Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)

I offer ketamine assisted psychotherapy (KAP) in-person in my Agoura Hills, California office, as well as virtually for clients throughout California. KAP is a form of psychedelic assisted therapy using the only legal psychedelic medicine in California currently. This treatment modality can be helpful for clients that are experiencing depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and symptoms related to trauma. Clients often report that adding ketamine assisted psychotherapy to their treatment with me has helped them to deepen their healing process by catalyzing important breakthroughs throughout the therapy process. The psychotherapy models that I practice – EMDR Therapy and Internal Family Systems therapy – dovetail very nicely with ketamine treatment. 

Ketamine can provide antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects on its own, which makes it a very useful medicine to treat mental health disorders. Ketamine blocks NMDA receptors in the brain and stimulates AMPA receptors, and it is believed that this helps the brain to create new synaptic connections. Ketamine enhances neuroplasticity in the brain, which can help clients get “unstuck” from patterns that have been rigid and hard to break.

Ketamine is a very safe medicine. The effects of this medicine vary widely depending on the dose that the client takes. These effects can make you feel “far from” your body, and facilitate shifts in perception that can often feel expansive in nature. Your motor and verbal abilities will be reduced, so you’ll be lying down in a comfortable position during the experience. On average, the effects last for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, which makes it a great tool for psychotherapy sessions as compared to other psychedelic medicines that last for much longer (such as psilocybin or MDMA).

Read About My KAP Partnership with Journey Clinical

Psychedelic Preparation and Psychedelic Integration

In addition to offering Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), I also extend my services to provide psychedelic preparation and integration sessions. These sessions are tailored to support clients who are considering or have experienced psychedelic journeys outside of my practice. Prior to their psychedelic journey, I collaborate with clients to cultivate a mindset conducive to healing and growth. Afterward, in integration sessions, we work together to process and integrate insights gained, empowering clients to incorporate their experiences into their personal journey of self-discovery and healing. My goal is to provide comprehensive support, ensuring clients feel equipped to navigate their psychedelic experiences with understanding and resilience.