Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy: How This Innovative Treatment Helped Me

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is a unique type of mental health treatment that combines the use of ketamine, a medication, with talk therapy. This therapy is showing promise for people who have not felt better with other treatments, especially those living with depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Instead of just treating symptoms, ketamine has been shown to reset the autonomic nervous system and trigger the brain to create new neuropathways.

I recently underwent ketamine-assisted psychotherapy to help my PTSD and treatment-resistant depression. It wasn’t a decision I made lightly. I avoided KAP for years, fearful of losing control under the medication.

Now I know, that losing control is what I needed most.

I went into this therapy scared, but brave, and ready to face whatever I needed to process after years of working on myself. Fortunately, my EMDR therapist also administers KAP, and I knew with her guidance and expertise that I would feel safe. With her help, I felt ready to explore my traumas through the subconscious realms ketamine took me to and it was beautiful.

This experience liberated me from a daily battle with depression and anxiety that I have carried for the last thirteen years. Now, I feel clearer and more optimistic than I have in more than a decade. Even my closest family and friends say they notice a difference in me and my voice!

I am hopeful that sharing my experience here, and information about ketamine-assisted psychotherapy will inspire others to explore this therapeutic method for themselves.

What Is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy?

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy uses low doses of ketamine together with talk therapy to help process mental health issues. The practice blends medication and psychotherapy in a safe and carefully monitored setting.

Core Principles

When I talk about ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, I focus on a few main ideas:

• Controlled Dosing: Only small, precise amounts of ketamine are used.
• Professional Support: Sessions take place with a therapist present at all times. I do not recommend doing this in a clinical setting or at home. You must have a trained professional by your side!
• Short-acting Effects: Ketamine works quickly, so any mental changes it causes might not last very long, requiring additional touch-up appointments.
• Integration: Therapy is never just about the medication—the work continues after the session, when I and my therapist talk through experiences and feelings.

The goal is to help people with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and pain who have not found relief in other ways. The therapy tries to make positive changes in thoughts and behaviors by combining ketamine’s unique effects with regular therapy methods. Medical safety is a top priority, so people are carefully evaluated during sessions. You can learn more about the core practice at Infinite Healing and Wellness.

Brief History

Ketamine was first made in the 1960s and used as an anesthetic in hospitals. Over time, doctors noticed it sometimes helped patients feel less sad or anxious after surgery.

By the 2000s, researchers started studying its use in mental health. They found that ketamine could work quickly for depression and, sometimes, even helped people when nothing else did.

The idea of mixing ketamine with talk therapy—the way ketamine-assisted psychotherapy works now—has become more popular in recent years. Researchers and therapists began using this model to make the most of ketamine’s effects on the brain by guiding patients through their experiences in a safe space. Today, clinics use this therapy to help with several mental health issues. A good overview is found in Psychology Today.

How It Differs From Traditional Therapy

Unlike regular therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy uses the medication ketamine, to change how you think and feel during sessions.

The protocol for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is 6 sessions in a two or three-week time frame.

KAP sessions are longer too and should be expected to last about 2 hours. This allows for the medication to get into your system, for your time under the medication to occur, and then for you to share what you saw and experienced with our therapist.

I have done a lot of therapy over the last 9 years and you cannot compare this experience to regular talk therapy. KAP is an intense out-of-body experience!

You also have to arrange for transportation to and from KAP therapy as you will not be able to drive yourself for the remainder of the day after your session.

Who Is This Therapy For?

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can help people who have not gotten better with regular treatments. It is often used for those with treatment-resistant depression. This means people tried other medicines or talk therapy, but their symptoms have not improved.

This therapy can also be helpful for trauma survivors who struggle with post-traumatic stress. People feeling intense burnout or emotional numbness may benefit too.

However, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is not right for everyone. It is not safe for people who are in a strong manic episode from bipolar disorder. It is also not advised for those with a history of psychosis or ongoing substance misuse.

It is very important to see a licensed practitioner for this treatment and definitely one who knows your medical and mental health background.

This helps keep you safe and gives you the best chance for positive results.

Preparing for a Session: Before You Arrive

Before you go to ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, your prescribing doctor and therapist will do a mental health check. They will ask about your medical history and any medications you take. This is to ensure your safety and will determine if you are a good candidate for the therapy.

Setting your intentions is a big part of preparation. Think about what you hope to get out of the experience. For me, I wanted to let go and surrender to the experience.  Having a clear mindset and goals allowed me to feel more ready and focused.

These are common tips to follow before a session:

• Fasting: You might be asked not to eat for a few hours before you arrive.
• Hydration: Staying hydrated is very important! Ketamine use can cause constipation and UTIs.
• Clothing: Wear loose, comfortable clothes to help you relax.
• Consider Zofran: If you are prone to nausea request a Zofran prescription to take before KAP.

I also brought my favorite blanket to my sessions and having it with me brought me comfort and grounded me during my therapy. Consider this for yourself!

Make sure you talk to your mental health provider about any questions you have. This gives you a chance to understand the risks and benefits and see if ketamine therapy is a good fit for you. More on this can be found in guides like this one for new patients.

Set and setting are important for your experience. Pay attention to your thoughts and make sure the place where you’ll be treated feels safe and comfortable. This way you’ll get the most out of your treatment. Here are more tips about preparing for ketamine treatment.

The Therapy Space: What the Room Looks & Feels Like

For me, walking into the ketamine-assisted psychotherapy room, was a familiar experience because I have been in that room for therapy for the last 8 years. But, it was slightly different. My therapist had rolled out a cozy mat on the floor with pillows and blankets. I noticed a sense of calm right away. The lighting was dim, not harsh or bright, and made the space feel cozy.

Here’s a simple list of what I used in the room:

• Reclining chair or bed or cozy mat
• Eye mask
• Headphones for music (optional)
• Blanket or pillow for extra comfort
• Notebook or journal for writing down thoughts
• Intentional setting cards

My trained therapist was present with me the whole time. Her job was to keep me safe, set intentions, help if I felt anxious, and support me as I talked or reflected.

I used an eye mask to block out distractions and listened to calm gentle music. I kept track of my feelings and intentions on my phone and usually journaled at home after I took a nap. My therapist also took notes and shared them with me after my sessions This helped me remember my feelings and any thoughts or images that came up.

The goal was to make me feel safe, comfortable, and supported in every way.

Methods of Ketamine Administration

There are a few main ways ketamine is given during therapy. Each way affects how the medicine works in your body and how quickly you might feel its effects.

Intravenous Infusion

With intravenous (IV) infusion, ketamine goes directly into the bloodstream through a vein, usually in the arm. This method gives the doctor a lot of control over how much medicine the patient receives and how fast it is delivered. Most IV infusions happen in a clinic with medical staff there to watch over the patient.

For this method, doctors often start with a low dose and can adjust it based on how you feel. You might feel the effects quickly, usually within minutes. Some people use this method for depression or pain management because it tends to work fast. The sessions usually last about 40 minutes to an hour, but you might stay longer for recovery afterward.

Intramuscular Injection

Intramuscular (IM) injection means the ketamine is given by a shot into a muscle, often in your upper arm or thigh. This way is less complicated than IV infusions. You do not need an IV line, but the doctor still gives the shot in a clinic. With IM injections, the medicine absorbs into the system a little slower than with IV, but it still acts fairly quickly.

The dosage is measured carefully and given all at once, instead of slowly through a drip. Usually, patients start feeling the effects in about 5 to 10 minutes, and it usually lasts for a couple of hours. This method is a common choice for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy because it’s fast and does not require special equipment.

Sublingual and Oral Options

Sublingual ketamine, the method I used, is taken by putting a tablet or liquid under the tongue. Oral ketamine might come as a troche that you swish through your mouth for 12 minutes. I know that seems like a long time but it goes quickly and then you spit out the contents into a cup. These options are usually less intense than IV or IM methods. The medicine takes longer to work and is absorbed more slowly through the tissues in the mouth.

Sublingual and oral forms give patients more flexibility if they aren’t comfortable with needles.

Safety and Potential Risks

Common Side Effects

Ketamine is known to cause some side effects that usually start shortly after treatment and go away within a few hours. Often, people feel dizzy, tired, or have blurred vision. In some cases, they report feeling like they are not fully connected to their body or surroundings. This is called dissociation.

Other common side effects include a fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, and nausea. Some people also get headaches or feel anxious during treatment. A few may notice changes in how they hear, see, or taste things. Most of these problems are mild, but in rare situations, they can be more severe.

The chance of overdose or addiction is low in a medical setting, but using ketamine without supervision carries more risks, such as impaired coordination and addiction.

Psychological Considerations

Ketamine can change how you feel and think, both during and after a session. Some people experience strong emotions, confusion, or anxiety while the drug is active. In rare cases, ketamine may cause a short period of worsened depression or suicidal thoughts, so careful monitoring is important. This risk can last up to two weeks for some people, according to reports from health organizations.

Ketamine might not work the same for everyone. Sometimes, the intense mental effects can be hard to handle without support. That is why it’s important to only use ketamine as part of a supervised program, with a therapist or medical professional present.

Self-treating with ketamine or getting it from places that do not have safeguards can lead to unexpected psychological risks and serious health issues. Experts stress that unsupervised use is dangerous and can increase problems like addiction or lasting mood changes.

During the Session: What Happens?

After getting cozy in the therapeutic space, my therapist and I would talk about my goals for the session. I would then pull a couple of intention cards to help focus my goals and thoughts for the session.

I would then let the troche dissolve in my mouth and swish it through my mouth for 12 minutes and usually began feeling the effect of the medication around 10–15 minutes after putting the troche in my cheek. The dosage also increased with each session so the effects also intensified as the therapy progressed.

As the medicine started working, I noticed my body felt lighter, almost like I was floating.  I would see colors or patterns behind my eyes, recall a specific memory as if I were reliving it, or see symbols or words that were meaningful to me.

I also experienced physical sensations. Releasing trauma and depression that had likely been trapped in my system for years.

Overall, the experience is beautiful. Even in the few dark or scary moments, I felt supported with my therapist by my side, and the moment moved quickly.

My therapist was there the whole time. Sometimes, she would ask me gentle questions to help me explore my feelings. Other times, she just sat quietly and let me process what was happening.

Integration: The Most Important Phase After the Experience

Right after my ketamine session, I often felt a mix of emotions. Sometimes I was tired or even a bit foggy for a few hours afterward. The first things I’d do once I took a nap and regrouped were grounding exercises, gentle talking, or writing my thoughts in a journal. I spent most evenings after my therapy outside, enjoying the night sky and just being still and quiet. One day I did some watercoloring to recapture an image that I saw too and that was very powerful for me. These easy steps helped me return to myself and remember the important moments from the experience.

My therapist was there to help me make sense of what happened. We’d talk about my feelings and insights from the session for about 30 minutes after the ketamine began wearing off and she listened and guided me to help make connections from the experience to my intentions for the therapy and my daily life.

Integration sessions are not just extra meetings—they’re a key part of any ketamine therapy journey. Without this step, it’s easy for the benefits to fade without you fully realizing the progress you made!

After each session, I often felt emotionally tired. I let myself rest and take it easy. My kids knew I was in a new therapy and I needed their support and though my husband was traveling during most of my sessions, I kept him informed. I was fortunate to have my sister and best friends driving me around for the three weeks and had tremendous support from our neighbors with school pick-ups and a soccer carpool too!

It took a village! I learned it’s never a good time to do something like this. So stop waiting for everyone’s schedules to align for you. You do you and I promise your people will show up to support you!

Outcomes and Effectiveness

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy has shown promise in helping people with depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.

Response Rates

Most studies report that a good number of patients see improvement after starting ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. For example, in research on people who have treatment-resistant depression, a significant portion showed better mood and less anxiety, sometimes after just a few sessions. This was true for me.

A recent review found that there were measurable decreases in depression and anxiety scores following ketamine sessions. In another study, more than half of patients had large drops in symptoms after treatment. These changes were often tracked with scales like the Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Beck Depression Inventory, which help show how much mental health symptoms change. While not everyone responds the same way, the overall response rate is higher than many older treatments for tough-to-treat depression.

Short-Term and Long-Term Benefits

One reason I find ketamine-assisted psychotherapy interesting is that people often feel better quickly. Many see major improvements in their symptoms within hours or days, especially compared to traditional antidepressants, which can take weeks to work. Short-term benefits usually include lower anxiety and depression levels, as well as increased feelings of well-being.

When looking at longer-term results, some patients keep feeling better for several weeks or even months after treatment.

You must continue all medications after you complete KAP and work with your psychiatrist to slowly make changes to your medications!

Right now, I am 6 weeks past my last KAP session, and I still feel good and have continued all my medications. For 8-10 days after my last session, I felt amazing, clear-headed, and better than I’d felt in many years. While I still feel great today, I have noticed some symptoms creep in from time to time but they are more manageable and seem to pass much faster than before. I also have more capacity to cope. I may need some touch-up sessions in the future and I’d welcome them.

Limitations of Current Evidence

While I see exciting potential, there are important weaknesses in the current research. Most studies on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy have small groups of patients, and many do not include a control group for comparison. This makes it harder to know if ketamine is truly responsible for all the changes people feel.

There is also not enough research looking at the effects over several years. Some studies only follow people for a few months, so it’s unclear how long the good results will last. Few trials have measured side effects over long periods, which is important for making safe choices. Finally, the therapy settings and doses used can differ a lot, making it tricky to compare results between studies. More large, long-term studies are needed to give clearer answers about how well and how safely ketamine-assisted psychotherapy works for different mental health problems.

Risks, Side Effects & Safety Measures

As mentioned above, KAP comes with a few possible side effects. Some people feel nausea, dizziness, or even fatigue after a session. These are usually short-term but can be uncomfortable.

Here are a few more risks I discovered:

• Confusion or disorientation
• Elevated blood pressure
• Risk of UTI
• Constipation
• Hallucinations
• Impaired coordination
• Allergic reactions, although these are rare

Emotional effects can be intense. It’s normal to experience strong feelings during and after ketamine sessions and this is why the psychotherapy part of KAP is so crucial. You should never leave a KAP session feeling distressed.

Therapists often prepare clients by explaining what to expect and offering support if things get overwhelming.

I advise you to always make sure your provider is licensed and trained. Certified providers know how to keep the setting calm, recognize signs of distress, and act quickly if a problem comes up.

If you have questions or feel anxious, talk to your therapist before each session to make sure you feel safe and ready. More details about possible risks and safety are in APN’s guide on ketamine therapy safety and from Harvard Health.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Regulations and Guidelines

Ketamine is a controlled substance. This means you and your practitioner must follow federal laws, state rules, and local policies when using it for mental health treatment. In the United States, ketamine is approved for anesthesia but used “off-label” for mood disorders, so clinics have to meet certain criteria and use proper medical protocols.

Make sure your clinic has the right approvals and insurance. Ketamine therapy clinics often need special insurance coverage because of the risks linked to this kind of treatment.

Informed Consent

Before starting KAP therapy, patients should know the key facts about ketamine and understand the treatment process, expected results, risks, side effects, and limits.

Patients’ agreement is fully informed and voluntary. According to ethical guidelines, the process needs to be honest, clear, and centered on patient well-being.

Finding a Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Provider

I have known my therapist for many years so it wasn’t challenging to find a trustworthy person. Had I started my search from scratch I would first look for practitioners nearby and read a lot of reviews.

Consider this list in your search:

• The therapist is licensed and trained in ketamine therapy.
• The clinic prepares patients well before treatment.
• There is support available during and after each session.
• The staff answers my questions and respects my needs.

Call a few practices and ask questions about their process too!

Final Thoughts

I was approached several years ago by a ketamine clinic to participate in their workshops and complete some affiliate content for them. At the time, KAP was very new and I was very young in my healing journey and it terrified me. There wasn’t enough research being done about the therapy yet and my therapist didn’t recommend it at the time.

After many different medication changes and years in therapy, I started to become fatigued by the ongoing management of symptoms that seemed ever-changing and worsening.

Early 2024 was difficult for me and my therapist, having changed her opinions about KAP and newly completing it herself, began encouraging me to give it a try. I wasn’t ready until this past February when my depression returned. After two failed medication adjustments I finally felt ready.

I did my research about KAP and weighing all the pros and cons left me hopeful that this was my next best step.

I also spoke to several people who had been through the therapy and found healing and who gave me advice too and this was extremely helpful in calming many of my fears.

This is also why I felt it was important to share my personal experience with KAP.

I know many of you have followed me for years as I’ve shared treatments and tools that have helped me heal and I try to be as open and honest as I can be here.

While ketamine therapy isn’t a miracle cure, it offered a path forward when I was stuck. I would and have recommended it to several people in my life who have been on this journey with me.

On the last day of my KAP sessions I was sad it was over. KAP gave me a new perspective on life and growth and one that I don’t think I could have found without the medication of ketamine.

I relived beautiful moments in my childhood. Witnessed the love my mother gave me as a young child that I’d forgotten over the years as I’ve managed her care through her dementia diagnosis. Saw powerful images that have always been important to me and processed years of depression and trauma as physical releases being pulled from different areas in my body and brain. Ketamine took me to unbelievable realms impossible to describe unless you’ve been there too. It’s a full-bodied, mind-altering, heavenly state where the conflicts and stress of our world don’t exist.

If you’ve been considering ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and you are ready for lasting symptom relief and healing, then I recommend finding a therapist near you who can witness your journey and facilitate your growth.

stillbloomingme

Plugin designed by RofiTech