You’ve probably heard about ketamine therapy and wondered what it’s all about. Maybe you’ve even thought, “Wait, isn’t that an anesthetic?” And you’d be right, it is. But the way ketamine is used in therapy looks very different from its medical applications.
Let’s break down what ketamine-assisted psychotherapy actually involves and how it might help.
What Makes Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Different?
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, or KAP, combines low-dose ketamine with intentional therapeutic support. This isn’t about taking medication and hoping something shifts. The ketamine serves as a tool alongside therapy to help you access new perspectives, emotional flexibility, and deeper healing. Think of it as creating an opening where change becomes more possible.
At a brain level, ketamine works differently from traditional antidepressants. Instead of focusing on serotonin, it affects glutamate pathways and can increase neuroplasticity, or your brain’s ability to form new connections.
For some people, this creates a window where rigid patterns soften a bit, making it easier to approach old wounds or stuck places from a new angle.
The Three Phases That Make KAP Work
The psychotherapy part of KAP is essential, not optional. Most KAP approaches include three phases: preparation, the ketamine session itself, and integration. Each phase matters, and skipping any of them can limit the potential benefit.
In the preparation phase, you meet with a therapist to explore your goals, intentions, concerns, and expectations. This is where you talk about what you’re hoping to work on, whether that’s depression, trauma, anxiety, grief, or feeling stuck in patterns that don’t serve you anymore.
It’s also where your therapist assesses safety, readiness, and whether KAP is a good fit for your particular situation.
What Happens During the Session?
Then comes the ketamine session itself. Depending on your setting and provider, ketamine may be administered through lozenges, nasal spray, or IV. During the session, people often describe feeling relaxed, detached from habitual thoughts, emotionally open, or like they’re observing themselves from a new angle. Not everyone dissociates, and experiences vary quite a bit from person to person.
Here’s what’s important to understand: this isn’t about forcing insights or having some predetermined experience. Some people have vivid emotional experiences, while others feel calm and spacious. Some feel different in ways that are hard to describe.
There’s no “right” way to experience ketamine. Your therapist is there to support you through whatever unfolds, not to analyze you mid-experience.
Integration: Where the Real Work Happens
Afterward comes integration, where much of the real work takes place. Integration sessions help you make sense of what came up during your ketamine experience, connect it to your life, and apply any insights in a grounded, practical way.
Without integration, experiences can feel confusing or fleeting. With it, they can lead to meaningful, lasting change.
KAP is often explored when people haven’t responded well to traditional treatments, but it’s not a miracle cure. It works best as part of a broader mental health plan, not as a stand-alone fix. It isn’t right for everyone. Medical screening and professional guidance are essential to determine whether it’s a safe and appropriate option for you.
Is KAP Right for You?
If you’re curious about ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, here’s the takeaway: it’s not about escaping reality. It’s about creating enough flexibility to approach reality in a new way. When done thoughtfully, with proper preparation and ongoing support, KAP can help people access healing that previously felt out of reach.
At Denver Metro Counseling, we offer ketamine-assisted psychotherapy as part of our trauma-informed, integrative approach to healing. If you’ve been feeling stuck or haven’t found relief through other treatments, KAP might be worth exploring.
Contact us today to learn more about whether this approach could be a good fit for your healing journey.
