or you may be struggling with depression that makes everything feel difficult and hopeless. You know there are things that could help - seeing people, exercising, looking for a new job, getting back to something you used to enjoy - but you can't get yourself to do them.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) can create an opportunity for something to shift. You may see something you've thought about many times with new clarity, feel more open and compassionate toward yourself, or find that a change that felt impossible before now feels possible.
Why combine ketamine with psychotherapy?
KAP is more than the ketamine experience itself. Before a journey, we'll spend time preparing and identifying intentions that can help you get the most out of the experience. I'll be with you throughout the journey, providing a supportive frame and the reassurance that you're not doing this alone, whether you need a lot of active support or very little.
Afterward, we'll work together to understand what came up and how it connects to your life. Integration helps you take the insights and possibilities that emerge during a journey and turn them into changes that can build over time.
What does a KAP journey look like?
KAP journeys take place in my San Francisco office. You can sit or lie down, wear an eyeshade, and listen to music curated for your journey. I'll be with you the whole time, adjusting how involved I am based on what you need.
For some clients, we may decide ahead of time to combine ketamine with Attachment-Focused EMDR as part of the session.
Interested in more concentrated KAP?
For clients whose primary concern is moderate to severe depression, I offer KAP intensives that include multiple ketamine journeys and integration sessions over two to three weeks.
A few common questions
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KAP journey sessions are three hours and cost $800. We'll also schedule a 50- or 75-minute integration session within two days of your journey so we can work with what came up and connect it to the changes you want to make in your life.
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We'll start by talking about whether KAP might be a good fit for you. If we decide together that you'd like to pursue it, I'll refer you to a medical provider I collaborate with for a separate evaluation. If they determine that you're a good candidate for KAP, they'll prescribe ketamine lozenges or troches through a pharmacy.
You'll bring your prescribed ketamine with you to my office and take it once you're here with me. The medical evaluation and medication are separate costs paid directly to the medical provider and pharmacy.
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I believe KAP is best done in person, so journeys usually take place at my San Francisco office. I offer online KAP on a case-by-case basis for clients who are unable to come to the office because of distance or disability.
Ready to talk?
Fill out my contact form with a little about what you're looking for. I'll reach out to schedule a free 10-15 minute consultation so we can talk briefly about what's bringing you to therapy and you can ask any questions you have. If you'd like to move forward, we'll schedule your first session, usually within the next week.