Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

A New Path When you Feel Stuck

Is depression, anxiety or PTSD making it hard to show up for your life? Maybe you feel numb, disconnected, or weighed down by thoughts that won’t shift—no matter what you try. Even simple things like getting out of bed, replying to a text, or staying on top of responsibilities can feel overwhelming.

You’ve done the “right” things—therapy, medication, coping skills—but the relief you hoped for still hasn’t come. Part of you believes healing is possible, while another part wonders if anything will truly help.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy offers a different way forward.

What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

KAP uses ketamine, a legal and fast-acting medication, to support therapeutic work. When combined with professional therapeutic guidance, ketamine can temporarily soften the brain’s defenses, increase neuroplasticity, and help clients process emotions and memories that may otherwise feel stuck or overwhelming.

Many clients describe their experience as a sense of expansion, clarity, or emotional release—often followed by improved mood, increased openness, and a renewed sense of possibility.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Helps you Access New Pathways Forward

Ketamine works differently from traditional antidepressants. Instead of numbing or suppressing emotion, ketamine can temporarily open access to deeper layers of your mind. In these expanded states of awareness, long-held emotional patterns, memories, and beliefs often become more flexible.

When paired with therapy, KAP can help you:

Interrupt depression, trauma, or anxiety patterns
Access insight that feels difficult in everyday consciousness
Feel more connected, hopeful, or grounded
Expand your emotional capacity
Process memories or internal material that has been “stuck”
Shift rigid thinking or self-criticism

Many clients describe a sense of spaciousness—a moment where the heaviness lifts and they can finally breathe again.

Why Ketamine? Why Therapy? Why Both?

Ketamine alone can create change, but the deepest healing happens when therapy helps you integrate the experience.

Without integration, ketamine may feel like a powerful moment that fades quickly. With integration, insights become part of your daily life, supporting long-term change.

KAP isn’t about having a psychedelic experience. It’s about using a temporary shift in consciousness to support emotional healing in a safe, grounded therapeutic environment.

How KAP Works at our Tempe Office

1. Initial Consultation & Screening

We begin with a detailed assessment to understand your history and ensure KAP is appropriate for you. We collaborate closely with medical prescribers in Tempe, AZ who handle all medical evaluations and ketamine dosing.

2. Preparation Sessions

Before your first medicine session, we meet to set intentions, discuss what to expect, and help you feel grounded and supported.
Preparation lays the foundation for a meaningful experience.

3. Ketamine Medicine Sessions in a Calm, Supportive Setting

During medicine sessions:

You’ll be in a comfortable, private therapy room
Soft lighting, blankets, and calming music create a peaceful environment
Your therapist stays present throughout your journey
Sessions typically last 1.5 - 2.5 hours

Many people experience imagery, insights, or emotional opening. Some feel deeply relaxed or connected to themselves in new ways.

4. Integration Sessions

After each ketamine journey, we meet to help you process what came up.
This step is where healing deepens—insight becomes action, and emotional openings turn into lasting change.

Therapeutic Modalities We Use in KAP

During preparation and integration, we use effective modalities such as:

EMDR – to process trauma and emotional blocks
IFS (parts work) – to explore inner parts with compassion
ACT – to help you reconnect with your values
Somatic and mindfulness-based approaches – to deepen regulation and grounding
These methods complement the ketamine experience and support sustainable healing.

Why People in Tempe Choose us for Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Trauma-informed, grounding-centered approach
Therapists trained specifically in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
A serene, welcoming office designed to promote emotional safety
Collaborative care with trusted prescribers in Tempe
Culturally sensitive, inclusive, and nonjudgmental environment
Gentle pacing—never rushed, never pressured

Healing is not something you have to do alone. We create a calm, grounded space where your inner experience can unfold safely.

FAQs About Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

How does ketamine work?

Ketamine affects the brain’s glutamate system and enhances neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to change and form new connections. It can interrupt patterns related to depression, anxiety, and trauma by helping you access non-ordinary states of consciousness where healing can occur.

What conditions can KAP help with?

KAP is commonly used for:

Treatment-resistant depression
PTSD
Anxiety
Chronic stress or burnout
Existential distress or spiritual exploration

It is not a first-line treatment and is typically offered when other approaches haven’t provided the relief you need.

What is the experience like?

Every journey is unique. Some people experience visual imagery or emotional release. Others feel spaciousness, calm, or a deep connection to themselves. Your therapist helps you prepare, navigate, and integrate whatever arises.

Is ketamine safe?

Ketamine has a long history of safe use in medical settings. In KAP, it is administered in controlled doses under professional supervision. While most people tolerate it well, medical and psychological screening ensures it’s safe for you.

What are the side effects?

Short-term effects may include dizziness, nausea, fatigue, dissociation, or blurred vision. These typically resolve within a few hours. Some people feel tender or emotionally open afterward, which is why integration therapy is essential.

What is the difference between a ketamine clinic and KAP?

Ketamine clinics may offer medication without psychotherapy.
In KAP, the therapeutic relationship is just as important as the medicine. You’ll have preparation, support during dosing, and integration afterward to help you make sense of the experience.

How many sessions do I need?

Current research supports 5–6 sessions within a 3-week period, followed by booster sessions as needed. The exact number depends on your goals and how you respond.

Healing Doesn't Have to Feel Out of Reach

If you’re tired of feeling stuck, numb, or disconnected—and traditional treatments haven’t brought the relief you hoped for—Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy may help open the door to a new chapter in your life.

We’re here to support you gently, compassionately, and at your pace.

To learn more about KAP in Tempe, AZ, please visit our contact page or call (480) 815-3211 to schedule a free 10-minute consultation.

Get in Touch