Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), also referred to as Ketamine-Assisted Therapy (KAT), is an innovative treatment approach that combines the therapeutic benefits of psychotherapy with the carefully supervised use of ketamine. While ketamine may create a temporary period of increased neuroplasticity and psychological flexibility, it is the therapeutic work before, during, and after each medicine session that supports meaningful, lasting change.

At Achieving Changes Counseling Services, we view ketamine as a therapeutic tool, not a cure. Our goal is to help clients integrate the insights and experiences that emerge during treatment into lasting emotional healing and personal growth.

What Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy combines evidence-based psychotherapy with medically prescribed ketamine. Ketamine is prescribed and managed by a licensed medical provider, while your therapist provides preparation, therapeutic support during the medicine session, and integration afterward.

Research suggests that ketamine may rapidly reduce symptoms for some individuals while temporarily increasing the brain’s capacity for learning, emotional flexibility, and forming new neural connections. This window of opportunity can make it easier to process difficult emotions, challenge long-standing patterns, and engage more deeply in psychotherapy.

KAP is intended to complement, not replace, ongoing psychotherapy and psychiatric care.

Conditions That May Benefit from KAP

KAP may be appropriate for individuals experiencing:

• Treatment-resistant depression
• Major depressive disorder
• Anxiety disorders
• PTSD and complex trauma
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Grief and prolonged bereavement
• Existential distress
• Certain chronic pain conditions with associated emotional distress
• Long-standing emotional or behavioral patterns that have not responded adequately to traditional treatment

A comprehensive assessment is completed to determine whether KAP is an appropriate treatment option.

Who Is an Appropriate Candidate?

You may be a good candidate if you:

• Have participated in traditional psychotherapy with limited improvement.
• Are motivated to actively engage in the therapeutic process.
• Have realistic expectations about treatment.
• Have a stable living environment and appropriate supports.
• Are medically cleared by a ketamine-prescribing provider.
• Are willing to participate in preparation and integration sessions.

Because ketamine is a medical treatment, final eligibility is determined collaboratively between your therapist and prescribing medical provider.

Who May Not Be an Appropriate Candidate?

KAP may not be appropriate for everyone. Additional evaluation or alternative treatment may be recommended for individuals with:

• Active psychosis or certain psychotic disorders
• Untreated or unstable bipolar disorder with active manic symptoms
• Uncontrolled hypertension or significant cardiovascular disease
• Certain neurological or medical conditions
• Active substance use disorders that are not adequately stabilized
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding, unless approved by the prescribing provider
• Cognitive impairments that significantly interfere with informed participation

Every client receives an individualized assessment to ensure treatment is both safe and appropriate.

Our KAP Process

1. Comprehensive Evaluation

Treatment begins with a comprehensive clinical assessment that reviews:

• Mental health history
• Previous treatment experiences
• Medical history and current medications
• Treatment goals
• Safety considerations
• Overall appropriateness for KAP

When appropriate, we collaborate closely with your prescribing medical provider throughout treatment.

2. Preparation Sessions

Preparation is one of the most important aspects of successful Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy.

Most clients participate in 3–5 preparation sessions before their first medicine session. These sessions are designed to help you feel informed, emotionally prepared, and supported throughout the treatment process.

During preparation we will:

• Build a strong therapeutic relationship and establish emotional safety.
• Explore your personal history and treatment goals.
• Develop meaningful intentions for treatment.
• Learn grounding, mindfulness, and emotional regulation skills.
• Discuss what to expect before, during, and after each medicine session.
• Address any questions or concerns.
• Develop an individualized treatment plan in collaboration with your prescribing provider, when appropriate.

Thoughtful preparation is one of the strongest predictors of a positive KAP experience.

3. Medicine Sessions

A typical course of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy consists of 6–8 medicine sessions completed over several weeks. The exact schedule is individualized based on your needs, treatment goals, and clinical response.

Clients have two options depending on their treatment plan.

Therapist Accompaniment at Your Ketamine Clinic

If you receive ketamine treatment through a local infusion clinic or medical practice, your therapist may accompany you during your medicine session (when permitted by the clinic). During the session, your therapist provides emotional support, therapeutic presence, and guidance while allowing your experience to unfold naturally.

In-Office Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Clients who have been prescribed self-administered ketamine (such as oral lozenges or other approved formulations) may complete their medicine sessions in our office. The medication is brought by the client and self-administered according to the prescribing provider’s instructions while the therapist provides continuous therapeutic support in a calm, comfortable, and safe environment.

Ketamine is always prescribed and medically managed by your licensed prescribing provider. Achieving Changes Counseling Services does not prescribe, dispense, or administer ketamine.

4. Integration Sessions

The therapeutic work continues after every medicine session.

Integration sessions are typically scheduled within 24–48 hours following each medicine session, when insights and emotional experiences are often most accessible. This timing allows us to process the experience while it is still fresh and begin translating it into meaningful change.

Integration sessions focus on:

• Processing emotions, thoughts, and insights.
• Making sense of your medicine experience.
• Identifying patterns and opportunities for growth.
• Strengthening new perspectives and healthier beliefs.
• Developing practical ways to implement changes in everyday life.
• Reinforcing progress toward your treatment goals.

While treatment is individualized, most clients participate in an integration session following each medicine session. Together, the preparation sessions, medicine sessions, and integration sessions create a comprehensive treatment model designed to support lasting healing.

Our Therapeutic Approach

KAP at Achieving Changes Counseling Services is grounded in evidence-based, trauma-informed care. Depending on your individual needs, treatment may incorporate:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), when clinically appropriate
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)-informed interventions
• Mindfulness-based approaches
• Somatic awareness and grounding techniques
• Trauma-informed psychotherapy

Each treatment plan is individualized to meet your unique goals and needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be asleep during a medicine session?

No. Most individuals remain awake and aware throughout the medicine session, although thoughts, emotions, perceptions, and sensations may feel different than usual. Your therapist remains present throughout the experience to provide support and promote a sense of safety.

Will my therapist prescribe ketamine?

No. Ketamine is prescribed and medically managed by a qualified healthcare provider. Our role is to provide the psychotherapy, preparation, support during the medicine session, and integration that are essential components of KAP.

Do I have to receive ketamine in your office?

No. Some clients choose to complete medicine sessions at a local ketamine clinic with their therapist present, while others complete sessions in our office using medication prescribed for self-administration by their medical provider.

Is KAP covered by insurance?

Insurance coverage varies. Psychotherapy sessions may be eligible for reimbursement depending on your insurance plan, while ketamine medication and medical services are generally billed separately by your prescribing provider or infusion clinic.

Our Philosophy

Healing is more than symptom relief, it is creating lasting change.

Ketamine can open a window of opportunity, but meaningful transformation comes through intentional preparation, a safe and supportive medicine session, and thoughtful integration afterward. Our role is to help you make sense of your experiences, strengthen your resilience, and create sustainable changes that extend well beyond the treatment process.

If you are interested in learning whether Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy may be right for you, we invite you to schedule a consultation to discuss your goals and determine whether this treatment approach is appropriate for your individual needs.

Why Choose Therapist-Accompanied Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

At Achieving Changes Counseling Services, we believe that the therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors in successful treatment. Rather than viewing ketamine as a stand-alone medical procedure, we provide a comprehensive model of care that emphasizes continuity, preparation, and integration.

When clinically appropriate, your therapist remains with you throughout your KAP journey—from your initial evaluation through preparation sessions, your medicine sessions, and the integration process afterward. This continuity allows your therapist to develop a deep understanding of your goals, experiences, and progress over the course of treatment.

Benefits of therapist-accompanied KAP may include:

• A consistent therapeutic relationship throughout the entire treatment process.
• Personalized preparation tailored to your history, goals, and clinical needs.
• Emotional support and grounding during your medicine sessions.
• Integration that builds directly upon the experiences and insights that emerged during treatment.
• Close collaboration with your prescribing medical provider to promote coordinated, client-centered care.
• An individualized treatment plan that evolves as your healing progresses.

Whether your medicine sessions take place at a local ketamine clinic with your therapist present or in our office using medication prescribed for self-administration, our focus remains the same: providing compassionate, evidence-based psychotherapy that helps transform meaningful experiences into lasting growth and change.

Our commitment is not simply to support you during a medicine session—it is to partner with you throughout your healing journey.