Reclaim your power. Expand your perspective. 

Ketamine is a well-known medication originally developed as an anesthetic in the 1960s. It has been widely used in medical and surgical settings for its fast-acting, dissociative properties that provide pain relief and sedation without suppressing breathing. In recent years, low-dose ketamine has gained attention for its rapid-acting antidepressant effects and its ability to shift perspective through altered states of consciousness.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a therapeutic approach that combines the use of ketamine with psychotherapy to support emotional healing, insight, and behavioral change. In carefully guided sessions, clients may access thoughts, emotions, and memories that can be difficult to reach through talk therapy alone.

KAP is now being used to help treat conditions such as depression, anxiety, and chronic pain, and a growing body of research is showing promise in the treatment of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), and substance use disorders.

Ketamine works in the brain in several unique ways that support healing and emotional growth. First, it helps reduce overactivity in the amygdala, the part of the brain involved in fear and emotional responses, which can ease feelings of anxiety and trauma. Ketamine also promotes neuroplasticity, meaning it helps build new neural pathways that support healthier thinking patterns and emotional resilience. Additionally, ketamine has anti-inflammatory properties, reducing brain inflammation that is often linked to depression and other mood disorders. Because of these effects, ketamine can also help interrupt chronic pain signals and reset pain pathways, offering relief for those living with persistent pain. 

These powerful neurobiological effects, when combined with the KAP process, create a powerful opportunity for improved mood and functioning by helping clients access and process their thoughts and emotions in new and helpful ways. With skillful preparation and integration, in a trusted therapeutic relationship, KAP can facilitate powerful transformation often with lasting effects. 

KAP typically includes three types of sessions: preparation, experiential, and integration. Research has demonstrated the efficacy of having several repeat doses of ketamine in relatively short succession. As such, I typically plan for three experiential sessions, with prep and integration sessions on either side to maximize benefit. Pacing and quantity of sessions are adjusted to best support reaching your goals, but often occur 2-3 weeks apart.

Preparation sessions are where we begin to build a strong foundation. We’ll explore your intentions, address any questions or concerns, and make sure you feel emotionally and practically prepared for your dosing sessions.

Experiential sessions are the times when ketamine is taken as part of the therapeutic process. These sessions typically last 3–4 hours, depending on factors like whether a second dose is taken. We’ll begin by reconnecting with your intentions and making sure the set and setting feel right for you. You'll self-administer the medication, as prescribed by your provider.
Depending on the dose, you may experience a psycholytic state—where you feel calmer, more open, and better able to access thoughts or feelings that are typically harder to reach—or a psychedelic state, which can bring a sense of oneness, ego dissolution, or vivid imagery that opens new ways of understanding your inner world. Throughout, I’ll be there to provide support and therapeutic presence, helping you navigate whatever arises with care and grounded guidance.

Integration sessions are where we make further meaning of the experience. We’ll process what came up and identify ways to carry key insights into your everyday life. The period of highest neuroplasticity—roughly 24–72 hours after a dosing session—is an especially rich time for integration, though this window can extend up to 5 days. During this time, we’ll work together to develop practices that support lasting, embodied change.

I offer KAP as an adjunctive treatment, when someone is in ongoing therapy with another provider, or as part of ongoing individual therapy with me.

Adjunctive KAP generally includes 3 preparation sessions, 3 experiential ketamine sessions, 2 integration/prep sessions between each experiential session, and 3 integration sessions at the end. Treatment generally occurs over a period of 3–6 months depending on your needs and goals.

KAP as part of ongoing therapy typically lasts anywhere from 6 months to several years. This approach allows us to integrate KAP treatment into the context of a deep and strong therapeutic relationship which can often offer a different quality and depth to the treatment. In most cases, experiential sessions are conducted in between our weekly therapy sessions, weaving in preparation, integration, and general therapeutic support.

Regardless of treatment format, how many sessions you need depends on your individual history and goals. Some people find that a series of 3 KAP sessions leads to meaningful, lasting change—especially when paired with ongoing therapy. Others, particularly those with complex trauma, depression, or other chronic conditions, may benefit from an additional series or follow-up sessions over time.

Together, we’ll design a course of treatment that aligns with your needs and supports lasting growth.

I offer in-person KAP sessions and intensives in my Asheville, North Carolina office, designed specifically to support this work. If you’re located elsewhere in North Carolina or California, telehealth sessions may be an option—including for experiential sessions—if you're determined to be a clinically appropriate candidate.

For those in California, I also periodically offer in-person KAP sessions in the San Francisco Bay Area, typically 1–2 times per year.

We’ll work together to determine what setting best supports your safety, comfort, and goals.