Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
Ketamine assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is an emerging, evidence-based approach that combines the use of ketamine with therapeutic support to help individuals access new perspectives, process difficult emotions, and create meaningful change.
Ketamine has been studied for its rapid-acting antidepressant effects, particularly for individuals who have not responded to traditional treatments. When used in a controlled clinical setting and combined with psychotherapy, it can support a deeper level of emotional processing and insight.
At Awaken, ketamine is never used as a standalone intervention. It is integrated into a broader therapeutic process that includes preparation, guided sessions, and integration afterward.
How Ketamine Therapy Works
Ketamine affects the brain differently than traditional antidepressants. Rather than working gradually over weeks, it acts on the glutamate system, promoting increased neural connectivity and flexibility. This process—often referred to as neuroplasticity—can allow individuals to step outside of rigid patterns of thinking and experience new ways of relating to themselves and their experiences.
During a ketamine session, individuals may enter a state that feels different from ordinary awareness. This can include shifts in perception, emotional openness, or a sense of distance from habitual thought patterns. These experiences are carefully supported by clinicians and are used therapeutically to help process underlying issues.
Research suggests that ketamine may help reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trauma-related conditions, particularly when combined with psychotherapy and ongoing support. Check out our Resource section for more information.
Individual & Group KAP
Ketamine-assisted therapy can be offered in both individual and group settings.
Individual KAP provides a highly personalized experience, allowing for focused attention and tailored therapeutic support.
Group KAP offers a shared environment where individuals can experience connection, support, and a sense of not being alone in their process. For some, the group setting enhances integration and meaning-making. We call these Group Retreats and they are offered on a regular schedule.
Both formats include preparation and integration, which are essential parts of the therapeutic process.
Safety & Clinical Oversight
All ketamine based treatments at Awaken are delivered in a controlled, medically supervised environment. Careful screening, preparation, and monitoring are essential to ensuring both safety and effectiveness. Everyone is evaluated prior, during and after by a MD.
Our team is trained in the responsible use of ketamine and follows established clinical guidelines to support each patient throughout the process.
Is Ketamine Therapy Right for You?
Ketamine assisted therapy is not the first step for everyone, but it can be a powerful option for individuals who have not experienced sufficient improvement with traditional approaches or who are seeking a different way of working through difficult patterns.
We work closely with each individual to determine whether this approach is appropriate and to ensure that care is aligned with their goals and needs.
How Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy Works
Research suggests that ketamine assisted therapy works on both a biological and psychological level. It can help create greater flexibility in the brain while also supporting deeper emotional processing.
- May loosen rigid patterns of thinking and identity
- May reduce overactivity linked to rumination
- Supports neuroplasticity and new neural connections
- Creates a window for new perspectives and change
- May soften psychological defenses
- Can make difficult emotions easier to approach
- Encourages openness to insight and reflection
- Helps reinforce positive therapeutic changes
These effects are most meaningful when combined with preparation, therapeutic support, and integration—helping translate insight into lasting change.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy / KAP
Learn more about ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, including how KAP works, what to expect, safety considerations, group and individual options, and whether it may be a good fit.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, or KAP, combines ketamine treatment with therapeutic support before, during, and after the medicine experience. The goal is not just symptom relief, but also insight, emotional processing, nervous system support, and integration.
Ketamine treatment alone often focuses primarily on the medication’s biological effects. KAP includes preparation, therapeutic support, and integration so that insights or emotional material that arise during the experience can be processed and connected to meaningful change.
KAP may be considered for people experiencing depression, OCD, trauma-related symptoms, grief, emotional stuckness, burnout, or patterns that have not shifted through traditional approaches alone. A clinical evaluation is required to determine whether it is appropriate.
Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic and is commonly used in medical settings. Its use for many mental health conditions is considered off-label. Off-label prescribing is common in medicine, but it requires careful screening, informed consent, and medical oversight.
KAP typically includes a medical and psychological screening, preparation sessions, one or more ketamine medicine sessions, and integration sessions afterward. Preparation helps you feel informed and grounded. Integration helps you reflect on the experience and apply insights to your life.
During a medicine session, you are supported in a safe and intentional environment. Many people experience changes in perception, emotion, body awareness, memory, or sense of self. The experience is temporary, and your care team monitors and supports you throughout the process.
Medicine sessions are longer than traditional therapy sessions. The exact timing depends on the treatment format, but you should expect to set aside several hours for the session itself, recovery time, and post-session support.
The number of sessions varies. Many KAP treatment plans involve a short series rather than a single session, often in the range of several medicine sessions with preparation and integration support. Your provider will recommend a plan based on your needs, response, and goals.
Yes. Awaken Mental Health offers ketamine treatment in both individual and group formats. Group KAP can provide a powerful sense of connection and shared support while still allowing each person to focus on their own internal process.
Group KAP takes place in a small, intentional setting with clinical guidance and medical oversight. Participants prepare together, move through the medicine experience in a supported environment, and engage in integration practices designed to help process and make meaning of the experience.
Ketamine has a long history of medical use, but it is not appropriate for everyone. Safety begins with screening. Your provider will review your medical history, psychiatric history, medications, blood pressure, substance use history, and other factors to determine whether KAP is a safe and appropriate option.
Yes. After a ketamine session, you should not drive or return to work immediately. You will need a trusted adult to take you home, and you should plan for a quiet, low-demand rest of the day.
Insurance coverage for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy varies and is often limited because ketamine for mental health is commonly considered off-label. Some parts of care may be eligible for reimbursement depending on your plan. Please contact us directly to discuss current payment and insurance options.
No. KAP is not appropriate for everyone, and it is not a quick fix. It may be a good fit for people who are open to deep therapeutic work, preparation, emotional processing, and integration. A consultation and clinical evaluation are the best way to determine fit.
KAP may be worth exploring if you feel stuck in traditional treatment, are seeking a deeper therapeutic process, or are interested in a treatment model that combines medical care with emotional and psychological support. The first step is a consultation.