Ketamine Therapy FAQs
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What is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy?
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Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, or KAP, uses ketamine lozenges alongside psychotherapy to help you access and process difficult memories and emotions. Ketamine is a legal, safe and effective medicine used to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD and other conditions. It works quickly, with immediate effects can last up to two weeks after a session.
What conditions can Ketamine therapy help with?
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Ketamine has strong evidence for major depressive disorder and treatment resistant depression, and it also supports people working through PTSD, anxiety and substance use disorders. Many clients find it helps them overcome negative self beliefs rooted in childhood pain, and it can boost creativity and cognitive flexibility for everyday problem solving.
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Is Ketamine safe?
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Yes. Ketamine has been used safely in medicine for more than 50 years, including in emergency and trauma settings. Because it can raise blood pressure and heart rate, every client completes a medical intake before treatment to screen for any medical concerns. Side effects such as nausea or dizziness can occur and typically resolve within a day or two.
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Is Ketamine addictive?
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What does a Ketamine session actually feel like?
How is the dosage determined?
Do I need to already be in therapy to start Ketamine sessions?
Where do Ketamine sessions take place?
No. Ketamine is not inherently addictive in the therapeutic setting, at the dosage levels we use and in the frequency of ketamine-assisted therapy sessions. But when abused in higher dosage levels and with higher frequency, Ketamine does have addictive potential and it is important to recognize this. However, addiction is not a concern in KAP settings and Ketamine is actually also used to treat substance-use disorders.
Will Ketamine damage my brain?
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How many sessions will I need?
What happens during the medical intake?
Is Ketamine therapy covered by insurance?
How long does a Ketamine session last?
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No. The opposite is true. Psychedelics, including Ketamine, promote neuroplasticity, have a positive impact on the functioning of our brains.
Lower doses tend to bring light detachment and reflection, while higher doses can lead to a deeper reassessment of thoughts, feelings and beliefs. Sessions are guided in a supportive, in-person setting so you can safely move through whatever comes up. Your dosage and goals are always discussed with you beforehand.
Dosage is chosen together based on your goals, metabolism, medical history and comfort level. Some clients prefer a lower, gentler dose focused on reflection, while others choose a higher range for a fuller psychedelic experience. There is no single right approach, and your preferences guide the plan.
There is no promise of full healing in a single session, though many clients notice meaningful shifts in perspective right away. Effects build cumulatively over time, so a series of sessions spaced one to two weeks apart, paired with integration support, tends to produce the most lasting change. Research has proven long-lasting relief of depressive symptoms over the course of six, weekly treatments. A full course of six treatments may not be right for you and/or may not be needed.
No. Ketamine sessions can be woven into an existing talk therapy process or done as a standalone series of three to six sessions with integration support after each one. This second option works well for people who want the benefits of Ketamine without committing to longer term therapy.
A licensed prescriber reviews your health history, current medications and any cardiovascular concerns during a 45-minute virtual session to confirm Ketamine is a safe option for you and to provide a prescription. It is suggested to have this intake 1-2 weeks before your first dosing session to allow ample time for the Ketamine lozenges to be shipped to you. Ketamine is shipped from special compounding pharmacies and cannot be picked up at your local drugstore.
Insurance is not accepted directly, but superbills are available for the medical intake as well as for the Ketamine sessions so you can submit for potential reimbursement through your own insurance plan.
In person sessions are held in Greenwich, Connecticut and in New York City. Ketamine also supports individual healing journeys as well as couples work.
A ketamine session lasts 3 hours and is allowed followed by a 45-minute therapy integration session within 1-3 days of your dosing session. The integration session is always part of the experience and cannot be substituted with a session by your regular talk therapist.