Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)

People often explore KAP after doing a lot of work and still feeling stuck. Research is strongest for treatment-resistant depression. Evidence for PTSD and refractory anxiety is promising and growing, while OCD, substance-use disorders, and other conditions have smaller, more condition-specific research bases. That distinction matters: fit depends on what you are trying to treat and how the therapy is structured.

For depression research, response usually means symptoms decreased by at least 50%. Remission means symptoms fell below the study’s clinical threshold. A large real-world meta-analysis found average rates of 45% response and 30% remission. In a prospective study of four sessions of sublingual ketamine-assisted therapy, 62.8% met response criteria and 32.6% reached remission. A small 2026 KAP case series involving 12 people reported 67% response and 58% remission.

Across those studies, published response rates range from about 45–67%, with remission rates around 30–58%. That gives us a meaningful benchmark, not a prediction of any one person’s outcome.

Those numbers matter, but they are not the whole person. I’m interested in your history, what has and hasn’t helped, and what kind of change you are seeking. We explore fit together, with Journey Clinical’s medical team handling the medical evaluation.

Depression outcomes: Alnefeesi et al. (2022), real-world systematic review and meta-analysis; Hull et al. (2022), prospective sublingual ketamine-assisted therapy study; Cohen et al. (2026), ketamine combined with psychotherapy case series.

Other conditions: Whittaker et al. (2021), anxiety-spectrum systematic review and meta-analysis; Almeida et al. (2024), PTSD systematic review and meta-analysis; Glue et al. (2024), randomized OCD trial.

The use of ketamine within a personal therapeutic relationship can help people better identify and work through difficult experiences and behavior patterns, providing new insights and healing that might not have been possible otherwise. Ketamine assisted psychotherapy may allow a person to gain access to the causes of their struggles that were previously outside their awareness.

While there are providers that offer ketamine without therapeutic support, both at clinics and via telehealth, I believe that "set and setting" are crucial to productive healing experiences. The safe container of the therapeutic relationship supports transformative healing, especially in cases where relational dynamics are a part of presenting issues. I respect the importance and power of working with the experience of your whole self (heart, mind, and spirit) for deep, lasting healing.

A general starting guideline is to plan for 6 experiential dosing sessions, although the total duration of treatment is dependent on the goals and type of change desired. The number and frequency of sessions is customized based on your needs, and insights you gain from each step of the process will inform the steps to follow.

KAP experiential dosing sessions can be generally planned every two weeks, although a customized treatment plan and schedule may involve weekly or monthly sessions. Much of the change process happens after the experiential sessions, so allowing space for integration is a crucial part of KAP.

Yes, KAP may involve psychological and physical risks.

Ketamine, as used therapeutically in controlled settings, can induce a range of psychological effects including some which may be challenging or distressing. Intense emotional experiences are a part of most forms of therapy that involve connecting with difficult emotional content, and KAP work is no different. While effects can vary greatly among individuals, it can induce intense emotional experiences, dissociation, altered perceptions, hallucinations, and in some cases exacerbate underlying conditions. Physical side effects are mostly short-term and may include nausea, increased heart rate, and disorientation.

While ketamine has been shown to have a lower dependency profile compared to other substances, there is still a risk of psychological dependence, especially with unsupervised or recreational use. Dependency can develop due to the drug's rapid-acting antidepressant effects, leading individuals to seek repeated doses outside a therapeutic context. To minimize the risk of misuse and ensure the safety and efficacy of ketamine-assisted therapy, you will be required to adhere to strict guidelines and commitments throughout the treatment process.

Clients will be responsible for session fees as I do not accept insurance. I provide a superbill detailing services provided and you may or may not be able to utilize your out-of-network benefits by submitting claims to your insurance company. This includes the initial intake assessment, preparation and integration sessions, and some clients have had success with reimbursement for part of the longer experiential dosing sessions.

I bill using multiple units of a session code for extended sessions, and it is up to your insurance provider to offer guidance on reimbursement for the extended sessions.

Journey Clinical should provide the necessary information for the medical intake and follow-up consultations for you to submit claims for out-of-network services. The prescription costs for ketamine are not covered or reimbursed by insurance.

Please call the number on your insurance card to inquire about mental health coverage and to determine if your benefits might cover a portion of your sessions and medical consultations.

I’ve completed KAP-specific training with Polaris Insight Center and Fluence, along with other trainings for MDMA-assisted therapy, psilocybin therapy, and psychedelic therapy and integration. I continue to work to deepen my education and training in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, have regular consultation support from other experienced providers, and engage in conferences, seminars, and ongoing training opportunities.​

No, offering prescriptions, administering, or providing clients with any type of medication or psychedelic substances is outside the scope of my practice.