Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is an innovative, evidence-informed approach that combines the therapeutic use of ketamine with skilled psychotherapy to support meaningful psychological healing and personal growth. This model is particularly helpful for individuals who feel stuck or have not found sufficient relief through traditional therapy or medication alone.

Gwen has completed advanced training in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy through Elemental Psychedelics, a women-led organization known for its emphasis on clinical excellence, ethical care, and experiential learning. Her approach integrates clinical skill with a deep respect for each client’s emotional, psychological, and existential process.

What Is Ketamine?

Ketamine is an FDA-approved medication that has been safely used for decades in medical settings. In recent years, it has gained recognition for its powerful effects in treating mood disorders and supporting psychotherapy.

Ketamine works in several key ways:

  • Enhances neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to form new connections)

  • Increases Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which supports healing in mood disorders

  • Temporarily disrupts rigid thought patterns, including rumination and negative loops

  • Enhances openness, introspection, and emotional processing

Rather than acting as a daily medication, ketamine is used intentionally within therapy sessions to facilitate insight, emotional release, and new perspectives.

How Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Works

KAP is a structured process that includes three essential phases

01
Preparation

In preparation sessions, you will:

  • Clarify goals and intentions

  • Review your history and current challenges

  • Build trust and establish a sense of safety

  • Learn what to expect from the experience

02
Medicine Sessions

During ketamine sessions:

  • You will self-administer a prescribed oral/sublingual lozenge (provided by a licensed medical prescriber)

  • Sessions are conducted in a safe, supportive, in-person setting

  • You are guided through an inward, reflective experience

Depending on the dose, you may experience:

  • Deep relaxation or altered perception

  • Emotional insight and increased self-awareness

  • A sense of distance from distressing thoughts

  • Partial or full dissociation

03
Integration

Integration is the most important part of the process. These sessions help you:

  • Make meaning of your experience

  • Apply insights to your daily life

  • Create lasting behavioral and emotional change

Treatment Modalities

Treatment Modalities

Psychedelic Protocol (Moderate Dose)

This structured series is designed to support deeper internal exploration and transformation.

Typical structure includes:

  • 1–3 preparation sessions

  • 6 ketamine sessions (approximately 3 hours each)

  • Integration sessions between each medicine session

  • A rest period for consolidation

  • Follow-up sessions to deepen and stabilize progress

This approach is often helpful for:

  • Depression (including treatment-resistant depression)

  • Trauma and PTSD

  • Anxiety related to life transitions or stress

  • Existential or spiritual exploration

Psycholytic Protocol (Low Dose)

This approach uses lower doses of ketamine to support active therapeutic processing, often alongside EMDR.

Clients typically experience:

  • Increased emotional distance from difficult material

  • Greater ability to stay present while processing

  • Enhanced insight without full dissociation

Structure includes:

  • Preparation sessions using EMDR framework

  • 2-hour ketamine-assisted therapy sessions

  • Ongoing integration and processing

This method is ideal for:

  • Trauma processing

  • Anxiety and emotional regulation

  • Clients who prefer a more interactive therapeutic experience

A Holistic and Intentional Approach

Working with Gwen blends:

  • Evidence-based psychotherapy

  • Psychedelic-informed care

  • Attention to meaning-making and identity development

Sessions may incorporate elements of intention-setting, mindfulness, and (if aligned with your values) ceremonial or reflective practices to create a supportive container for deep work.

Safety and Medical Considerations

Ketamine-assisted therapy is not appropriate for everyone. Medical screening by a licensed prescriber is required prior to participation.

Potential contraindications include:

  • Active mania or bipolar instability

  • Schizophrenia or psychosis

  • Certain personality disorders involving instability

  • Use of specific medications (e.g., benzodiazepines or opioid blockers)

  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure

Ketamine may also:

  • Interact with certain substances (including cannabis)

  • Temporarily increase blood pressure

  • Be less effective for conditions such as OCD or body dysmorphia

A referral network is available to support you through the medical screening and prescription process.

What Makes This Approach Different?

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is not simply about symptom relief—it is about transformation.

This work can:

  • Accelerate insight and emotional processing

  • Help “reset” entrenched mental patterns

  • Support healing where traditional approaches have plateaued

  • Deepen connection to self, meaning, and purpose

While ketamine can catalyze powerful experiences, lasting change comes through integration and ongoing therapeutic work.

Getting Started

The process begins with a consultation to explore:

  • Your goals and history

  • Whether KAP is a good fit for you

  • What approach best matches your needs

If appropriate, you will be referred to a qualified medical provider for evaluation and prescription. From there, you and Gwen will collaboratively design a treatment plan tailored to your healing process.

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