Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
Achieve deeper healing with ketamine
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is a cutting-edge treatment option for people struggling with conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain. Ketamine has been used as a dissociative anesthetic in medical settings for decades, and only recently have its benefits for treating mental health issues been understood.
Benefits of KAP
Ketamine, administered in a calm, safe environment and in controlled doses, induces a relaxed, dissociative state that allows you to explore emotions and memories with less resistance, by gently breaking through any unconscious defenses.
When combined with psychotherapy, ketamine has the potential to offer transformative results where conventional treatments may have fallen short. You may notice a shift in perspective, or a change in mindset, allowing you to see your problems in a new light and find new ways of operating. It is proven effective in treating: anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, and more.
Stages of KAP
There are three stages to KAP - preparation, the journey, and integration. We encourage you to embrace the whole process with curiosity, a positive and open mind, and hope, knowing that each session is a valuable and unique opportunity for healing and growth.
Working with Catriona, a trusted and experienced psychotherapist who is certified in EMDR and trained in KAP, you can be assured that you’re in safe hands to explore the multitude of possibilities available to you.
How does ketamine work?
Ketamine has a unique effect on the brain, particularly through its action on the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors, which are involved in regulating mood, memory, and learning.
By blocking these receptors, ketamine increases the release of glutamate, the brain's primary excitatory neurotransmitter. This triggers a cascade of events that promotes synaptic plasticity—essentially helping the brain to form new neural connections.
This process is key to ketamine's therapeutic potential, as it helps "reset" dysfunctional patterns of thought and behavior, particularly in cases of treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. It’s ability to foster neuroplasticity makes it a powerful tool for enhancing the brain's ability to adapt and recover from emotional and psychological distress.
What KAP treatment looks like
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is different from ketamine therapy. We combine ketamine with effective psychotherapy as opposed to just administering ketamine and leaving you to your own devices. Catriona uses EMDR for effective reprocessing of past experiences to provide deeper healing.
Treatment takes place either in Catriona’s Pasadena office or in the comfort of your own home (over zoom).
Step 1: Initial Consult
Meet with Catriona to learn more about the process, provide your personal and health history, discuss treatment goals, ask questions. If you already have a therapist, Catriona will collaborate with them as needed. One hour
Step 2: Medical evaluation
We have partnered with Journey Clinical who will assign a doctor to meet with you online to review your medical and psychiatric history and evaluate if KAP is appropriate for you. Then they will develop a personalized prescription and treatment plan for you. One hour
Step 3: Receive your ketamine
Journey Clinical will mail your ketamine to your house along with instructions for taking sublingually. You’ll bring the medicine to Catriona’s office when you’re ready to start your ketamine journey.
You can journey in the comfort of your own home with Catriona observing over zoom, or in Catriona’s office.
Step 4: Prepare for your KAP journey
Meet with Catriona for an in-depth preparation session to set intentions, develop resources, identify target memories to work on during processing, and select music ready for your ketamine journey. One to two hours
Step 5: Your ketamine journey
Your journey commences! Under Catriona’s calm guidance you’ll start the music, take your ketamine medicine, then make yourself comfortable and let everything go. Whatever needs to happen will happen. Two to three hours
Step 6: Integration
A vital part of treatment! Within 72 hours of your journey, while your neural pathways are still open, you’ll meet with Catriona for an integration session. Here you’ll review memories, thoughts, and insights that arose during processing and explore ways to integrate them into your daily life. We’ll use EMDR as necessary to reprocess.
Step 7: Continuing support
After your first treatment session we’ll continue to monitor your progress by checking in from time to time. You can decide whether you’d like to continue with further ketamine assisted psychotherapy treatments or return to traditional therapy with Catriona or your regular therapist.
How much does KAP cost?
We offer a number of packages for ketamine assisted psychotherapy. A single treatment would look like this:
Initial consult with Catriona $240
Medical evaluation and prescription with Journey Clinical: some insurances accepted, or self pay is around $300
Preparation session with Catriona: $240
The journey (2.5 hours): $600
Integration: $240 per session
Discounts available when you sign up for a package of six or more treatments.
If you have PPO insurance you may be able to get reimbursed for some of the cost through your out-of-network benefits. Just ask for a superbill.
Other things to know
What does ketamine feel like?
Many people report feeling somewhat out of their body and while they may not be able to describe their experience they are still gaining valuable insights that contribute to growth and healing.
Is ketamine addictive?
While ketamine can be addictive when used recreationally or in higher, uncontrolled doses, when ketamine is used in a controlled, therapeutic setting—like in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy—the risk of addiction is significantly reduced. In these cases, doses are lower and carefully monitored, and the frequency of use is limited to ensure safety.
What medical conditions preclude me for taking ketamine?
Ketamine is not recommended for people who have cardiovascular conditions such as uncontrolled hypertension. Clients with active mania or a history of psychotic illnesses (e.g., schizophrenia) should not take ketamine, as there could be severe risks. Ketamine is also not indicated for clients who are actively abusing substances or have abused ketamine in the past. It is essential to talk with our Nurse Practitioner if you have a history of these types of conditions so we can determine the best plan for your care.
Where can I learn more about ketamine?
Paradigms of Ketamine Treatment by Raquel Bennett, Psy.D
Ketamine-Facilitated Psychotherapy for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression by goop
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation
Are you interested in learning more about how ketamine can help healing?
Contact Catriona to get started either by email, text, or using the form below.